Acid attack victims to get ₹8K per month

MONTHLY ASSISTANCE WILL BE GIVEN TO THE VICTIM IN CASE OF 40% OR MORE DISABILITY IN THE ACID ATTACK

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has decided to give a financial assistance of ₹8,000 per month to acid attack victims in the state.

Announcing this, social security and women and child development minister Razia Sultana said the monthly assistance, which is part of a comprehensive strategy chalked by the state government to provide security and financial help, will be given to the victim in case of 40% or more disability in the acid attack.

“The Punjab Financial Assistance to Acid Victims Scheme-2017 has been framed and submitted to the state cabinet for approval. The aim of the scheme is to make them self-reliant,” she said in a statement here on Monday. The financial assistance will be provided as long as the disability persists.

The minister said at present, the financial assistance to acid attack victim is being provided under notifications issued by the home department.

“There is a provision of financial assistance of ₹3 lakh in case of disfiguring of face in the attack and one-time assistance of ₹50,000 for the cure of other wounds,” she said.

Also, immediately after any acid attack incident, ad hoc relief of ₹25,000 is given to the victim, whereas ₹5 lakh financial assistance is provided to the dependents of victims, who succumb to the injuries of acid attack.

GOVT EARMARKS ₹25-CR FOR OLD-AGE PENSION

The Punjab government has earmarked ₹257 crore for providing old-age pension and other financial assistance to beneficiaries during the current financial year.

Social security and women and child development minister Razia Sultana said the old-age pension of ₹500 per month has already been given to beneficiaries till October 2016.

She said instructions have been issued to all district social security officers to clear old-age pension for November and December 2016.

While ₹171 crore have been earmarked to give old-age pension to 12.82 lakh beneficiaries, budgetary provision of ₹46.72 crore has also been made to give financial assistance to 3,47,255 widows and destitute women, she said. Similarly, funds have been earmarked for providing financial assistance to 1,55,948 disabled persons.