Treatment of acid attack victims should be free: Minister

Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath today said her Ministry is in favour of providing free surgery and treatment to acid attack victims even in private hospitals.
She said that the Ministry had written a letter to the Health Ministry some time back about bearing the cost of surgery and treatment of the victims of acid attack.
"We had written a letter to the Union Health Ministry asking them to make surgery and treatment of the victims of acid attack free of cost and they had reverted back saying that it is already free in government hospitals.
"But then we are asking them to make it free even in private hospitals too as not many hospitals have the treatment facilities. We are still following it up with them," she said.

Tirath said that she personally met Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad to discuss the issue.
She said the Ministry is in consultation with experts to come up with some punishment for juvenile repeat offenders at reform homes.

"The aim is to correct a juvenile rather than punishing him. So we are in consultation with various experts about what kind of punishment can be given to a juvenile at the home itself to correct him.," Tirath said.
She said her Ministry is taking proactive steps for the launch of Saksham scheme for adolescent boys in view of the rising crimes against women.

"The new scheme will focus on the overall growth of young boys and will be similar to Sabla. The aim is to sensitise boys between the age group of 10-18 years about women issues to change their mindset and outlook," she said, adding the cabinet note on Saksham scheme is in the process of being prepared.