NEW DELHI: The AAP government in Delhi has decided to provide employment to acid attack survivors. The move is expected to boost confidence of women like Shaheen Jahan (31), who have been fighting for justice. In March this year, Shaheen—who was attacked by a group of men in 2009—had asked chief minister Arvind Kejriwal as to whether he had any plan for women like her.

TOI had reported her case in July 2013 when she had sought government assistance through the 181 helpline set-up after the December 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case. The helpline had put up her case before Sheila Dikshit, the then chief minister, for a job. The attack had left her blind in one eye and her face partly disfigured. Her case also highlighted how the helpline located in the CM's office was getting many calls linked to acid attacks.

According to data available with the state government's social welfare department, there are around 35 acid attack survivors in Delhi. There can be many more and hence the AAP government has also decided to constitute a committee to look into the concerns of such women and their rehabilitation.

It is learnt that Kejriwal received a representation from survivors of acid attacks who appealed to the government to offer them jobs. "The matter was studied in detail and finally it was proposed that as a special relief measure, suitable government jobs on contract or permanent be provided to these survivors. The CM has approved this proposal in principle and now the modalities will be worked out by the departments concerned to see how a framework to reach out to the victims can be created," adviser to CM Swati Maliwal said.

The services department has been instructed to invite applications from these women and consider their application on a priority basis.

When contacted, Shaheen said the move had given her hope. She had sought help for treatment from the Kejriwal government in 2014, but nothing could materialize then. However, when she, along with other acid attack survivors, approached the CM in March this year, he assured that the government would address their concerns.

Shaheen was a popular counsellor at a professional institute in Panipat when the attack took place outside her office on November 19, 2009. She was in the last semester of her MBA programme and wanted to be a manager.

Kejriwal had received a representation from survivors of acid attacks who appealed to the government to offer them jobs.