Haryana has a lifetime monthly pension scheme for women and girls who survive an acid attack — the “Financial Assistance to Women and Girl Acid Attack Victims” scheme. Under it, a monthly pension of Rs 8,000 to Rs 14,400 is paid according to the percentage of disability — Rs 8,000 for 40–50% disability, Rs 11,200 for 51–60% and Rs 14,400 for above 61%. The scheme is run by the Social Justice & Empowerment Department, Haryana. This guide gives the full truth — including one big confusion: Rs 8,000 a month is paid under two separate schemes, and the two must not be mixed up.
First, understand this: this is not a one-time compensation scheme — it is a lifetime pension. The notification says it will give the victim “a continuous source of income until the end of her life”. The one-time Rs 1 lakh, free treatment and 15-day time limit belong to a different scheme — the Women and Child Development Department’s “Relief and Rehabilitation of Women and Children Acid Victims” scheme. The difference between the two is explained in detail below.
Scheme at a Glance
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | Financial Assistance to Women and Girl Acid Attack Victims |
| Run by | Social Justice & Empowerment Department, Haryana |
| Notification | No. 1517/SW(4)-2018 dated 4 October 2018 (Haryana Gazette No. 42-2018, 16 October 2018) — approved by the Cabinet on 25 September 2018 |
| Benefit | Lifetime monthly pension — disability 40–50%: Rs 8,000; 51–60%: Rs 11,200; above 61%: Rs 14,400 (from 1 November 2025) |
| Who gets it | A woman/girl who has been residing in Haryana for 3 years before the attack, and whose attack took place on or after 2 May 2011 |
| Where to apply | District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO); the Times of India (January 2019) also reports online application on the SARAL portal |
| Time limit to apply | No last date in the notification — pension is paid from the month of application |
| Income limit | No income limit in the notification |
| Application fee | No fee is recorded in the notification — ask the office |
| Status check | District Social Welfare Officer office — where the application was submitted |
| Contact | Women helpline 181 (24×7); Emergency 112; Social Justice Department 0172-2713277 |
How Much Pension Will You Get?
The pension is paid as a multiple of the Divyang pension rate, which the Government fixes from time to time. From 1 November 2025 the Divyang pension is Rs 3,200 a month, so the current rates are:
| Percentage of disability | Multiple (of Divyang pension) | Current pension (from 1 November 2025) | Earlier (Divyang pension Rs 3,000) | In 2018 (Divyang pension Rs 2,000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40–50% | 2.5 times | Rs 8,000 a month | Rs 7,500 a month | Rs 5,000 a month |
| 51–60% | 3.5 times | Rs 11,200 a month | Rs 10,500 a month | Rs 7,000 a month |
| Above 61% | 4.5 times | Rs 14,400 a month | Rs 13,500 a month | Rs 9,000 a month |
Note: the pension is paid from the month of application — the notification does not provide for arrears for months before the application. So a delay in applying means losing a month’s pension every month.
One difference in the bands: the notification gives the bands as 40–50%, 51–60% and above 61%. Some news reports render them as “50 to 60%” and “more than 60%” — this guide uses the notification’s bands.
The Biggest Confusion — Two Schemes, One Rs 8,000 Figure
Rs 8,000 a month is paid under two separate schemes — mixing them up is the biggest mistake:
| Point | This scheme (Social Justice Dept, 2018) | WCD Relief & Rehabilitation scheme (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| For whom | Women and girls only | Women, girls and boys up to 18 years |
| What the Rs 8,000 is | The pension rate at 40–50% disability | Monthly assistance to a victim who comes under the definition of disability |
| Duration | Lifetime pension | Monthly assistance while eligibility continues |
| Apply to | District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) | District Level Committee (Deputy Commissioner) |
| Time limit | No last date in the notification | Within 15 days of the attack |
| One-time amount | No one-time amount | Rs 1 lakh (in 15 days) + 100% free treatment |
A clear warning: the two schemes need separate applications. Also know this — this pension scheme’s documents include a copy of the application made to, or benefit received from, the WCD Department, so applying to the WCD scheme first is part of this scheme’s paperwork. But whether the two Rs 8,000 benefits can be taken together is not written in either notification. Ask the District Social Welfare Officer before taking both.
Who Is Eligible?
- Attack on or after 2 May 2011 — victims of attacks before this date are not covered by this scheme.
- Women or girls only — the scheme is named “Women and Girl”; men and boys are not covered by it.
- Residing in Haryana for 3 years before the attack — a Haryana domicile woman, or a woman who has been residing in Haryana for at least 3 years prior to the date of the attack.
- Disfigurement or disability from an acid attack — disfigurement of any part of the body, or disability under clause (r), (s) and (zc) of section 2 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
- The victim or her heir can apply — if the victim herself is unable to apply, her heir can apply on her behalf; a parent/guardian for a minor; a husband or parent/guardian for a married woman.
Who Is Not Eligible?
- Attack before 2 May 2011 — because of the cut-off date in the notification.
- Men or boys — this scheme is only for women and girls (boys are covered by the WCD relief scheme).
- Not residing in Haryana for 3 years before the attack — the 3-year residence condition must be met.
- Self-inflicted injury — the notification clearly says an acid attack is “an attack by another person”; self-inflicted acid injuries, whether advertent or inadvertent, are not included.
- Disability below 40% — the pension rates start at 40% disability; no rate is given in the notification for disability below 40%.
From When Is the Pension Paid?
- From the month of application — the notification says the assistance is admissible at the Divyang pension rate applicable in the month the application is submitted.
- No last date — no time limit is written in the notification; applications can be made all year round.
- For life — the scheme’s objective is to give the victim a continuous source of income until the end of her life.
- The rate keeps changing — the Divyang pension rate is revised by the Government from time to time, and this pension changes automatically with it (as on 1 November 2025, when the Divyang pension became Rs 3,200, the rates became Rs 8,000/Rs 11,200/Rs 14,400).
- Delay costs money — the later the application, the later the pension starts.
Documents Required
According to the notification, these three documents must support the application:
| Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Medical certificate issued by the Medical Board at District level | To fix the percentage of disability |
| Copy of FIR / Complaint | Proof of the police complaint about the attack |
| Copy of application made to or benefit received from the WCD Department | Proof of the link with the WCD relief scheme — applying to WCD first is part of this scheme’s paperwork |
Note: only these three documents are written in the notification. In practice the office may also ask for identity proof, Haryana residence proof (3 years) and bank account details — but that list is not recorded in the notification, so confirm the final list from the District Social Welfare Officer office. No form number is recorded in the notification.
How to Apply — Through the District Social Welfare Officer
The application is made to the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO). Apply like this:
- File an FIR — report the acid attack at the nearest police station (acid attack is a serious offence under Section 326A of the Indian Penal Code).
- Apply to the WCD scheme first — apply to the Women and Child Development Department’s Relief and Rehabilitation scheme, because a copy of that application has to be attached here (and the Rs 1 lakh and free treatment come from it).
- Get the Medical Board certificate — get the percentage of disability certified by the District Medical Board.
- Submit the application to the DSWO — the victim herself, parents, legal heirs or (for a married woman) her husband can apply; a guardian applies for a minor.
- Attach documents — the medical certificate, a copy of the FIR/complaint and the copy of the WCD application/benefit.
- Online option — according to the Times of India (January 2019), applications can also be made online on the SARAL portal from home, at Antyodaya Kendras or Atal Seva Kendras (CSC). The exact service name for this scheme could not be verified on SARAL — search for “Acid” or “तेजाब” on SARAL. (saralharyana.gov.in did not open from this environment on 8 November 2026; try from your browser.)
- Pension starts — after approval, the pension is paid every month at the rate applicable in the month of application.
How Is the Disability Percentage Decided?
The percentage of disability is decided by the Medical Board — the notification applies the Health Department, Haryana notification (No. 28/195-82-5HB-I dated 21 March 1989) and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India notifications (No. 16-18/97-NI.1 dated 1 June 2001 and 18 February 2002) and subsequent notifications issued from time to time.
- Who decides — the District Medical Board.
- On what basis — the percentage of disfigurement/disability caused by the acid attack.
- Why it matters — the pension rate (2.5/3.5/4.5 times) is fixed by this percentage.
- If the percentage changes — no re-assessment procedure is written in the notification — ask the DSWO office if needed.
Why Not Men? — The 2019 Court Challenge
This scheme is only for women and girls — and that was challenged in the Punjab & Haryana High Court in 2019. Malkit Singh of Dhuri (Sangrur), who lost his eyesight in an acid attack, argued in his petition that the original 2011 scheme made no distinction between men and women, but the later scheme gave the Rs 8,000 monthly assistance only to women, violating Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. The court issued notice to the state government in February 2019. The outcome of this challenge could not be verified — the notification remains limited to women and girls even today. For male victims, the WCD Relief and Rehabilitation scheme (Rs 1 lakh + free treatment) and the Haryana Victim Compensation Scheme 2020 remain open.
Fee, Timeline and Status Check
| Point | Status |
|---|---|
| Application fee | No fee is recorded in the notification — ask the office |
| Last date to apply | No last date — applications can be made all year round |
| Pension starts | From the month of application at the applicable rate; paid every month after approval |
| Duration of pension | For life — the scheme’s objective is a continuous source of income until the end of her life |
| Timeline (RTS) | No separate RTS timeline is published for this scheme |
| Status check (online) | No online status portal is verified |
| Status check (offline) | District Social Welfare Officer office — where the application was submitted |
| Helpline | Women helpline 181 (24×7); Emergency 112; Child helpline 1098; Social Justice Department 0172-2713277 |
Know the Difference — This Scheme vs Other Schemes
An acid attack survivor has several routes — do not mix them up:
| Scheme / Route | For whom | Benefit | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Assistance to Women and Girl Acid Attack Victims (this guide, Social Justice Dept) | Women/girls only; attack after 2.5.2011; Haryana resident for 3 years before the attack | Lifetime monthly pension — 40–50%: Rs 8,000; 51–60%: Rs 11,200; above 61%: Rs 14,400 (from 1 November 2025) | Apply to the District Social Welfare Officer; self-inflicted injuries excluded; notification 4 October 2018 |
| Relief & Rehabilitation of Women and Children Acid Victims (WCD, 2018) | Girls, women, boys up to 18; attack after 2.5.2011; Haryana resident | Rs 1 lakh in 15 days; 100% free treatment; Rs 8,000/month if disabled; fair price shop preference | Apply to the District Level Committee (Deputy Commissioner) within 15 days; notification 8 May 2018 |
| Haryana Victim Compensation Scheme 2020 (Part-I & Part-II) | Acid attack victims (Part-I all victims; Part-II women victims) | Compensation as per schedule — the amount was not verified from the document fetched, so it is not written here | Compensation is granted by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) on the Trial Court’s recommendation — the court route |
| Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) | Acid attack victims (Central Government) | Rs 1,00,000 additional (from 9 November 2016) | A separate Central arrangement, apart from the State scheme |
| Protection Against Domestic Violence (PWDVA 2005) | Women victims of domestic violence | Protection order, residence order, monetary relief, custody, compensation — legal relief | A legal right, not a compensation scheme; may apply separately in an acid attack case |
| Free legal aid | Victims who need a lawyer | Free lawyer — the Government appoints counsel and pays the fee | From the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA); applies in acid attack cases too |
The same survivor may be eligible for more than one route — but the rules about double compensation for the same injury differ from scheme to scheme. Ask the concerned office before applying which benefits can be taken together. Remember in particular: this scheme’s pension and the WCD scheme’s Rs 8,000-a-month assistance are from two separate schemes — they need separate applications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How much pension will I get under this scheme?
By disability percentage — Rs 8,000 a month for 40–50%, Rs 11,200 a month for 51–60% and Rs 14,400 a month for above 61% (from 1 November 2025, as multiples of the Rs 3,200 Divyang pension). The pension is for life.
2. The WCD scheme also pays Rs 8,000 a month — will I get both?
Both schemes carry an Rs 8,000 figure, but they are two separate schemes — one is this Social Justice Department pension (the 40–50% slab) and the other is the WCD scheme’s monthly assistance. Whether both can be taken together is not written in either notification. Ask the District Social Welfare Officer / District Level Committee before taking both.
3. Are men or boys also eligible?
No — this scheme is only for women and girls. Boys up to 18 years get the WCD Relief and Rehabilitation scheme (Rs 1 lakh + free treatment). The women-only condition was challenged in the High Court in 2019 (notice was issued), but the outcome could not be verified — the notification remains limited to women and girls even today.
4. What if the attack happened before 2 May 2011?
Not under this scheme — eligibility is only for attacks after 2 May 2011. In such cases, ask the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) about the Haryana Victim Compensation Scheme or legal routes.
5. Is there an income limit in this scheme?
No — no income limit is written in the notification. Eligibility is decided only by the date of attack, sex, 3 years’ residence and the percentage of disability.
6. By when should I apply?
There is no last date in the notification — applications can be made all year round. But the pension is paid from the month of application, so delay means losing a month’s pension every month — apply early.
7. Do I have to apply to the WCD scheme first?
On paper, yes — the notification’s documents include a “copy of application made to or benefit received from the WCD Department”. So apply to the WCD Relief and Rehabilitation scheme first — that also brings the Rs 1 lakh and free treatment.
8. Can I apply online?
According to the Times of India (January 2019), applications can be made online on the SARAL portal from home, at Antyodaya Kendras or Atal Seva Kendras — and applications can also be given directly to the District Social Welfare Officer. The exact service name for this scheme could not be verified on SARAL — search for “Acid” or “तेजाब” on SARAL.
9. Will I get the pension for a self-inflicted injury?
No — the notification clearly says an acid attack is “an attack by another person”; self-inflicted acid injuries, whether advertent or inadvertent, are not included.
10. For how long will the pension be paid?
For life — the notification’s objective is to give the victim “a continuous source of income until the end of her life”. The pension rate changes automatically with the Divyang pension rate — as on 1 November 2025, when the Divyang pension became Rs 3,200, the rates became Rs 8,000/Rs 11,200/Rs 14,400.
Official Links and Contact
| Work | Link / Contact |
|---|---|
| Social Justice & Empowerment Department, Haryana | socialjusticehry.gov.in — the department’s official website |
| Scheme notification (Haryana Gazette, 16 October 2018) | Gazette No. 42-2018, Notification No. 1517/SW(4)-2018, 4 October 2018 — full text of the scheme (eligibility, rates, procedure) — mirror copy of the Gazette text |
| Antyodaya SARAL portal | saralharyana.gov.in — the exact service name for this scheme could not be verified on SARAL; SARAL helpline 0172-3968400 (the site did not open from this environment on 8 November 2026; try from your browser) |
| myScheme — Haryana schemes (list) | myscheme.gov.in/search/state/Haryana (this scheme’s myScheme detail page is client-rendered and could not be read directly) |
| Women and Child Development Department, Haryana | wcdhry.gov.in — the Relief and Rehabilitation scheme (Rs 1 lakh + free treatment) belongs to this department; apply there first |
| Women helpline (24×7) | 181 — for women in distress; Women and Child Development Department, Haryana |
| Child helpline | 1098 — national toll-free number for children (linked with ERSS 112) |
| Social Justice Department headquarters | SCO 20-27, Jeevandeep Building, 3rd floor, Sector 17-A, Chandigarh; phone 0172-2713277; email [email protected] (from department directory listings) |
| Haryana State Commission for Women | 0172-2584039, 0172-2583639 |
| Emergency services | 112 (ERSS); Police 100 |
Related guides — also read: Haryana Acid Victims Relief & Rehabilitation Scheme 2026: Rs 1 Lakh Aid & Free Treatment | Protection Against Domestic Violence 2026: 5 Legal Remedies under PWDVA | Free Legal Aid for SC and Vimukat Jatis 2026
Disclaimer
This guide was prepared on 8 November 2026 from available official sources — the Haryana Government Gazette (Notification No. 1517/SW(4)-2018, 4 October 2018), the Social Justice & Empowerment Department notification, February 2026 reports of the pension hike (Divyang pension Rs 3,200 from 1 November 2025) and the myScheme portal. The benefit amount, eligibility and process can change over time — confirm the latest information from your district’s District Social Welfare Officer, the women helpline 181 or the Social Justice Department (0172-2713277) before applying. Where sources differ or information could not be verified (especially whether both Rs 8,000 benefits can be taken together, the service name on SARAL, the outcome of the 2019 court challenge and the different rendering of the disability bands in news reports), the guide says so clearly. Viksit Haryana is not an official portal of any government department.
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