New Delhi, July 20: Archana Kumari, 24, has spent Rs 15 lakh on plastic surgery in four years since an acid attack melted parts of her face, skull, neck, torso and hands, turned her partially deaf, blinded her in one eye and curbed the use of her arms.

She says Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment restricting acid sale and directing a Rs 3-lakh compensation for acid-attack victims is just “a small step forward” but there’s “a long way to go”.

Archana, who has undergone 25 surgeries, mainly reconstructive, and needs more operations, said what the victims need is stricter laws and not court orders.

Stop Acid Attacks, a Delhi NGO formed last year with which she is associated, will be campaigning for a strict and standalone acid-attack law. The demands include:

Reimbursing victims the entire cost of treatment or providing free treatment at government hospitals.

Compulsory life term for acid attackers rather than the current provision of 10 years to life. “What is 10 years? A victim needs 10-15 years to complete her surgeries and yet her life is ruined,” Archana said.

Jobs for the victims, who face “a lifelong curse”.

A blanket ban on over-the-counter acid sale, as in Bangladesh.

“Our sufferings just begin with the attack. Our whole body is scarred for life. I can never even hope to lead a normal life. Our recovery is extremely painful and often the victims give up treatment for lack of money,” Archana said.

Archana had been a source of constant support for acid victim Laxmi whose petition led to Thursday’s judgment, which said acid buyers must furnish identity and address proof and state the reason for the purchase, which the seller must record. She explained why this was a “small step”.

“Lakhs of stores sell acid across India. Which government agency will monitor them to ensure they keep a record of every buyer? This is, anyway, not really a preventive measure. The police will look into the registers only after a crime has been committed,” Archana said.

Archana was 20 when a young man whose advances she had spurned at her home in Haryana threw acid on her. Since then her family has moved to Delhi for her treatment. Laxmi was attacked when she was 13. Another victim, Sonali Mukherjee, has been undergoing surgery for nine years.

Archana wants the Centre to formulate an acid-attack law after talking to victims and NGOs. She cited how the Justice Verma committee had made its recommendations on a proposed anti-rape law this year after consulting NGOs and experts working with rape victims.

Archana had been part of the Jantar Mantar protests demanding such a law after the December 16 bus gang rape.