12 years after acid attack, woman gets promised job
More than 12 years after G Velentina,26,suffered acid attack by a neighbour, the state government has now agreed to give her a job on compassionate grounds. But, an M Phil-holder in microbiology now, Velentina had to initiate contempt proceedings against health department officials, to finally win a job. In 2000, a Dhanasekar trespassed into her house in Villupuram district and poured acid on her face. Velentina suffered extensive burns on the face. Dhanasekar was found guilty by a trial court and was awarded 10 years in prison in 2001.
The high court, confirming the sentence in 2008, directed the governmentto provide a suitable employment to her. The court recommended to the government to consider her case for suitableemployment befitting her educational qualification, and also bear full costs for a facial surgery on humanitarian grounds. Though Velentina acquired an M Phil in microbiology over the years, the governmentwas notinclined to appoint her.
When representations and reminders failed to evoke response, she initiated contempt proceedings against the director of medical education. On Tuesday, Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar closed the contempt proceedings after the government furnished a copyof an order dated March 3, appointing Velentina as junior assistant in the Tamil Nadu Ministerial Services in a vacant post in the Directorate of Medical Education as a specialcase. The order, signed by health secretary Girija Vaidyanathan, said though instructions had been given to the director of medical education to provide arrangements for a facial surgery, Velentina had not approached authorities till date.