Scarred for Life: Thoughts on Legal Perspectives of Acid Attacks in Selected Countries with a Focus on India

This article discusses acid attack victims in India—who are primarily women—while examining the related laws dealing with such issues. While these attacks can be associated with societal and other factors that relegate women to an inferior position in a society of male-dominated patriarchal culture, cases of acid assaults are on the rise in India. This research examines the related laws that deal with such issues in India and recommends suggestions for future scope for its remedies. Acid attack victims and survivors are at the receiving end of social stigmas that prevent them from achieving fulfilling lives. They are ostracized and forced to live lives of social exclusion as they are embarrassed, hesitant, and fearful of the outside world. Discrimination makes it highly difficult to find gainful employment and survivors often end up feeling as though they have no meaning in life. Acid attack survivors tend to depend on others for their livelihood as they are, for no fault of their own, socially excluded. Various cases of acid attacks have been cited in the paper which gives insight to the horror of the crime. The research study employed secondary sources of data collection and has reviewed legal aspects pertaining to acid attacks in selected countries

Ready for recovery: Hoteliers’ insights into the impact of COVID-19 on the Indian hotel industry

This research studies the hotel manager perspective of COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus) on the Indian hotel industry by qualitatively analysing inputs from the human resources department, general management and top management of five-star hotels across India. In doing so, it advances knowledge on the impact of the COVID-19 situation in the domains of human resources (HR), strategy and business operations in the hospitality industry. The study analyses qualitative data collected through online interviews with 17 top-level managers of five-star hotels spread across India. Content analysis is done and the key findings with practical implications have been highlighted. This initial study on the hotel industry in India uncovers how the hoteliers are currently dealing with the pandemic across the country. Findings show that there is a massive negative impact on the Indian hotel industry, in terms of the revenue per available room (RevPAR) and occupancy rates. However, the study also highlights how hoteliers look forward to a phased re-opening of hotels with an increased focus on safety and hygiene after the COVID-19 crisis. The study provides a significant contribution to academic practitioners, hoteliers, and policymakers by examining the future plans in areas of hotels’ HR, strategy and business plans