| Survivors unite to stop acid attacks |
27th Sep 2014
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(From left to right) Laxmi, Ritu and Rupa.
ver imagined life without a face? Spare a thought for those faces which once looked upon the world and were deformed by people they trusted the most. Worse still, these people are left to fend for themselves and fight a lone battle through their life.
Laxmi, Ritu and Rupa, acid attack survivors from diverse backgrounds, were in Chandigarh to launch the Grief Support Helpline, an initiative designed to offer emotional and moral support to those who have undergone horrific ordeals and have faced the trauma of rape and domestic violence. The trio has become a role model for thousands of people who had been targeted by their own kin and acquaintances.
An acquaintance of Laxmi's attacked her in 2005, permanently disfiguring her face and rendering her a physical and emotional wreck. "My life turned a nightmare the day I was attacked," she said, holding back tears. "I was devastated to see even my bosom buddies avoiding me. I wanted to end my life when I saw my face in the mirror the first time after the disaster. If I am alive today, it is because of my parents, who came to my rescue and rekindled my desire to live. Their pep talks and moral support helped me regain enough strength and confidence to fight the trauma. I am back on track and am contributing to save the suffering souls like me, by helping them fight the trauma."
Ritu, who was the victim of a similar sinister attack in 2012, broke down while narrating her story. Ritu's own cousin threw acid on her face. "It takes a lot of time for you to accept the ground reality that you have lost your face," she said. "And coming out of this trauma, though not impossible, was not so easy either. Meeting Laxmi and getting associated with the Stop Acid Attacks campaign gave me a new lease on life. I am pursuing my passion of designing cards — I may soon open a shop and support my family, besides helping survivors like me."
Incredible as it may sound, there are no specialty government or corporate hospitals in the country to deal with cases of acid attacks. There are no counseling centers where survivors can share their grief and sorrow and seek the requisite information. There are no NGOs worth the name which can fight for the rights of those affected. They are left with no choice but to fend for themselves. The survivors have to undergo a surfeit of surgeries to get their faces back into shape, which costs a fortune in the absence of adequate financial support from the government. Laxmi, Ritu and Rupa had to undergo more than five surgeries each.
One night back in 2008, Rupa was fast asleep when her step mother tip-toed to her bed under the cover of darkness and poured acid on her face. Rupa told us in a choked voice, "My step mother had no inkling my father had a daughter too, besides a son — my father had concealed this fact from her at the time of their marriage. I became the victim of her hatred and jealousy. Post this incident, my friends and other kids in the neighborhood would run away on seeing my acid-stricken face. I used to stir out of the house after covering my face. I was at a loss to know what exactly happened to me. Can you believe I didn't see my face in the mirror for three years after the incident? When I faced it for the first time, I fainted and fell down on the ground. Even after regaining consciousness, I could not convince myself that it was me."
Today, these gritty young ladies are not only meeting the formidable challenge of their own lives but are also fighting for the rights of others of their ilk by extending a helping hand in winning over the social stigma and depression and learning to live life as a normal human being. Their initiative has worked wonders for these young minds behind the endeavour, in terms of reaching out to the victims of such happenings. It is encouraging to note that the women behind this life-saving effort have been rewarded. Laxmi's dedication and zeal has won her accolades worldwide. She bagged the coveted International Women of Courage Award and was felicitated by the U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama for successfully leading the Stop Acid Attacks campaign.
However, it is matter of grave concern that in our country acid is easily available in markets despite the punitive measures that the law-dispensing mechanism has put in place to check its open sale. Those caught flouting the rule go scot free every time they are nabbed. There is a need to check these grey areas through stringent laws and by accelerating the pace of the dispensation of justice.
http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/survivors-unite-to-stop-acid-attacks
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