This is how the three acid attack survivors laxmi, Ritu and Rupa sum up their journey towards self-healing and recovery.
Years after they were left disfigured in deadly acid attacks, the trio is now fighting against acid attacks and also supporting the acid attack survivors to give them a new lease of life.
Honoured with the International Women of Courage Award, laxmi, 24, is spearheading the “Stop Acid Attack” campaign to stop acid attacks and rehabilitate its survivors and also wants the Government to provide necessary support to acid attack victims.
In Chandigarh to launch the grief support helpline, laxmi stresses on the need of effective measures to stop selling of acid and strict laws to deal with the accused in such cases.
It was nearly nine years back, when her face was ravaged by an acid attack by a man whose marriage proposal she had declined. Recalling the incident, laxmi says that we do not demand death penalty for the culprits in acid attack cases but atleast there must be a provision of fast track courts and the case should be disposed of in three months.
Even after the directions of the Supreme Court for regulating acid sale, acid is being sold freely in the markets of major cities. This has to be stopped by the Government. Even, I have purchased the acid from various markets in the country, says laxmi.
According to the recent SC guidelines, the buyer would have to show identify proof to purchase acid and a record of acid purchasers would be maintained by the shopkeeper. However, acid bottles are purchased easily without any identity proof sought by the shopkeepers.
A `20 bottle is enough to ruin someone’s life and to stop growing number of acid attack, we first have to stop the easy availability of acid in the country, adds laxmi while articulating her concerns on the current state of affairs in the country. The horrific acid attack took not only a physical toll on laxmi but also financial one as she has undergone eight surgeries so far.
Sharing the trauma and difficulties faced by the acid attack victims in the country, she tells that the immediate treatment for the victims is not available. A hospital should be set up for the victims where medical treatment, counseling and other facilities should be provided to them. As facial surgery treatments are very expensive, the Government should bear the cost and also make it mandatory for private and Government hospitals to provide free treatment to the acid attack victims, she demands.
Recounting her own experience on how the battle has to be fought on multiple fronts by an acid attack victim, she says, better compensation for victims is necessary to give them a new lease of life, besides emotional support. There is a need of proper counseling for such victims so as to reintegrate them into mainstream society.
Sitting besides her, Ritu turned emotional and tears rolled down her face as she talked about the acid attack she became victim of in 2012 due to a property dispute.
Ritu’s disappointment was thinly veiled when she shared her story. Her medical treatment is still ongoing and she accentuated the need of emotional support that should be provided to the victim of an acid attack.
Sharing her woes, Rupa says, “I did not see my face in the mirror for three years after the acid attack and used to cover my face.” “I was doused with acid by my stepmother, but my family’s brutality has not stopped me from achieving my dream. I am launching my own fashion label and hopes to help other acid attack victims through my work, adds she.
From their fear of facing the mirror after acid attack to their courage of moving freely without shying away and covering their faces, the trio have come a long way. As they face the flurry of flashlights, cameras, they confidently posed sharing their tales of sorrows and happiness after the acid attack.
“Our dreams have not died and we are still pursuing it… Rupa is preparing to start her own fashion label, Ritu wants to do something in sports and I have learnt tailoring and beautician work,” concludes laxmi.
The trio is also associated with ‘Chhanv’, an adobe for acid attack fighters' rehabilitation to provide a shelter home to acid attack survivors undergoing treatment in New Delhi.