27th Jan 2022, Delhi
On 27th January, 2023, we organised for our survivors to watch Shah Rukh Khan’s most awaited movie, Pathan. It was an extremely special moment for all of them as Shah Rukh Khan has been a big part of their healing journey. According to the Indian National Crimes Bureau (NCRB), in 2018, there were 228 acid attacks reported in India. However, many attacks likely go unreported. Hence the number of actual attacks would be much higher. Research says that most victims are women and girls, and most attacks often occur publicly at places like colleges, roads, and schools. In recent years, the Indian government has taken measures to address the issue by passing new acid-specific legislation around the control of the sale of acid and compensation for survivors. Acid Survivors Trust International says that in most cases (76%), the attack is committed by a person who is known to the victim. Outside of educating the society about the lives and needs of survivors, it is also necessary for survivors to occupy social spaces. We aim to acquaint the society with the survivors and the survivors with the society. To make a survivor’s existence, company, and presence a regularity, nothing out of the ordinary, for passive onlookers. Some ways to boost this process is to ensure their presence in public spaces, such as parks, markets, museums, theatres - both film and drama, among others. An added benefit of such re-introduction is building confidence in the survivors to occupy spaces, individually. The survivors poured their hearts out in gratitude. Gulnaz, an acid attack survivor, says, “Such initiatives are extremely helpful for survivors like me, we get an opportunity to reintegrate in the society”.