Campaign to support acid attack survivors launched

A campaign was launched here on Monday to provide moral and financial support to acid attack survivors in north India and help them reintegrate into mainstream society.

Launched by Acid Survivors Foundation of India (ASFI), the drive -- War against Acid Violence -- is aimed at raising public awareness through social, educational and regulatory measures against acid attacks in India.

ASFI, which is believed to have identified more than 500 acid attack survivors across India, stated that north India had the highest incidents of acid violence, accounting for 58 percent of the attacks in the country followed by eastern India accounting for 18 percent.

The campaign was launched in the presence of Justice Ajit Prakash Shah, chairman, Law Commission of India, Lalita Kumaramangalam, chairperson of the National Commission for Women and R.P. Narayan, head of Safdarjung hospital's burns department.

Divita Kanoria, president of ASFI's northern chapter said: "Our vision is to wipe out acid violence from India through social, educational and regulatory measures."

"This inhuman crime is occurring more frequently and hence it is necessary to make our services available to more and more acid attack survivors," said Kanoria.

"Our aim is to promote an enlightened attitude towards human rights, gender equality, and women empowerment through various means," Kanoria added.

Through its chapter and partners, the ASFI has been reaching out to survivors all over India.

Apart from helping the victims in their treatment, the ASFI has also facilitated compensation from the government and raised funds for survivors' rehabilitation.

Rahul Varma, national director and the CEO of ASFI, said: "We have a vision to eradicate this heinous crime from India. ASFI uses a multi-pronged approach to support its cause.

"At the first stage, it provides care and support to the identified victim. This is followed by community-based programmes to spread awareness and prevent recurrence of such attacks through collaboration with NGOs and supporting service organisations."

Authorities of ASFI also announced that they plan to set up a psycho-social burn-cum-rehabilitation centre to provide holistic care to acid attack survivors.