In 2015, there were 249 recorded acid attacks in India. According to the Human Rights Law Network, there is under-reporting and these figures hide the scale of the problem. It estimates the number of acid attacks to be around 1000 per year.
In 2017, the Indian government brought into force legislation designed to help tackle the pervasive crime of acid throwing by giving victims official recognition. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act will now define acid attack survivors as physically disabled. Its implementation means they can gain access to employment in the government and education sectors through disability quotas and reserved places.
Under Section 326A of the Indian penal code, acid attacks have been classified as a distinct, specific offence, carrying a penalty of imprisonment for a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life The new act has been hailed as progressive, but some activists have raised reservations about the law’s implementation. This is because most victims come from low-income groups with minimal education and limited computer skills. More than free medicines, they need safe places to stay and witness protection from the attackers and their attempts to stop the prosecution. The right intervention would have been to stop attacks from happening, be serious about punishing perpetrators and ensuring proper medical treatment by introducing more burns unit in hospitals.
The Supreme Court of India has already ordered to limit over-the-counter acid sales to people over 18 and mandates the maintenance of a register recording details of the buyers. The implementation has not been really effective as acid continues to be sold for low as Rs 15-20 a bottle. Twenty rupees is all it takes to scar someone’s life irrevocably. In fact, what the government needs to do is introduce a complete ban because acid has only harmful effects and has destroyed the lives of so many women in our country.
According to Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI), 80% of acid attack victims are women. Reasons for the attacks include revenge for turning down a marriage proposal, family and land disputes, suspicions of infidelity, domestic violence and spurned sexual advances. The act, done in a matter of seconds, takes around four to five months for just the life-changing physical wounds to heal.
When the acid is thrown on a face, the eyelids, lips and nose may burn off completely, closing the nostrils, and the ears shrivel up. The skin and bones including those on the skull, forehead, cheeks and chin might dissolve. At times, the splash causes acid to drip over the neck, trickle over to chest, back, arms, hands and legs, burning every inch of the skin it touches.
When the wounds from an acid burn heal, they form thick scars that pull the skin tight and cause disfigurement. In 90% of the cases, the eyesight of the victim is adversely affected, causing blindness. The victim has to live with both physical and emotional consequences for life.
If you have wondered why the perpetrators commit such a heinous crime, it is aimed at destroying the individuality and identity of a person. The act changes people, from how they look to how they feel. Like any other criminal, the attacker at that moment feels the power to cause chaos to a human being, leaving her agonised and helpless. For this act of nihilism the person who commits this act is a criminal who you cannot reason with and for this reason, the government should ensure that they face severe punishment.
Women who have faced this brutality have refused to back down. They have emerged as strong fighters. It is time that we share the stories of those who have refused to hide their scars and emerged as heroes for others to get inspired. One such woman is Laxmi Agarwal whose story will be brought on screen by Meghna Gulzar.
On March 25, Deepika Padukone released the first look of Chhapaak (Splash) which marks the first time an Indian movie takes up the issue of acid attacks. It is based on the story of Laxmi Agarwal, who was attacked for rejecting the advances of a man twice her age. When the attack happened, Laxmi was 15.
Padukone plays Malti, “a character that will stay with me forever.”
A Twitter user wrote, “She is courage. She is hope. She is Deepika Padukone as #Malti in#Chhapaak”
This is POWERFUL.
Her eyes projects both lingering sadness and undying hope.
As I said earlier too nobody portrays both fragility and steely grit with mere eyes the way Deepika does among her contemporaries.
Prosthetic artist deserves highest applause,come thru team #Chhapaak .. pic.twitter.com/40k9SqBAuq— Perfectly Average (@manishtamancha) March 25, 2019
Since her attack, Agarwal has campaigned for stricter regulation of acid sales in India. She has walked the runway for New York Fashion Week, delivered a TEDx talk and received the US State Department’s International Women of Courage Award from Michelle Obama.
“Chhapaak” is scheduled for release January 10, 2020. Let us hope that with films like this, the attention is brought on the shining example of women like Laxmi whose unending inquisitiveness, ceaseless bravery and world-changing creativity inspires each one of us. They are heroes for the world.