New Delhi: As per the statistics of Acid Survivors Trust International, 1,500 cases of acid attacks are reported worldwide every year. A large number of such attacks also goes unreported due to the fear of reprisal. The highest contributors to this figure are South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. India leads the count with 250 cases being reported every year on average, according to the National Bureau of Crime Records (NCRB).
In 2014, the number of acid attack cases that were reported was 203. The figures were 222 in 2015, 283 in 2016, 252 in 2017, and 228 in 2018. It has been reported that a big reason for such high figures is the fact that acid is easy to lay hands on illegally, and at very cheap prices, in the aforementioned South Asian countries.
Kabir Kohli, a 13-year-old student of Shri Ram School, was interning with an HR consulting firm when he first learned about acid attack survivors, their challenges, the money it costs for their treatment, the loss of education, lack of access to health facilities, the delayed justice, etc. It affected him so much that the next year, he decided to strive toward a change.
That's how Project 'Abhang' (Unbroken) came into being. Kabir got a big support when another student from his school, Anahaita Kapoor, joined the cause.
However, the journey of this initiative hasn't been easy as they faced several challenges, they say. Things became easier after Kabir and Anahita were able to convince an NGO, Brave Soul Foundation, to join them in their initiative.
Shaheen Malik, the founder of this NGO, is an acid attack and gender-based violence survivor herself. She lost an eye, has poor vision in her remaining eye and severe facial scarring. Following her traumatic experience, Shaheen devoted her life to working on improving the lives of those who have survived acid attacks and gender-based violence.
She established Apna Ghar, a shelter where victims of acid attacks may find housing, focus on their mental health and well-being, pursue their education, master computer skills, and restore their self-confidence.
Kabir and Anahita have developed a business strategy with eight other survivors under Shaheen's guidance.
Their goal is to establish a self-sufficient and expandable business in the cosmetics sector. They have started the process of fundraising money for this, contacting malls to secure kiosk space, and training survivors in makeup techniques.
With Abhang, the team looks to sensitise people towards the plight of acid attack survivors besides empowering them to be able to sustain themselves.