- A woman who turned down a man’s proposal was attacked with acid in her neighbourhood in 2014. The attack took away her vision. But Jhuma Santra recovered, physically not completely but psychologically. The 40-year-old runs a business of dry fish in the winter months. For rest of year, she sells night suits and dresses.
- Tanuja Khatun was attacked with acid when she was a schoolgirl. The 30-year-old has rebuilt her life and now not only makes a living for herself by doing hand embroidery but also employs about 10 women and men.
Acid attack survivors who travelled to the city from various parts of West Bengal shared their stories of struggle and the fight to rebuild their lives, in many cases with no family support.
“Perhaps it was because I did not have my family beside me that I was able to stand up. There was a time when I would cover my face but after a point I stopped. Why should I try to hide my face when I am not at fault?” asked Pompa Das.
The women and a few men were speaking on the occasion of the completion of one year of the Bengal chapter of Brave Souls Foundation, an organisation that works with acid attack survivors for their education, health, surgeries, counselling, litigation and employment.
The organisation was started in Delhi in 2021 by Shaheen Malik, herself a survivor.
“For three years after the attack, I was running either to the hospital or to the court. I had stopped going to the balcony or stepping out in my neighbourhood. One day I was fine and the next day I had disabilities (she lost one eye after the attack). In 2013, I started working with other survivors and my life got a new meaning. I felt content and went on to start an organisation,” said Malik.
Despite finding jobs, acid attack survivors face insensitivity and inflexibility in organisations. This should change, said Malik.
“Organisations expect an acid attack survivor to work in the same way as others but it is difficult because our immunity is weak and our eyes get tired after some time,” she said.
Malik has had 25 surgeries on her face.
Some survivors have to have more surgeries.
Malik said it takes time to rebuild life after an attack because many survivors go into depression and have to be counselled so they can earn a living.
“We support them with funds to start their own business. Many of them are doing very well on their own,” said Aparajita Bose, coordinator of the Kolkata chapter of the foundation.
Jhuma Santra cannot see but she makes rakhis.
“Last season, I sold rakhis worth Rs 7,000 and that has motivated me to make many more this year,” Santra said.
Tanuja Khatun makes weekly payments to the people she employs. “It takes time to reach where I have reached today. But I have been able to,” she said.
Her father had to sell their shop in Mograhat, South 24-Parganas, to fund her treatment.
During the programme on Thursday, Das made an appeal. “Acid should not be sold openly in the market. It can change a person’s life and we have borne the brunt of it,” she said.