R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, MAY 21
Chennai chapter of the Acid Survivors & Women Welfare Foundation (ASWWF) launched the campaign – ‘Silence Will not Protect Women’ in Chennai on Friday.
The campaign was unveiled by Dr H P Kanoria, Chairman, ASWWF in the presence of dignitaries – Justice Jayanti, Anil Meshram, IAS, Princess Vidya Singh, Princess of Vijayanagaram, S Chandrashekhar, Senior Corporate Advisor and V. Manickam, IPS.
Unveiling the campaign Dr Kanoria said “Through this campaign, our vision is to create awareness to completely eradicate acid attacks from India through social, educational and regulatory procedures. As this inhuman crime of acid violence is increasing in India, it is becoming necessary to make our services available to more and more acid attack survivors. We endeavour to promote an enlightened attitude towards human rights, gender equality, women’s awakening and empowerment through various means
Manisha Lohia president ASWWF South India chapter said, “launching of this campaign is very appropriate because in most cases violence against women a united rebuke is not made and women suffer I silence leading to more silence.”
Rahul Varma, Vice Chairman, ASWWF said, “Acid violence is one of the most heinous crimes against humanity. Besides the various measures adopted by us for supporting the cause of survivors, we plan to set up a psycho social burn rehabilitation centre that will provide holistic care to survivors. ASWWF would coordinate and collaborate with various NGO’s/organizations engaged in similar work for advocacy of acid related causes; including adequate compensation, free or subsidized medical treatment, rehabilitation and exemplary punishment to culprits.”
What to do in an emergency
- Wash the affected area with a lot of water.
- Preferably put the scar under running water.
- Keep doing the process for at least 30 minutes.
- Call for ambulance
- Never use cold water or ice
Creating awareness on skin donation is the need of the hour
Dignitaries who had addressed at the launching event advocated an urgent need to create awareness on skin donation to the masses, as it will help not only help acid survivors and also those who sustain severe burn injuries.
Activities of ASWWF
Acid Survivors & Women Welfare Foundation (ASWWF) reached out to survivors from across India to help them in their treatment, facilitating their compensation from the government. The foundation has been carrying the campaign, demonstration, street plays to stop this heinous crime of throwing acid and preventing sale of acid.
Renowned social activists, philanthropists, industrialists, physicians and surgeons from different parts of India are supporting this noble cause. ASWWF has already conducted a joint awareness programme with police department covering the police stations under their jurisdiction. The activities of the foundation have also been internationally recognized when it was awarded a “Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition” by the Members of Congress, USA.
The foundation uses a four pronged approach to support the cause. At first stage, they provide care and support to the identified victims followed by community based programmes on prevention of such attacks by collaborating with NGO’s supporting service government organizations for providing assistance to victims.
400 acid survivors identified across the nation
ASWWF has identified over 400 acid attack survivors in the country which include 64 survivors from Southern India. As per NCRB Eastern regions has the highest incidents of acid violence accounting for nearly 37% of the attacks while Northern region with 35%, Southern region with 15% and western region with 13%.
In Southern India between 2016 and 2021 (6 years) the highest incidents in acid violence are in Kerala- 60 cases followed by Andhra Pradesh 42, Karnataka 35, Tamil Nadu 27, Telangana 22 and Goa 3. In 2022 there are three incidents in the region, one each in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
For further details browse: https://aswwf.org/
