Training fills confidence in acid attack victims

Thirty-four-year-old Reshma was pregnant and could not apprehend for some time when her husband threw acid on her private parts for giving birth to five daughters. Ashama was also pregnant when her in-laws attacked with her acid as she rushed to save her sister who was forcefully being hanged for dowry.

The list of acid attacks on women is endless bringing a sudden stop to their dreams and desires. With a hope to give themselves a support that they can rely on and empower them with skills to make them self sufficient, Project Udaan was born.

The three-week residential training camp was held at Father Agnel School, Greater Noida ended on Saturday. The camp included ten acid attack survivors between varied age group from different cities of the country.

“Project Udaan is a flight towards a life where these acid attack survivors would not require depending on anyone for their survival and happiness,” Ashish Shukla, one of the founding members of Chaanv.

The project is a collaborative effort of Chhanv Foundation, an NGO dedicated to empower the survivors of acid violence and a corporate training company – Ladders Institute.

Udaan was envisioned and initiated by an entrepreneur Chetan Singh and his wife Guneet K Sachdev, founder and head trainer of Ladders Institute. The core team includes Chetan Singh, Guneet K Sachdev, Shrruti Singh, Ipsa Pratibimbita, Aashritha Mathur, Shailja Shrivastava and Project Jazba, Enactus Miranda House.

“When women become victim to acid attacks, they not only deal with the physical, mental and social pain, but are also left largely by themselves. Since their exposure to academic and professional worlds had anyway been very limited, it becomes all the more difficult for them to explore what’s next for them in life. The idea is to give them basic skills, and expose them to the world of options they have for the future,” said Ashish.

The activities undertaken during the training sessions include on communication skills, spoken English, customer service, chocolate making, grooming, etiquette, weaving, knitting, etc.

“The workshop is a combination of theoretical and practical discussions as well as more personal reflections on future creation. We start the day with yoga and meditation, being organized by Art of Living volunteers to provide patience and remove the isolation after the attack.

Training in hospitality
“During the day, we have various training activities which also include self-defense like Aikido and martial arts. The survivors were also trained in hospitality because many of them are employed at the various outlets of the Sheroes Hangout. We intersperse these with sessions on handwriting therapy, music, art & craft and dance,” said Vasini Sharma, co-ordinator of the project.

Narrating her story Reshma said she was attacked with acid on July 24, 2013 while she was pregnant for the sixth time after giving birth to five daughters.

“My husband wanted a son and one day while I was doing my routine work at home, he asked me to have a sex determination test of the upcoming child, to which I refused. He physically assaulted me and in the evening after coming back from work threw acid on my private parts. My daughters came running to me after the incident with ointments which would have never healed the scars,” she said.

Other survivors include Ashama, Shanti, Preeti, Garima, Ruqqaiya, Madhu, Rupali, Rupa and Sonia.

Sonia said she, along with all her fellow survivors, have an altogether different energy and confidence in them after the training.