I will continue to fight: Acid attack survivor Laxmi

In 2005, she was attacked with acid by a spurned lover 17 years elder to her, while she was going to a bookstore. The deadly attack disfigured her face, ears, hands and chest but could not scar her spirits.

Laxmi, now 23, is fighting against acid attacks. She had filed a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking tougher regulations on the sale of acid and harsher punishment for attackers.

Subsequently, the apex court on July 18 directed that the crime be made a non-bailable offence and ordered state governments to pay Rs 3 lakh compensation to the victims. The court also asked states to frame rules to regulate the sale of acid. The ruling brought her some happiness, but attacks continue even after the ruling.

Talking to dna, Laxmi explains why the victims still continue to suffer. Edited excerpts.

Why have acid attacks not stopped even after the SC ruling?
Attacks will only stop when implementation of the ruling will be done properly. You can still buy and sell acid at local shops. We fought a long legal battle to ensure that acid is not sold freely, and now that the Supreme Court had directed the states to control the sale, it is the duty of state governments to stop unchecked sale of acid.

What needs to be done to help the victims?
Life never remains the same after an acid attack. Most of the victims come from poor families and don’t have enough money to undergo plastic surgeries. The medications cost lakhs of rupees. Even after eight years, I have some surgeries left. It is a never-ending fight. We want the government to increase the compensation that is paid to victims.

How difficult is life after the attack?
It is a long struggle for all of us. When a person meets you, the first impression is created by your looks. People shudder when they look at us. How do we make friends when people turn their back on us? After my face was disfigured, many friends and relatives all turned away from me. Now, most of my friends are only acid attack victims.

What can be done to make the society sensitive towards acid attack victims?
The first thing which people need to accept is that the face is just an outer appearance. There is much more to a human being than the face. Also, I am a victim and not an accused. I was attacked because I stood for my rights and said no to someone I did not want to be with. Please don’t hate us for how we look, we are just like you.