The urgent need to combat acid crime in India led to the founding of Acid Survivors Foundation India (ASFI) in 2010. The name ASFI was changed to ASWWF (Acid Survivors of Women Welfare Foundation) as its scope of work was expanded and it has now been working to mitigate all forms of violence against women through carrying out advocacy and prevention campaigns to raise public awareness to usher in changes in attitude towards them.
Siragu
An initiative of ASWWF, aims to empower the under-privileged women with skills and provide them the infrastructure to be financially stable thereby enabling them to uphold their human rights and live a life of dignity and honour. ASWWF, operates on pan-India basis from Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Patna and Bhubaneswar.
Launch of ASWWF Odisha Chapter
On 28th of October 2017, ASWWF launched its Odisha Chapter in Bhubaneshwar, in the presence of Shri. Surya Narayan Patra, Minister of Food, Civil Supply, Consumer Welfare & Cooperation, Govt. of Odisha; Shri Y B Khurania, Commissioner of Police Bhubaneswar & Cuttack; ShriLalit Das, Special Secretary (Home Department Govt. Of Orissa); Dr. Arun Kumar Chowdhury (Head Of the Department Plastic Surgery, SCB Medical College, Cuttack) and other eminent personalities, to extend our services to victims from this region.
Launch of ASWWF Bihar Chapter
Acid Survivors and Women Welfare Foundation (ASWWF) launched its Bihar Chapter on 2nd of April, 2018, in Patna, Bihar. At the launch of the chapter ShriMangalPandey, Health minister of Bihar who was the chief guest of the programme, announced to give Rs. 5 lacs to acid attack survivors of Bihar for treatment in any Central Government Heath Scheme (CGHS) approved hospital. Along with the health minister of the state, Shri Manu Maharaj (IPS), Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna and Dr. V. P Choudhury HOD, Plastic Surgery, Patna Medical College were among the dignitaries to have been present at the programme.
SAMARPAN
An outlet SAMARPAN for showcasing the handiwork of acid survivors has been set up for the first time in India, at Kolkata by ASWWF.
Women Welfare Initiative
- Project “SIRAGU – Wings of Change”, an initiative of ASWWF has been launched to empower women by providing them a platform for self-development and independence.
- A car rally for children was arranged, in aid of ASWWF. It was made possible by iSpark, a holistic fitness studio, an initiative of SREI Foundation.
Vocational Training
A computer training center has been opened, benefitting acid survivors and disadvantaged women. The center was started with equipments and support from Inner Wheel Club, Kolkata.
World Environment Day celebrated
Kanoria Foundation in association with ASWWF celebrated World Environment Day on 5th of June, 2017, with a message “We care for them, they care for mother earth”.
Educational Assistance
- With support from the foundation many survivors have completed their MBA and are rearing to take up a career of their choice.
- Many survivors are also pursuing their higher education at Satyabhama University, Chennai.
- Children of the survivors are being provided financial assistance for completion of their education.
Fight against Human Trafficking
The whole hearted holistic support given by ASWWF for rehabilitating young trafficked girls from South of Bengal has transformed their lives and empowered them to live a life of dignity and worth. These youngsters have been given training and have taken up vocations like tailoring, shop-keeping, beauty care, agriculture, rice-milling and animal rearing. Their empowerment has given them social acceptability, emboldened them to fight stigma and injustice and above all given them tremendous confidence in themselves to start a new life.
Legal Support & Medical Treatment
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ASWWF has been assisting the survivors in getting compensation money. In last one year many survivors have received compensation money.
- 63 acid survivors all over India were being assisted financially for pursuing their medical treatment, including 5 who underwent treament at specialty hospitals, in last one year.
Assistance in facilitating Employment
5 survivors had been employed in Lemon Tree Hotels (fast growing hotel chain in India) and 3 of the survivors are employed in our foundation itself (2017-2018). Monetary assistance for starting business and vocational courses are also provided to many survivors by ASWWF.
Awareness
- Celebrated World Environment Day with a message “We care for them, they care for mother earth”.
Organised several seminars in last one year where many eminent people including the chairperson of West Bengal Women’s Commission participated. - ASWWF participated in a programme on empowerment of women organized by Nari Shakti Abhyuday (Kolkata) in Association with India
- World Foundation (New Delhi) where 4 survivors were also felicitated. ASWWF has been spreading awareness at both domestic and international level using different media – radio, television, films, street plays, and social media.
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ACTIVITIES OF ASWWF
A beautician course being conducted by UK experts for our Acid Survivors in Kolkata.
Samarpan, a Confectionary opened and run by Acid Survivors courtesy ASWWF.
ASWWF Advisory meet in Delhi.
ASWWF observing World Environment day with school children.
Dr. Rahul Varma, CEO, ASWWF with Ms. Tini Sawhney, CEO of Aga Khan Foundation in New Delhi, working together for a common cause “Service to Humanity”.
ASWWF celebrates World Women’s Day with Acid Survivors.
ASWWF collaborating with other social organization – Inner Wheel Club of South Calcutta supporting Acid Survivors.
ICC SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD for Promoting Gender Equality & Women Empowerment received by the CEO of ASWWF, Dr. Rahul Varma.
A charity ball was organized by ASWWF in New York bringing the world together to fight against Acid Attacks.
Creating Awareness amongst college students to prevent acid attacks, organized by ASWWF in Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata.
Media Coverage – ASWWF bringing Acid Survivors to the main stream of society.
Fighting against Acid violence globally with an Acid Survivor in New York.
Distribution of food to the Acid survivors during the Covid Pandemic.
Cultural Programme organised by ASWWF in Kolkata.
URJA organised a “Urja- Students’ Blood Donation Festival” where Usha Naskar, an acid attack survivor was the chief guest. URJA’s theme was “Beauty Behind Scars”.
On International Women’s Day, Moyna Pramanick, one of our acid survivors, speaks at the event captioned ‘Women hold up the half sky’.
Omskylark Residents Durgotsav Committee invited Acid Survivours at their Durga puja celebration.
Mahuakunjo have organized Durga Pujo pandal hopping with Acid Survivours.
Social Research Interaction organized Online Zoom Interview with the Acid Survivors.
MOTO VISION with support of ASWWF organized “Let’s stand together in the war against Acid Attack” at AQUAMARINA, Hooghly District.
A programme was organised to celebrate National Girl Child day at the Samaj Unnayan Kendra (SUK) Auditorium in Baruipur, West Bengal.
Ekannoborti, a Kolkata based organisation observed Social Awareness Day to felicitate Acid Survivors and Women Welfare Foundation (ASWWF).
Mauro De Bettio, a Spanish Photographer organized a photo-shoot programme for Acid Survivours in Kolkata to create awareness.
At GGBK’s office in South 24 Pgs an associate of ASWWF.
Amazon proposes employment opportunities for acid survivors.
AANUKULYA, a Non-Profitable Organization along with ASWWF celebrates Holi with Acid Survivors.
A Seminar on Employment Opportunity to Acid Attack Survivors at Amazon warehouse at Uluberia.
Tagore International School, New Delhi has been working closely with ASWWF and has been organizing a fundraising program for the benefit of Acid Attack Survivors called NINAAD.
An Interactive Photo Session with Acid Survivors was organized by ASWWF in the presence of Dr. Denise Baker, a UK-based photojournalist and documentary photographer.
Xavier Law School under St. Xavier’s University in New Town created an awareness programme amongst their students about ‘Violence against Women’ with ASWWF.
GlamourX Nari Shakti Award” was organised by GlamourX India at Holiday Inn Hotel in Chinnerpark with ASWWF.
ODISHA CHAPTER
ASWWF ODISHA Chapter called upon Commissioner of Police and discussed about Chapter’s activities.
Acid Survivors and Women Welfare Foundation Odisha Chapter has taken a lead in creating awareness about acid violence at Angisingi Village of Nayagarh District, Odisha on 31st January, 2022. Another programme was conducted at Little Shershah Club in Odisha.
The representative of ASWWF Odisha chapter visited the victim’s family.
CHENNAI CHAPTER
- Providing logistics and medicine supports for Acid Survivors getting treated through Shankar Netralaya –
43 survivours supported from January – December, 2023 –
7 survivors supported in January – February, 2023 - SIRAGU conducted one year tailoring course for 34 women from slums of Chennai, sponsored by PWC.
- 34 basic sewing machines were presented to successful candidates.
- 10 hands-free washing system installed in schools and PHC (Public Health Centre). About 2500 hand washes being done daily even now. Project sponsored by young Indians.
- Jute products being made and sold at the center for school books distribution – Agarwal Vidyalaya School
- Bag of happiness made for school children donate a handful of rice every month for destitute home and orphanages.
