Recent Initiatives

Siragu

Acid Survivors and Women Welfare Foundation (ASWWF) is dedicated to bring about a change in the society. Siragu was conceptualized and launched in February 2018 by an energetic and passionate group of college students, under the guidance of ASWWF. Project SIRAGU is focused on the upliftment of women living in urban slums and survivors of acid violence in Chennai.

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, Dr. H P Kanoria, the honorable Chairman of ASWWF himself was present at the event. 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, 2 survivors have completed their MBA and are rearing to take up a career of their choice.
  • 3 other 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

  • ASWWF has been assisting the survivors in getting compensation money. In last one year 6 no. of 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 SREI 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 Womens’ 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.