In Photos: Acid Attack Survivors Walk the Ramp to Create Awareness

“We are proud to be women and no one can rob us of that title, which stands for love and peace,” one survivor said.

Acid attack survivors walk on the runway during a fashion show to mark International Women’s Day in Thane on the outskirts of Mumbai, India.

(Photo Courtesy: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui)

Patriarchy, discrimination or acid attacks won’t hold them back from marching forward in their lives. On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, several female acid attack survivors walked the ramp of a fashion show in Thane to spread this message.

The third edition of the initiative called ‘ExtraordiNAARI’ at Viviana Mall, Mumbai, was an attempt to sensitise people to put an end to such crimes and launch a campaign against illegal sale of acid.

An acid attack survivor has her make-up done backstage, prior to a fashion show to mark International Women’s Day in Thane on the outskirts of Mumbai, India, 8 March 2018.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui)

Laxmi Agarwal, an acid attack survivor, a campaigner with Stop Acid Attacks, and a TV personality who speaks for the rights of women who have gone through a similar ordeal, told PTI that her scars are a reminder of the narrow-minded approach of the society, but her grit and determination to live keeps motivating her everyday.

“As an acid attack survivor, it was, and still is, a challenge to start everything from zero. It’s difficult to concentrate on anything when a part of your body is still burning from inside,” said Ms Agarwal, who was a guest at the fashion show held at a mall on the eve of International Women’s Day.

Acid attack survivors walk on the runway during a fashion show to mark International Women’s Day in Thane on the outskirts of Mumbai.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui)

An acid attack survivor has her make-up done backstage prior to a fashion show to mark International Women’s Day in Thane on the outskirts of Mumbai.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui)

But she hopes to create a safer society that treats all sexes and genders as equals.

"We are proud to be women and no one can rob us of that title, which stands for love and peace," she said.

A man had hurled acid on Ms Agarwal in 2005, when she was only 15-years-old, after she spurned his advances.

Later, she launched a campaign against acid attacks to curb the illegal sale of acid.

Acid attack survivors walk on the runway during a fashion show to mark International Women’s Day in Thane on the outskirts of Mumbai.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui)

The other acid attack survivors also had similar tales of horror and sufferings that they have had to bear, but all of them expressed their resolve to fight for justice and create a safer society for women.

An official of the mall said that it was also open to creating job opportunities for the acid attack survivors.

A acid attack survivor waits before the start of a fashion show to mark International Women’s Day in Thane on the outskirts of Mumbai.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui)

(With inputs from PTI)