NEW DELHI: Acid attack survivors in India continue to face deep-rooted stigma and negative public perceptions that fuel anxiety and depression, compounding the trauma of their injuries, according to a study released on Tuesday.
India records more than 1,000 acid attacks every year, but a large number of cases go unreported because of stigma and fear of retaliation, the study said.
Beyond the immediate physical and psychological trauma, survivors face severe hardship due to limited access to healthcare and legal remedies, particularly in underserved and remote areas.
The study, the first globally to use body mapping with acid attack survivors, found that many women lose access to education and livelihoods because of their appearance, making it extremely difficult to rebuild their lives.
Survivors repeatedly encounter poor public perceptions and negative societal attitudes, leading to persistent feelings of devaluation, anxiety and depression.
“Our findings show that stigma can be as disabling as the initial injury itself,” said Pratishtha Singh, lead author of the study and a researcher at The George Institute for Global Health.
“Survivors face rejection from families, barriers to education and employment, and constant scrutiny in public spaces. These are not individual tragedies. They are failures of social and governance systems,” she added.
Researchers from The George Institute for Global Health India, in partnership with the Chhanv Foundation, examined the lived realities of acid attack survivors in India, focusing on everyday stigma and the strategies survivors use to cope with it. The foundation provides medical care, vocational training, legal aid, safe accommodation, employment and advocacy.
Chhanv Foundation also runs the Sheroes Hangout Café and the Stop Acid Attacks campaign. The café is managed by acid attack survivors and operates in cities including Delhi, Noida, Agra and Lucknow.
Alok Dixit, founder of Chhanv Foundation, said, “We hope this research encourages policymakers to invest in long-term rehabilitation, not just emergency care. Survivors deserve education, employment and dignity, just like anyone else.”
Ajeet Singh, Chief Operations Officer at Chhanv Foundation, said, “Many of the girls and women at Chhanv turn their pain into advocacy. This study captures not just their challenges, but also their power.”
Anshu Rajput, an acid attack survivor, said, “If you go for a job in any place, they will reject you at once because of your face. You cannot do anything. Now, in this café where we are working, even now some people will see our faces and go away from the restaurant.”
The study was conducted in Noida between November 2023 and April 2024 and involved eight women survivors.
Researchers used an arts-based participatory method known as body mapping, in which participants sketched and annotated life-sized outlines of their bodies to express emotions, memories, pain and resilience.
The method is considered empowering, as trauma, communication barriers and limited literacy often make verbal expression difficult.
The study recommended several measures to improve rehabilitation and social integration of survivors.
These include stronger long-term psychosocial support, better access to education and employment, stricter enforcement of regulations and a ban on the sale of acid, timely disbursal of survivor compensation, expanded access to reconstructive and rehabilitative healthcare, and integrated one-stop support centres combining medical, legal, counselling and vocational services.
It also noted that many survivors experience social rejection and mental and physical abuse within their families, further intensifying their trauma.
Counselling, peer support and shared experiences were found to be crucial in helping survivors move towards self-acceptance and recovery.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 207 acid attacks were reported in 2023. However, the actual number is estimated to exceed 1,000 cases annually, with many incidents remaining unreported.