Acid attack victims are perhaps one of the prime examples of situations where the victim suffers and the accused almost always walks away scot-free. While most acid attack victims seek no help from the judicial system, the few who do, face not only legal barriers but also prejudices from society that will never let them forget the horrific crime.
For an acid attack victim to walk on the streets without being stared and pointed at is a dream. Getting an actual job where people do give them a second chance, to recover from a crime that wasn’t their fault in the first place, is rare, if not impossible.
That’s why the story about Sheroes Hangout in Agra makes us hopeful. Walk into this café, opposite the beautiful Taj Mahal and you will be greeted by staff who are all acid attack survivors. Shining as a beacon of hope in a society that ‘punishes’ the victims long after the crime is done with, the café aims to help survivors regain confidence and go back into the society without the fear of being judged.
There are no set prices in this café and customers pay what they feel is appropriate.
The café sure is the perfect answer for acid attack survivors who can feel comfortable getting back to the old life, in an atmosphere where they won’t be judged along with regaining their lost confidence. We hope that the small café sets a great example to people out there who tend to shy away from hiring and working with victims of such heinous crimes.
Image courtesy: Facebook
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