Café run by acid attack victims planned in #Ghaziabad

The district administration has proposed to start a café in the city that will be run by victims of crimes such as acid attack and rape.

A similar café next to the Taj Mahal in Agra, run by the NGO Chhanv, has been providing gainful employment to five acid attack victims.

“The concept of the café at Agra is very encouraging for such victims. We have plans to open it in Ghaziabad city as well with the help of an NGO. We have already identified a location in Kala Dham, which is in the heart of the city and has green cover. We can also engage some more victims who suffered (from) other heinous crimes,” said Vimal Kumar Sharma, district magistrate, Ghaziabad.

“We have asked our additional district magistrate to look into the possibilities. We may provide land at any feasible location for the purpose. The entire purpose is to gainfully employ the victims and…. (bring them) to the mainstream,” he said.

Members of the campaign ‘Stop Acid Attack’ said they will be willing to open a café in Ghaziabad city if the district administration helps them.

“We started the café in Agra to help victims who face problems in getting jobs and find it hard to earn livelihood for themselves and their families. Our NGO Chhanv is planning the next outlet in Lucknow and it will open in March. We also plan to have another outlet in Udaipur,” said Laxmi from ‘Stop Acid Attack’.

“If the Ghaziabad authorities help us out with the location, we can look for possibilities in the city as well,” she said.

There are several acid attack victims in Ghaziabad city who have to bear the brunt of high and numerous treatment costs.

As part of an initiative in March last year, the Uttar Pradesh government came up with Rani Laxmi Bai Mahila Samman Kosh Rules 2015. The scheme provides medical and financial aid to victims of crimes such as rape, acid attacks and dowry deaths.