Gritty acid-attack survivor finds hope, 11 years on

It was in 2005 that Mohini Atri began dreaming about her future on completing her graduation.

The only child to her parents, she was looking forward to doing her MA and then starting work as soon as possible. But an acid attack brought her life to a standstill.

Eleven years later, she found hope. Mohini is one of the first acid attack survivors to get a government job in the capital after the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) approached ministries under the city government to find employment for them in their departments.

Leading by example, the commission has employed two such victims, Mohini being one of them. The process to recruit three or four more such women is on.

Thirty-three-year-old Mohini began her job with the commission's help desk on April 4. Shaheen, another victim, who was volunteering with the commission for some time, will now be a part of its Acid Watch Cell which works towards ensuring proper treatment and compensation to acid attack survivors. 

Mohini recalls how she was working with a local magazine simultaneously with her college when the attack changed everything. Her father is a private van driver and Mohini wanted to support him.  She was looking for a job and Rakesh Singh, a family friend who lived in the neighbourhood, was helping her with that.

“He used to come home and discuss with my parents what jobs would be best for me. Since he was handling everything, we had given him all my original documents,” she said.
The man started blackmailing Mohini that he would return her documents only if she agreed to marry him. The family lodged an FIR, and he apologised and gave back the papers.

“We didn't push our complaint because we thought he is genuinely sorry, and my parents thought he is young and has his whole life ahead,” she said.

Days later, Rakesh appeared in front of Mohini and threw acid on her. But Mohini’s trauma didn’t end there. Rakesh was given an eight-year sentence but he was out in four and a half years. Few days after his release, he again came face-to-face with Mohini and threatened her.

“I was sitting in ‘Grameen Seva’ and he suddenly took a seat next to me and threatened me. I got so scared and I raised an alarm and got off the van,” she said.

After that he threatened her twice again. The family complained to the police who “suggested” to not take the matter further. “The police said that he may have done this as he had freshly got out of jail but he won't repeat it. We asked them to give us an assurance in writing but they refused. But I did not see him after that day,” she said.

Mohini suffered 38% burn injuries and has gone through 25 surgeries so far. After the attack, she slipped into depression and didn't leave home for three years, except for her treatment. She got married two years ago and she thinks the job offer could not have come at a more appropriate time.