A warning is necessary: the details of this story are disturbing and may be upsetting to some readers.

Shaheen Malik, a prominent disability rights activist and acid-attack survivor in India, is waging a battle for justice and rehabilitation on behalf of others who have suffered similar ordeals, refusing to be deterred by the significant challenges she faces.

In a horrific incident of domestic violence in 2019, Ruman's* husband allegedly assaulted her and forced her to consume acid, leaving her with severe internal injuries.

The attack resulted in Ruman undergoing a complex procedure to artificially reconstruct her oesophagus, enabling her to eat, albeit with great difficulty.

Years of treatment have not alleviated Ruman's struggles, as she continues to experience significant difficulty swallowing food and has seen her weight plummet to just 21kg, a weight more typical of a child, at the age of 28; even mundane tasks, such as using the bathroom, exhaust her and necessitate constant medical supervision.

Despite her precarious condition, Ruman is currently unable to access compensation and rehabilitative benefits afforded to acid attack survivors under Indian disability law.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, enacted in 2016, only acknowledges as victims those individuals who have suffered visible disfigurement resulting from acid or similar substances being thrown at them, thereby excluding those forced to ingest such substances.

In a recent petition to the Supreme Court, Shaheen Malik argued that the law must be amended to include survivors like Ruman, who have suffered greatly, albeit with less visible scars.

Malik emphasized that the challenges faced by survivors of forced acid ingestion are no less daunting, as they often struggle to breathe, speak, and eat, despite undergoing numerous surgeries.

At 42, Shaheen Malik has dedicated over a decade to advocating for the rights of acid attack survivors, driven, in part, by her own experiences as a survivor.

In 2009, Malik was attacked with acid outside her workplace in Haryana, resulting in the loss of vision in her left eye and necessitating 25 surgeries; at the time, she was in her 20s and working as a student counsellor.

Following a 16-year legal battle, a trial court ultimately acquitted her perpetrators in December, a verdict Malik has challenged, expressing devastation but not defeat.

Malik's resolve to seek justice has expanded beyond her own case, as she now fights for the rights of other survivors and victims of abuse, hoping to set a precedent for accountability.

In 2021, Malik, alongside fellow acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, established the Brave Souls Foundation, a non-profit organization providing legal and economic support to survivors, many of whom have been ostracized by their families and society.

The foundation operates a shelter home in Delhi, where approximately 50 survivors, including Ruman, reside, receiving care and assistance, as they often have nowhere else to turn.

The foundation is also providing Ruman with support as she navigates the legal system, following her husband's appeal against his conviction and subsequent release on bail.

Malik notes that she and Ruman are among hundreds of survivors engaged in a protracted and arduous struggle for justice, hindered by a dismally low conviction rate and a backlog of cases languishing in courts.

A 2024 report analyzing data from 2017-2021 revealed that, out of 600 pending cases in 2021, a mere 15 were resolved by the courts.

This trend is corroborated by the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, which indicates that, of the 703 cases pending trial in 2023, only 43 were disposed of, with convictions secured in 16 cases.

Meanwhile, the incidence of acid attacks in India continues to rise, with the NCRB recording 176 cases in 2021, 202 in 2022, and 207 in 2023.

In response to Malik's petition, the Supreme Court has directed all states to submit annual reports detailing acid attack cases, including those resolved and pending, as well as rehabilitation schemes offered to victims, with a specific focus on those forced to ingest acid.

The court strongly condemned acid attacks, advocating for "extraordinary punitive measures," such as the seizure and auction of attackers' assets to compensate their victims.

The judges also urged the federal government to consider legislative reforms, including shifting the burden of proof from the victim to the accused.

While welcoming the Supreme Court's observations and directives, Malik emphasizes the need for effective implementation of existing laws, alongside any potential reforms.

She highlights the ongoing struggles of acid attack survivors in accessing affordable medical care, despite the legal mandate for private and public hospitals to provide free treatment, including reconstructive surgeries.

Malik notes that many private hospitals refuse to admit acid attack survivors without a court order, resulting in delayed treatment, and often discontinue care mid-way, citing various excuses.

Furthermore, she expresses concern about the ease with which acid can still be purchased, despite existing regulations and the rising incidence of acid attacks.

Malik questions the government's response to the growing number of acid attacks, asking whether more should be done to prevent such incidents and support survivors.

As someone who has experienced the stigma and social isolation that often accompany acid attacks, Malik urges the government to take greater action to prevent further suffering and support those affected.

Malik's personal experiences have given her a deep understanding of the social isolation and stigma faced by acid attack survivors.

Recently, Malik was forced to relocate her foundation's office without being provided a reason, and has since struggled to find a new location, facing discrimination and prejudice.

Many people, she explains, are hesitant to rent to acid attack survivors, citing superstitions or discomfort with their appearance.

Undeterred, Malik remains committed to fighting for the rights and dignity of acid attack survivors, seeking to create a more inclusive and supportive society.

*Survivors have chosen to share only one name.