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    How finding jobs becomes difficult for acid attack survivors

    Synopsis

    While companies like Shoppers Stop, mall brand Select Citywalk and Italian automotive parts maker Magneti Marelli have supported the cause as part of their CSR, a lot still needs to be done to employ survivors.

    Survivors
    Orange Cafe, run by acid-attack survivors in the Durga Kund area of Varanasi.
    Even as India Inc steps up focus on diversity and inclusion, for acid attack survivors, the challenges are more formidable than most. The ground reality is that majority of survivors struggle to find employment, though a handful of companies are now warming up to hiring them. Companies like Sodexo and Lemon Tree Hotels have hired acid attack survivors for roles both back-end and frontline jobs.

    While companies like Shoppers Stop, mall brand Select Citywalk and Italian automotive parts maker Magneti Marelli have supported the cause as part of their CSR, a lot still needs to be done to employ survivors. Some experts say more companies are now keen on hiring from the segment because of the inclusion of acid attack survivors in the person with disability category, but others are pessimistic.

    “Historically, this section of the population is reluctant to come in public contact, fearing acceptance from the general public,” said Pradeep Chavda, HR Director, Sodexo India. To tackle this, the company, which has placed survivors in frontline roles across sectors, has sensitisation sessions for other employees.

    Pragya Singh, an acid attack survivor who founded the Atijeevan Foundation which helps rehabilitate acid attack survivors, has conducted such sensitisation sessions at companies. One of the most important things employees are asked to do, is not ask the survivor ‘What happened to you? How did it happen?’

    According to 2018 data from the National Crime Records Bureau there were 228 reported cases of acid attacks. The number may be underreported and be closer to 300-500, estimates the Human Rights Law Network. Most survivors - usually young women or girls - don’t complete their education. This is not just because of the medical complications that follow an acid attack, but also because families become unsupportive.

    Diversity recruitment firm Vividhataa and Ria Sharma, founder of NGO Make Love Not Scars, both said placing survivors in companies is a challenge as many aren’t fluent in English and don’t have computer skills, and companies might be unwilling to invest in training them.

    At Lemon Tree Hotels, survivors have been placed in housekeeping and reservations centres across cities in the last one and half years. For Aradhana Lal, vice-president, brand, communications and sustainability initiatives, it’s a compelling business case. “They may have gone through difficulties, but given a chance, they can really focus.”

    Singh says that she is now getting more interest from MNCs and Indian IT majors to hire survivors, because of their focus on diversity and inclusion. Vividhataa’s counterpart, Equiv, said it got queries from a few companies recently. Other companies have been lending a helping hand and say they would employ survivors if the fit was right.

    Shoppers Stop has been associated with two Delhi-based NGOs -- Make Love Not Scars and Chhanv Foundation which has worked with acid-attack victims and survivors for over a year now. It contributes Re. 1 on every bill generated for beauty products purchase towards this cause. “We have inclusive employment opportunities. If the person has talent and is a good fit for the job, he/she will get hired,” said Uma Talreja, chief marketing officer, Shoppers Stop.

    Yogeshwar Sharma, CEO, Select Citywalk says they work with Make Love Not Scars, supporting acid attack survivors by providing various platforms free of cost where they can raise funds and spread awareness on the topic.
    The Economic Times

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