For
six years, Shanthi M G could not step out of her house. Almost 75% of
her face was burnt in an acid attack. Eleven years after the attack,
Shanthi's life is still not the same. But for her perpetrator, her
husband of 14 years, life became normal after a measly six-year term in
jail.
Shanthi's husband attacked her with acid after she refused to pay him money for his drink. The year was 2001 and Shanthi was in her late 20s. She'd been married for 14 years. The attack left her face completely disfigured, she lost complete sight in one eye and partly in the other.
Her life changed completely after the attack. Her son Rathan was 12 and daughter Varshini was 10 when Shanthi was attacked. She now recalls how her daughter would faint every time she saw her face. Even people were scared of talking to her.
Though her family members eventually came around and supported her, society did not. She was forced to change her rented houses frequently as the owners could simply not tolerate her disfigured face for long. The frequent change in residential address also meant that Shanthi was deprived of social security pension. She continues to lead a life in isolation, devoid of all social activities, while the culprit is leading a happy life after his release. Even now, Shanthi has to wear a mask every time she leaves her house.
"My life became horrible after the attack. I could neither live nor die. I am living this life for my children," Shanthi says.
Every month, she spends more than Rs 2,000 on her treatment and medicines. She has been deprived of a government job. So far, she has undergone eleven corrective surgeries.
Shanthi, who is now 42, says: "My husband walked out freely after six years in prison. But my face has been disfigured for life and my children also suffer because of this." She hopes the government introduces more stringent laws to punish attackers severely and curb acid attacks.
The scarred history
Shanthi worked as a teacher at a private school. When her husband stopped working, the family's responsibility fell on her shoulders.
Eventually, her husband took to habitual drinking and started harassing her for money. One day, an adamant Shanthi refused to pay him money. This irked her drunkard husband so much that he threw acid on her face in front of their children.
With nearly 75 pc of her face burnt, she was confined to her house for six years.
Her 12-year-old son was forced to drop out of school and take up a job. Her parents sold their properties for her treatment.
Shanthi's husband attacked her with acid after she refused to pay him money for his drink. The year was 2001 and Shanthi was in her late 20s. She'd been married for 14 years. The attack left her face completely disfigured, she lost complete sight in one eye and partly in the other.
Her life changed completely after the attack. Her son Rathan was 12 and daughter Varshini was 10 when Shanthi was attacked. She now recalls how her daughter would faint every time she saw her face. Even people were scared of talking to her.
Though her family members eventually came around and supported her, society did not. She was forced to change her rented houses frequently as the owners could simply not tolerate her disfigured face for long. The frequent change in residential address also meant that Shanthi was deprived of social security pension. She continues to lead a life in isolation, devoid of all social activities, while the culprit is leading a happy life after his release. Even now, Shanthi has to wear a mask every time she leaves her house.
"My life became horrible after the attack. I could neither live nor die. I am living this life for my children," Shanthi says.
Every month, she spends more than Rs 2,000 on her treatment and medicines. She has been deprived of a government job. So far, she has undergone eleven corrective surgeries.
Shanthi, who is now 42, says: "My husband walked out freely after six years in prison. But my face has been disfigured for life and my children also suffer because of this." She hopes the government introduces more stringent laws to punish attackers severely and curb acid attacks.
The scarred history
Shanthi worked as a teacher at a private school. When her husband stopped working, the family's responsibility fell on her shoulders.
Eventually, her husband took to habitual drinking and started harassing her for money. One day, an adamant Shanthi refused to pay him money. This irked her drunkard husband so much that he threw acid on her face in front of their children.
With nearly 75 pc of her face burnt, she was confined to her house for six years.
Her 12-year-old son was forced to drop out of school and take up a job. Her parents sold their properties for her treatment.
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