Together

Inspired
Empowered
Forward
Stronger

MEER FOUNDATION
 Of the many crimes that affect humanity today,
acid attacks are one of the worst. Their cruelty
is just one aspect; the emotional and physical

A PROBLEM ON THE effects can sometimes be far more troubling.

Quite often, victims feel that their only option is

RISE
to end their own lives.
The frequency of acid attacks is particularly
high in the Indian context, demanding
immediate and decisive action.

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About Meer Foundation
Meer Foundation was Incorporated in 2013,
and aims to affect Change at the ground level.
The Foundation works on multiple fronts
with various stakeholders to build a world
that empowers women and brings society
together

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Ratio

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 The Power to Shape
Tomorrow is in our hands
- It’s time to Harness it
Shah Rukh Khan

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Partners

As partners, we support the rehabilitation of We collaborate to enable rehabilitation of acid

In association with HRLN, we formulated a training survivors through surgeries at Apollo, Fortis, and attack survivors in and around Mumbai
programme to educate the community on the legal BL Kapur hospitals in Delhi as well as through through vocational training and sponsored
rights of acid attack survivors. vocational training across the country. surgical treatment

ACID SURVIVORS FOUNDATION

MASINA HOSPITAL, MUMBAI INDIA, KOLKATA (ASFI)

HUMAN RIGHTS LAW NETWORK, NEW MAKE LOVE NOT SCARS, NEW DELHI ACID SURVIVORS SAAHAS
DELHI (HRLN) FOUNDATION, MUMBAI (ASSF)

Masina Hospital helps develop new methods of skin Together, we support the surgical rehabilitation of
harvesting and burns treatment at an affordable cost, acid attacks survivors from Bombay Hospital
and we provide assistance by raising awareness (Mumbai), Sankara Nethralaya (Chennai), and
about skin donation. SSKM Hospital (Kolkata)

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Partners

A partnership with Kolkata Knight Riders in

We organised screenings for the women in Self which the players closely interacted with
Meer Foundation funds surgeries and treatments to
Help Groups (SHGs), and supported SEWA through children and their families from the Rajarhat
correct non-cosmetic deformities, as part of the
Shah Rukh Khan’s voiceover in their latest and Thakurpur Centres in Kolkata.
Operation Restore campaign.
campaign

TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE’S IMPACT

MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION, MUMBAI FOUNDATION, MUMBAI

NATIONAL BURNS CENTRE, MUMBAI SEWA, GUJARAT ST. JUDE INDIA CHILDCARE CENTRES,
KOLKATA

Together, we help make wishes come true for We partnered with the paediatric wing of the Tata
children who are undergoing cancer treatment. Memorial Centre to provide sports kits and jerseys
to young cancer survivors prior to the World
Children’s Winners Games in Moscow.

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Approach

India ranks 129 out of 159 countries on the UN
Gender Inequality Index (2019). This is largely
because of crimes against women. Of these, the
most significant and violent offence is acid attacks
– a crime that needs immediate attention at a
societal as well as legal level.
At Meer Foundation, we recognize that women are
not defined by the effects of acid attacks. In fact,
we have seen many women, time and again,
display immense reserves of personal strength
when dealing with challenging circumstances. As
they cross hurdle after hurdle, we stand by their
side and help

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Approach
What’s more, as part of our efforts to provide holistic rehabilitation, Meer
Foundation supports multiple institutions, including those that provide:

• Medical Aid • Build Multi-Disciplinary

Partnerships
• Legal Advice
• Create Targeted Awareness
• Counselling Services
Campaigns
• Vocational Training
• Conduct Comprehensive
Research

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 Funding

Red Chillies Entertainment Kolkata Knight Riders Red Chillies.Vfx

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Our Stories
Anupama greets people with a warm smile, one that is usually hidden under a
scarf and large sunglasses. But these accessories are not a style statement –
they cover up a distressing story that began when she was just 13. A stalker,
12 years Anupama’s senior, would follow her sister and her around, often
throwing things at them to catch their attention. Fed up of his constant
harassment, Anupama complained to her family – and her brother went over
to the man’s house to insist that he stop. Unfortunately, this was a catalyst to
something much worse. It made the man so angry that he snuck into the
sisters’ bedroom one evening, and threw acid at the two of them. Anupama
bore the brunt of the attack, while her sister escaped with burns to her
stomach. Sadly, Anupama’s face, chest, and arms were disfigured beyond
recognition.

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Mamta is a bright, cheerful woman. She has a certain light in her eyes, even as she
speaks calmly of her arduous journey so far. Her ordeal began at 21, when she was
urged to marry a man who later turned out to be abusive – physically as well as
mentally. And when she became pregnant with her first child, she felt like she
owed it to her unborn child to keep him safe, and so wanted to terminate the
pregnancy. Pressure from her husband meant that she was made to give birth to
him despite her reservations. Things went from bad to worse when her husband
used their son to manipulate Mamta and her family, demanding money and locking
her out of their marital home. It was when she was staying at her parents’ house
that she was attacked by her husband with acid – an assault that claimed one half
of her beautiful face

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Gulnaaz is an iron-willed mother of three, but she struggles with even the most
basic chores at home, relying heavily on the help of those around her. However,
she wasn’t always this dependent. In fact, for the most part of her life, she was a
self-sufficient woman who did things her own way. This is best illustrated by a
story that both defined and derailed her life. At the age of 43, she decided to
make a life for herself by opening a beauty parlour in her house. Unfortunately,
the leaders of the village saw this as a sign of rebellion, and threatened to harm
her if she didn’t shut her business down. Still, she bravely persisted. However,
two weeks later, the village heads stormed into her house and attacked her with
acid, leaving her disfigured, dejected, and in immense pain. Her husband stayed
by side, joining the police force to earn more and fund her medical expenses –
but he can do little to alleviate the pain she feels every single day.

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Our Duties
To influence and enable a new mindset that
embraces equality and does not fear it; one that
gives women the power and freedom to live their
lives their way.

To protect and empower women, foster humility

and gallantry among men, and fuel the bravery and
optimism that exists within each of us

Because acknowledgement and acceptance are the

first steps towards change.
ThankYou

Nikhil Bhaskar

20330

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