Laxmi Agarwal

Laxmi Agarwal (born 1 June 1990) is an Indian acid attack survivor, a campaigner for rights of acid attack victims, and a TV host. In 2019, she received with the International Women Empowerment Award from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Government of India, and UNICEF for her campaign of Stop Acid Sale. In 2014, she received the International Women of Courage Award.

The attack

In 2005, when Agarwal was 15, a 32-year-old family friend proposed marriage to her. Ten months later, Agrawal was attacked with acid by him and his associate.

Public interest litigation

In 2006, Agarwal filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court of India seeking compensation and a total ban on the sale of acid across the country.

In July 2013, the Supreme Court responded to pleas, including the dismissal of Agarwal, by issuing guidelines to restrict the sale of acid.

The court passed an order stating that acid could not be sold openly or without an ID proof. The court also declared a Rs 3 lakh compensation for future and past victims.

Personal life

Laxmi Agarwal was in a live-in relationship with social activist Alok Dixit, and the couple has separated in 2015. They have a daughter.

In popular culture

She starred in the 2014 short documentary Newborns directed by Megha Ramaswamy as herself.

Chhapaak (2020), a Hindi-language drama film inspired by Agarwal's life story. The central character, Malti, is modeled on Agarwal, though the narrative is a dramatised account rather than a direct biopic. Prior to the film's release, Agarwal's lawyer Aparna Bhat filed a case claiming that her contributions in Agarwal's legal battle and activism were not acknowledged. In January 2020, the Delhi High Court directed the filmmakers to give her due credit, after which her name was added to the film's credits.

References