Dear Reader,

There are close to 300 acid attacks every year in India. Tragically, despite laws mandating swift justice and closure for survivors, and attempts at regulation of acid sales, the pain and suffering of the survivors are accentuated by insensitivity, harrowing legal processes, and brazen corruption. In 2021, for instance, only three convictions were recorded out of 600 cases that went to trial.

Article 14 talks to survivors of acid attacks to document and understand their lived experiences. It underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure justice and provide closure to victims. These reforms include stricter regulation and monitoring of acid sales, and the implementation of fast-track legal processes—similar to those adopted in the Nirbhaya case of 2012 in Delhi—by classifying acid attacks as distinct and serious offences. Most importantly, it calls for establishing a robust support system for survivors by sensitising police, judicial officers, and judges.

मैं भी भारत journeys deep into the forests of Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori district to explore the sacred and ancient tattoo traditions of the Baiga tribe. Renowned for their deep connection with nature, the Baigas express identity and spirituality through tattoos or Godna. The tattoos—intricately designed and in vivid colours—depict nature, mythology, and the daily lives of the tribes.

Often first inked at ages 7-8, they mark life stages and are believed to offer protection in the afterlife. The story uncovers the meanings behind these symbolic tattoos and the rituals involved. Despite modernisation, the Baiga community strives to preserve this singular tradition, where tattoos serve as a living template of their environment and of the uniqueness of their community.

India's state-subsidised food canteens, initiated in Tamil Nadu in the 1950s, have evolved into vital lifelines for the urban poor, the daily wage workers, the homeless, and the migrants, who do not have access to a kitchen or commercial food providers. For this category of the urban poor, food canteens are a lifeline—providing reasonably priced nutrition to keep their bodies and souls together. The canteens have evidently touched a chord, with various States providing the facility, each in its own avatar.

However, the story is now souring. Public kitchens are subject to the same inefficiencies and corruption that beset India’s larger Public Distribution System. In a report from Jharkhand, The Migration Story shows how lack of accountability, inadequate budget allocation, and blatant corruption have crippled the facility in the state. A steep fall from its heyday when it was hailed as a potent success, and a crucial crutch for people without means. Ensuring the continuing effectiveness of public food canteen programs, The Migration Story argues, is crucial for providing basic food security to India's most vulnerable populations.

Dalmandi, in Varanasi, apart from being a commercial hub with thousands of small establishments, is known as a vibrant cultural melting pot, home to legendary musicians and artists, steeped in Varanasi’s many-layered history and traditions.

Unfortunately, recent government-led redevelopment efforts to widen the lane have disrupted the livelihoods of local vendors and threaten to alter the area's ambience created over time. While officials view these actions as necessary for urban rejuvenation, many residents lament that the measure erodes the ‘soul of Banaras’, replacing its unique character with a homogenised urban landscape. Janchowk reports from the ancient city.

For more such stories from the grantees this week, please read on.

Warmly,

Sunil Rajshekhar
IPSMF