The Uttar Pradesh government has finally woken up to the plight of acid attack survivors whose business initiative, the “Sheroes Hangout Cafe”, was running out of steam due to the paucity of funds and
The Uttar Pradesh government has finally woken up to the plight of acid attack survivors whose business initiative, the “Sheroes Hangout Cafe”, was running out of steam due to the paucity of funds and apathy from the government.
The state government is now planning infrastructural changes to the cafe to improve it for the acid attack survivors who run the business, and for its customers. The cafe, which just has a roof and is open on all four sides, is not popular among customers in the sweltering heat, and causes problems for the acid attack survivors who work there.
M.K. Singh, a senior official in the UP Mahila Kalyan Nigam that manages the cafe, said that the open cafe will soon be fenced by glass panes and covered with bamboo curtains to keep the heat out.
The official said that a regular flow of funds was also being ensured for the cafe so that the acid attack survivors do not have a problem in running the same. At present, the menu at the entrance of the cafe says that only tea, coffee and water are available.
The cafe was inaugurated with much pomp and show on March 8 — International Women’s Day. An eatery run by the UP Tourism opposite the Ambedkar Memorial was converted into the Sheroes Hangout and the state government has been touting it as one of its flagship ventures for women’s welfare and security.
