Geri3389994518: started basic article added tags

2026-04-20T01:19:21Z

started basic article added tags

New page

{{Short description|Indian non-governmental organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Chhanv Foundation
| full_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| logo = Logo_of_Chhanv_Foundation.webp
| logo_size =
| logo_alt = See caption
| logo_caption = Logo
| merged_into = 
| successor =
| formation = 
| founder = Alok Dixit, [[Ashish Shukla]]
| founding_location =
| dissolved = 
| merger = 
| type = [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]]
| purpose = Humanitarian, activism
| professional_title = 
| region_served = 
| products = 
| services =
| awards = [[Nari Shakti Puraskar]]
| website = {{URL|www.chhanv.org/}}
}}
[[File:Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Nari Shakti Puruskars for the year 2016 to Chhanv Foundation (Sheroes Hangout Cafe), Delhi, at a function, on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi.jpg|An acid attack survivor receives the Nari Shakti Pauraskar on behalf of the Chhanv Foundation in 2017|alt=Woman on left receives award from man on right|thumb|right]]

The '''Chhanv Foundation''' is a [[non-governmental organization]] (NGO) set up by Alok Dixit and Ashish Shukla in 2013 in order to help the survivors of [[acid attacks]]. It runs cafés known under the social enterprise Sheroes Hangout in [[Agra]], [[Lucknow]] and [[Noida]] which works for the rehabilitation and employment of acid attack survivors. The NGO received the [[Nari Shakti Puraskar]] and in 2020 stated it had helped over 100 survivors of acid attacks.

==Foundation==
The Chhanv Foundation was set up by Alok Dixit and Ashish Shukla in 2013 in order to help the survivors of [[acid attacks]], who are mostly women. They envisage to bring relief in the lives of the survivors of acid attacks and help in as many directions for them to have access to medical recovery and fast justice to fight back the irreparable
impact of this crime.The [[National Crime Records Bureau]] stated in 2021 that between 2014 and 2018 there had been almost 1,600 attacks.<ref name="CNN" />

==Cafés==
Chhanv opened the first café in [[Agra]] in 2014 where survivors could find employment, since they are shunned from many sectors of society. It was known as [[Sheroes Hangout]] and other branches were opened in [[Lucknow]] and [[Noida]].<ref name="NDTV" /><ref name="HT-2017">{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Moushumi Das |title=Nari Shakti in many forms: ISRO scientists, Sheroes, a driver to get top honours |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nari-shakti-in-many-forms-isro-scientists-sheroes-a-driver-to-get-top-honours/story-7iXeBR6fytzBVqqjaNo8iN.html |access-date=18 June 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=4 March 2017 |language=en |archive-date=28 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728074209/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nari-shakti-in-many-forms-isro-scientists-sheroes-a-driver-to-get-top-honours/story-7iXeBR6fytzBVqqjaNo8iN.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The parent model of Sheroes Hangout is the country's first café
managed and run by acid attack survivors

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]], the cafés in Agra and Lucknow were forced to close down. This impacted the foundation's work since the profits were used to fund the treatment and rehabilitation of attack survivors. Dixit then introduced Gift a Story, an internet retail platform which sells products such as candles and handicrafts made by survivors.<ref name="TH-2020">{{cite news |last1=Basu |first1=Soma |title=The five languages of love that help us to heal |url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/the-five-languages-of-love-to-wellbeing/article33385359.ece |access-date=18 June 2022 |work=The Hindu |date=21 December 2020 |language=en-IN |archive-date=2 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202183503/https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/the-five-languages-of-love-to-wellbeing/article33385359.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, café staff in Agra switched to supplying food to the city's poorest inhabitants, funded by donations.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Rakesh |title=A cafe near the Taj Mahal that empowered acid attack survivors has closed. But these 'Sheroes' aren't giving up |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/taj-mahal-india-sheroes-hangout-cmd/index.html |access-date=18 June 2022 |work=CNN |date=13 July 2021 |language=en |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713220932/http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/taj-mahal-india-sheroes-hangout-cmd/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Sheroes Agra reopened in December 2021.<ref name="ToI-2021">{{cite news |title=Sheroes café, run by acid attack survivors in Agra, reopens after 7 months |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/sheroes-caf-run-by-acid-attack-survivors-in-agra-reopens-after-7-months/articleshow/88213790.cms |access-date=18 June 2022 |work=The Times of India |agency=TNN |date=11 December 2021 |language=en |archive-date=10 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210230420/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/sheroes-caf-run-by-acid-attack-survivors-in-agra-reopens-after-7-months/articleshow/88213790.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Seven months later, two Sheroes kiosks were opened in [[Noida]].<ref name="HT-2022">{{cite news |title=Sheroes Hangout Café opens in Noida |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/noida-news/sheroes-hangout-caf-opens-in-noida-101652812728246.html |access-date=18 June 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=18 May 2022 |language=en |archive-date=5 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605235849/https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/noida-news/sheroes-hangout-caf-opens-in-noida-101652812728246.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
Michelle Obama presented the organisation with the [[International Women of Courage Award]] in 2014. Emma Macey Storch made the film ''Geeta'' about Geeta Mahor who was acid attacked by her husband, who also poured acid on his three daughters whilst they slept in 1992. Mahor later helped to found the Sheroes café in Agra.<ref name="SBS">{{cite news |last1=Jabbal |first1=Preeti |title='Seeing my scars is a bigger punishment for him than any jail term,' says acid attack survivor |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/seeing-my-scars-is-a-bigger-punishment-for-him-than-any-jail-term-says-acid-attack-survivor |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=SBS Hindi |date=25 November 2021 |language=en |archive-date=17 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217113531/https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/seeing-my-scars-is-a-bigger-punishment-for-him-than-any-jail-term-says-acid-attack-survivor |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Chhapaak'' is a 2020 film about the life of acid attack survivors starring [[Deepika Padukone]].<ref name="STP">{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Rudrani |title=Scars Cannot Stop Them: Meet India's Incredible Acid Attack Survivors - SheThePeople TV |url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/home-top-video/meet-acid-attack-survivors-india/ |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=She The People |date=13 January 2020 |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418123827/https://www.shethepeople.tv/home-top-video/meet-acid-attack-survivors-india/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Padukone donated Rs 15 [[lakh]] to help an attack survivor who had appeared in the film with life-saving kidney treatment.<ref name="N18">{{cite news |title=Deepika Padukone Donates Rs 15 Lakh to Save Acid Attack Survivor Who Appeared in Chhapaak |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/deepika-padukone-contributes-to-save-acid-attack-survivor-who-appeared-in-chhapaak-4159751.html |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=News 18 |date=3 September 2021 |language=en |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407173047/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/deepika-padukone-contributes-to-save-acid-attack-survivor-who-appeared-in-chhapaak-4159751.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In recognition of its work, Chhanv received the [[Nari Shakti Puraskar]] in 2017.<ref name="Edex">{{cite news |last1=Benu |first1=Parvathi |title=Real Sheroes: This fashion designer who survived an acid attack just won the President's Medal |url=https://www.edexlive.com/live-story/2017/mar/08/real-sheroes-this-fashion-designer-who-survived-an-acid-attack-just-won-the-presidents-medal-177.html |access-date=18 June 2022 |work=Edex Live |date=8 March 2017 |language=en |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120065152/https://www.edexlive.com/live-story/2017/mar/08/real-sheroes-this-fashion-designer-who-survived-an-acid-attack-just-won-the-presidents-medal-177.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2022, it had helped over 100 survivors of acid attacks.<ref name="NDTV">{{cite news |last1=Pandey |first1=Alok |title=I Watched "Chhapaak" With Acid Attack Survivors. They Surprised Me |url=https://www.ndtv.com/blog/i-watched-chhapaak-with-acid-attack-survivors-they-surprised-me-2162113 |access-date=18 June 2022 |work=NDTV |date=10 January 2020 |archive-date=13 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613175921/https://www.ndtv.com/blog/i-watched-chhapaak-with-acid-attack-survivors-they-surprised-me-2162113 |url-status=live }}</ref> The foundation announced in 2022 that it was fundraising Rs 1 [[crore]] for medical treatment.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}

==See also==
* [[Mitti Cafe]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Nari Shakti Puraskar}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Nari Shakti Puraskar winners]]
[[Category:Foundations based in India]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in India]]

Chhanv Foundation - Revision history

Geri3389994518: started basic article added tags