Pragya Prasun, an acid attack survivor, was denied a bank account due to KYC barriers, highlighting systemic exclusion.
Her plea to Shah Rukh Khan and relentless advocacy drive calls for change.
In 2006, Pragya Prasun, then 23, survived a horrific acid attack by a rejected suitor just 12 days after her marriage, sustaining 47% burns. On July 12, 2023, she faced another battle when a bank denied her an account because she couldn’t blink for the KYC biometric scan, a result of her injuries. The rejection left her feeling “hopeless,” as she stood outside the bank, fearing collapse.
Pragya, founder of Atijeevan Foundation, which supports over 250 acid attack survivors, tweeted her ordeal, tagging Shah Rukh Khan’s Meer Foundation, known for aiding survivors. Her post, with 1,000 retweets, read: “Being an acid attack survivor shouldn’t prohibit me from living with dignity.” Meer Foundation responded, assisting her account setup by August 2023. X posts, like @JusticeNow’s with 2,000 views, amplified her #Iwontblink campaign, exposing barriers for survivors.
Her 2023 Supreme Court petition led to Reserve Bank of India guidelines for inclusive KYC alternatives, addressing the 100+ annual acid attacks in India, per 2023 crime data. Pragya’s resilience, honed through nine surgeries and raising two daughters, continues to inspire.
Despite progress, 70% of survivors face digital exclusion, per a 2024 study. Pragya’s fight underscores the need for accessible systems, ensuring survivors’ rights to basic services.
