India acid attack victim who became a TV millionaire
AFP News
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"Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and which was featured in the movie "Slumdog Millionaire".
After being chosen as a contestant, she went on to win 2.5 million rupees ($45,000) last month after successfully answering 10 questions.
The money will be used to fund a round of plastic surgery next year for Mukherjee, who keeps a portrait of herself as a fresh-faced teenaged cadet.
She said that letters appealing for help had failed to yield results but the sight of her injuries had a much more profound impact.
"Once everything else had failed, I decided to use my face."
Mukherjee says that her winnings may be welcome but they still will not be enough to cover all her medical bills.
"I won some money but I need much more for my treatment," she said.
Her determination not to be a victim has inspired viewers and members of the audience were in tears when she won the contest.
The host of the show, Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, called her "the epitome of courage" for "continuing her fight against all the odds".
"Sometimes we think that our lives are miserable, everything is against us and then (when) we come across someone like Sonali we realise how lucky we are and how much we have got going for us," he said on the show.
Mukherjee wants to use her high profile to campaign for fellow victims to push for specific legislation on acid attacks, which are currently covered by domestic violence laws that carry relatively light sentences.
In 2011, neighbouring Pakistan adopted legislation increasing the punishment to between 14 years and life for acid attacks and a minimum fine of one million Pakistan rupees ($10,200).
"The men who threw acid on me are roaming in the open but if there were stricter punishments then they would be behind bars," Mukherjee said.
Indian lawyer Aparna Bhatt, who has fought a legal battle in the Supreme Court for another acid victim, has filed a public petition seeking free medical treatment for acid victims and to regulate the sale of acid.
"India needs a new law to define acid crime in a far more comprehensive manner. There should be free medical care, rehabilitation for the victims," said Bhatt.
"Acid is a dangerous weapon."
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