Ria Sharma's Story
Ria Sharma helps acid attack survivors across India to move forward
Ria Sharma's NGO Make Love Not Scars (MLNS) helps rehabilitate many survivors medically, legally, financially, psychologically, as well as educationally. It also works towards raising awareness about acid attacks in India and campaigns for control over the sale of acid. The funds MLNS raises are used for the survivors' surgeries, post-operative care and medication. The NGO also ensures that they have the help of India's leading pro bono lawyers in their fight for justice, and that they are empowered to recover psychologically and socially.
Ria was a fashion student at Leeds College of Art when she decided to branch into filmmaking. Her first project was a documentary about acid attack survivors, and, when she witnessed their misery in a government hospital burn ward in the course of shooting , she knew she had to do something. In 2014, she set up Make Love Not Scars, and, in 2016, the first rehabilitation centre of its kind in India to benefit acid attack survivors.
Ria perseveres in her efforts despite facing death threats and financial difficulties. In 2017, she became the first Indian to receive the United Nations Bill and Melinda Gates GoalKeepers Global Goals Award.
About mamaearth
Founded by husband-and-wife duo Ghazal Alagh and Varun Alagh, Mamaearth is a purpose-led brand built on the principles of honesty, natural and safety. Mamaearth believes that goodness starts with the small things that each one of us can do every day! It resides in the little choices we can make in our daily lives.
With the philosophy of ‘Goodness Inside’ governing its products and initiatives, the brand adds the goodness of Natural Ingredients to its products and is Toxin Free, Animal Cruelty Free (PETA certified), and Plastic Positive. The brand believes in choosing goodness for its environment too and hence launched the Plant Goodness initiative, through which it links every order on its website or app to a tree it plants, thereby making its contribution towards restoring ecological balance.