Haruka, Sambhali's Intern from Japan!

 Hello, this is Haruka! I joined Sambhali Trust as an internet in October. This is my final work because my internship ends now in November. Today, I tell you about what I learned during this internship. During the last week of my internship, I conducted a survey about marriage. I asked several questions to people in Japan, India and Germany. In this graph, the answer “Yes” is shown in red and “No” in blue. From the survey, I realized that more people in India emphasize the social status or class than in other countries like Japan or Germany. Additionally, I was surprised that the way of thinking about marriage is different in the counties. In Japan and Germany, marriage is always connected to love but in India, it isn’t always with love. In India, the women’s status in families is lower than in other countries. But still, it also depends on the family and the region they live in. In some families, both men and women’s status are equal like in most families in my country Japan. The women‘s family status in India is similar to old Japanese tradition: the wife does the household and the husband works for they family. In Japan, this old tradition was changed because of globalization. I think with lots of effort of the Indian government, stimulation from other counties, NGOs, and also women’s effort itself can solve problems about women’s empowerment in India. During this internship, it was difficult to help women in bad situations because of COVID-19. However, I think learning something is the first step to help people. My next step is to tell my experience to my friends. After this pandemic, I want to go India, and join these activities in person!

LAWS RELATED TO WOMEN

 INTRODUCTION TO LAWS RELATED TO WOMEN

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT 2005

“Domestic violence became a lifestyle for me and my children….” 

We have decided to dedicate this blog to those violence survivors who can relate to the above-mentioned statement and we are also eager enough to share a story that left a lasting impression on us. For confidentiality purposes, we have changed the name of the abuse survivor.

 

Reena who is 37 years old was married to Suresh 15 years back, accepting the patriarchy and supremacy of the male members it was quite normal for Reena that all her actions were controlled by her husband, meeting her parents was also not in her hands. She never revolted back because of her husband’s controlling behaviour she as a kid she saw her mother obeying her father and there was nothing odd in it. Things became odd when the medical condition of Reena fluctuated and she was asked by her gynaecologist to stop sexual activities for some time with her husband for proper healing after their first child, she explained the same to her husband. Suresh was a casual drinker so he uses to force his will every day on Reena neglecting her medical condition; it became worst when due to adverse sexual activities her problem increased and left her in excruciating pain and when she spoke about the same to her mother-in-law she asked her to suffer a little because it was her duty to fulfil her husband’s vows.

 

Now looking at Reena’s condition we feel there is an immense need to understand that “there is no excuse for abuse” and the chain of abuse needs to be broken by raising one’s voice. To break the chain we need to understand how to identify abuse. There are the following kind of abuses-

(i)            Physical abuse: Any act or conduct which is of such a     nature as to cause bodily pain, etc

(ii)          Sexual abuse: Includes any conduct of a sexual nature that abuses, humiliates, degrades, or otherwise violates the dignity of a woman;

(iii)        Verbal and Emotional abuse includes-

(a)   insults, ridicule, humiliation, name-calling, and insults or ridicule especially concerning

          not having a child or a male child; and

(b)   repeated threats to cause physical pain to any person in whom the aggrieved person is interested.

(iv)         Economic abuse includes-

    deprivation of all or any economic or financial resources to       which the aggrieved person is entitled under any law or custom whether payable under an order of a court or otherwise or which the aggrieved person requires out of necessity including, but not limited to, household necessities for the aggrieved person and her children, if any, stridhan, property, jointly or separately owned by the aggrieved person, payment of rental related to the shared household and maintenance; etc.

Fig 1: The Cycle of Abuse

 

With the proper understanding of the type of abuse, one should always know what must be the individual efforts-

• Raise your voice.
• Speak about it to your friends and relatives.
• Take help from the nearest police station.
• You can even take the help of the Magistrate.

Rules and regulations are not enough only when we don’t know the understanding and applicability of them, but when we get well versed with it they become our rescue which is the whole idea of this blog.

 

- Article by Palak Mahecha (Volunteer) and Shivani Singh (Legal advisor at Sambhali Trust)

If you have any queries or doubts related to domestic violence - feel free to consult our Toll-free Helpline number - 180012000200 or Consult/WhatsApp us for free legal advice at +91 63677 11327

 

COMPREHENSIVE METHOD LEGAL AID

This blog is in continuance with the earlier blog - focused on the psycho-social

aspects and aid available to the victims of gender-based violence. This part of

the blog is an effort to elaborate on the legal services which are essential for

gender-based violence survivors.

Regarding the earlier blog, we have analyzed as to how is psycho-social help

very essential to the women who has suffered violence and is a victim of

gender-based abused. We also mentioned that all around the world, one out of

three women suffer gender-based abuse, and it is even painful to summarize that

the number is drastically increasing.[1] The lockdown period during the corona

virus pandemic was the darkest period for the women as it witnessed the highest

number of domestic violence cases in not just India but all around the globe

alongside fighting the pandemic.[2] We believe that a proper kind of legal

counseling and guidance can solve a lot of problems because belonging to the

legal fraternity of this country, we believe that every person suffering has the

right to access justice.

Legal aid will enable the woman to stand for herself as it will equip her with the

information of her legal rights available to her. We have witnessed that the

women who are a victim of gender-based violence are even scared to register a

simple F.I.R (first information report) or complaint, which is the primary

importance for starting the legal proceeding. We at this organization provide

legal counseling to the women and help them understand their legal rights

available to them and also stand with the women from the filing of the case till

the disposal of the same.

Apart from counseling, with the help of workshops and campaigns, we educate

women about the rights, benefits, and schemes available for women and the girl

child. We aim to spread awareness about legal information and its importance in

their daily lives. With the simple motive of “EASY AND SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL

ASSISTANCE,” we hope to remove the hesitation they face from police

machinery and the judiciary. We aim to make the women so fearless that in the

coming future, they can reach out to the system without being scared of it. 

There have been various compensation schemes introduced by the National

Legal Services Authority like “Compensation Scheme for Women

Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/other Crimes - 2018.”   That has been

available for the victim of sexual abuse and violence survivors. We found that

the lacuna for the arising number of gender based violence cases was

unavailable access to justice and unawareness about the laws and prevention of

crimes. So with this comprehensive approach, we work on providing education

on the benefits available to the victims. 

It is a general phenomenon that the person who is legally-equipped tends to feel

much wiser and independent, so by this holistic outreach - we tend to make the

women feel strongly about themselves. By this promising approach, we tend to

become the bridge between the victims and the system so that no voice goes

unheard. 

If you have any queries or doubts - feel free to consult our Toll-free Helpline

number - 180012000200 or Consult/WhatsApp us for free legal advice at +91

63677 11327

 - Article by Palak Mahecha (Volunteer) and Shivani Singh (Legal advisor at Sambhali Trust)

Source:

[1] https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/11/1052041

[2] https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2020/10/world/coronavirus-impact-domestic-abuse-

global

Communication from Her Majesty the Queen of the UK, Microsoft 365 and much more

 Communication from Her Majesty the Queen of the UK

The Trust stood proud and humbled by the letter from Her Highness of the UK in acknowledgement of our invitation to her to visit the Trust. She expressed her gratitude over the invitation and was touched to receive the invitation.

Expressing her warmest wishes for the Trust, she, however, expressed her inability to accept the invitation to visit the trust as she no longer undertakes long distance overseas travels.

We had also sent her two pieces of decorative items prepared by the Trust as souvenirs along with the invitation letter, which also caught her fancy.

It was indeed a gesture of great pride and blessings for all the Trust members and all those associated with us directly and indirectly to have such a kind words in recognition to our work.

 

Culmination of Covid-19 Awareness Campaign

We successfully wrapped up our 3-month long Covid awareness campaign on October 31, which we are in partnership with the city administration and Municipal Corporation. We had begun this campaign with manufacturing of handmade reusable masks by our sewing center women primarily with a view to provide employment to them. These masks were initially distributed among police officials, administrative officials and mason labourers at different spots of the city free of cost. Later, the Trust made masks were also donated for the Mask Bank, set up by the Municipal Corporation.

Later, this mission of the Trust attracted attention of the city administration and together with the administration, the Trust launched a unique “Toko-Corona Roko” (Intervene and Stop Corona) drive with a view to spread awareness among the people about masks and social distancing.

We have achieved the target of manufacturing 15000 masks, of which over 10000 masks have been distributed free of cost and rest have been kept as reserved in order to meet any urgency in future.

 

Sambhali Nirbhaya Helpline

Our Helpline has received incredible response since its inception. In one month over 70 women have called up on Helpline for seeking help from our psychiatrist Ms. Abhilasha and legal expert Ms. Shivani. Victims of domestic and other gender-based violence or abuse, especially in the situations arising from pandemic situation that has hit the economy and family incomes, these women have suffered the male aggression in and out of their families.

Besides counselling on Helpline, some women have also visited our office in person to have one to one conversation with our counselors. The Trust has strived hard to satisfy them and provide them any assistance, the Trust could provide within its capacity.

Both Ms. Abhilasha and Ms. Shivani been walking door to door distributing flyers prepared by the Trust in Hindi language reaching out to more and more women apprising them about the Helpline and its objective. They are knocking on about 100 doors every week distributing these flyers sensitizing them about the gender-based abuse encouraging them to report it on Helpline instantly, even if it is happening in their neighbourhood or even with any unacquainted woman in their knowledge.

Simultaneously, legal awareness workshops are being conducted continuously at our centers sensitizing the women and girls about domestic violence and mental health.

This initiative of the Trust has also caught the attention of one of the leading global media houses, the 

CNN. The documentary made by the CNN over reported surge in domestic violence in pandemic era has covered our counselling sessions to the victims and spoke to our counsellor Mr. Abhilasha about the issue and its gravity.

 

Handmade products draw demand

Intensive efforts in developing new designs by our designer Ms. Kavita and hard work by our team of sewing center in converting these designs into a real product have brought desired results. We have fresh demands from overseas buyers for these products and we are presently working hard on ensuring timely delivery of the orders.

This growing demand of our products has infused a fresh lease in our sewing team as it has resulted in continuous employment for them helping them to support their family income, which has been hit by the pandemic slowdown.

With the deliveries of these orders, we believe that the stories and dreams of these underprivileged womenfolk will reach the homes of the buyers this Christmas and New Year. Each of these products is a signature product by our design and sewing artists and a testimony to their craft skills, we have inculcated in them.

These homemade ethical articles for home and Christmas decorative articles and gifts are also available at Sambhali Boutique, which had been shut due to lockdown but under revival now.

The products listed on our website, can also be ordered by e-mail at info@sambhali-trust.org. 

 

Microsoft 365 Business Premium Service for the Trust

In a major development, the Trust has earned the eligibility for free nonprofit donation from the global tech giant Microsoft. Our volunteer and Project Manager Mr. Aram Bishop signed the Trust up to Microsoft’s nonprofit portal and as a result, we are now entitled to use Microsoft 365 Business Premium services including full Office 365 Suite for computers and mobile phones and many advanced Cloud services with upto 1 TB of Cloud space.