Escaping the violence
Photo Credit: Akshay Mahajan/OxfamAUS
Long subjected to violence in their homes, Indian women are regaining control of their lives.
For the first time in 21 years Shashikala feels free. Trapped in an abusive marriage and beaten repeatedly until she was hospitalised, the 37-year-old mother of two, from Pune, India, has found the strength to seek help from our local partner organisation Chetna Mahila Vikas Kendra.
“The last 21 years I have been suffering enormous torture,” Shashikala says. “Once my husband threw me from the second floor of the building – my backbone was broken and I had to have an operation.
“Another time he was drunk … and started beating me up. He took the table and started hammering me. My head was bleeding and my hand was broken. Chetna’s doorstep counsellor called me and told me to go to the hospital first and get treatment. The next day I came to Chetna and asked them to help me.
“The things that happened to me, other women should never have to suffer through.”
Over 70 million Indian women are survivors of domestic violence
Shashikala is one of more than 70 million women in India who the United Nations estimates are survivors of domestic violence. Although men and women are granted equal rights under the Indian constitution, entrenched patriarchal traditions leave men believing that women are inferior.
For many families, particularly those who are poor, educating young girls is a low priority. Girls inevitably marry young and are unaware of their rights. Their expected role is to carry out domestic duties and care for the children and elderly in-laws. In such circumstances, they have little say in decisions that affect their lives and, for many, physical, mental, emotional, verbal and financial abuse are a daily reality.
We are working to raise awareness of India’s new domestic violence law
Since 2007, we have been supporting Chetna in its work to empower women to address domestic violence in their communities and increase their awareness of India’s new domestic violence law. The law, which came into effect in October 2006, gives women the legal right to live free from all forms of abuse in their homes and provides victims with a legal channel for justice.
“Chetna is dedicated to addressing the injustices these women face and elevating, not only their standard of living, but also their position in the community and their sense of self-worth,” says Chetna Director Assunta Pardhe, who is a trained lawyer and Chetna’s legal advocate.
Chetna has established about 350 women’s self-help groups in Pune and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, which provide more than 5,000 women with a way to unite around issues of domestic violence and justice, become more aware of their rights and collectively address perpetrators of violence in their communities.
Community members trained as “doorstep counsellors”
Photo Credit: Angela Smith/OxfamAus
Chetna selects key community members and trains them as “doorstep counsellors”. The counsellors play an important role in preventing domestic violence:
- Identify domestic violence cases
- Provide counselling, arbitration and legal advice
- Support women to follow processes for taking legal action through the courts
- Conduct awareness training for men and women on the negative impact of domestic violence
“These community networks help women feel supported,” doorstep counsellor Ranjana says. “They have an opportunity to pour out their suffering and they openly tell about the violence that is happening to them.”
Chetna also provides legal representation for victims of domestic violence and has a victim support fund which helps women with emergency shelter, food, clothes and transport during their court case.
First woman to file a case under India’s new domestic violence law
This support saw Surehka, of Yerawada, become the first woman to have a case filed in Maharashtra under the new law. Surehka was just 15 when she married her husband. A year into her marriage he started drinking and spending most of his wages on alcohol and prostitutes. Soon after, he became violent towards her.
“He made my life miserable. When I was surviving with him I was troubled all the time. Every day I used to cry,” Surehka says.
Chetna took up her case and represented her in court. After some initial legal setbacks the court eventually granted Surehka 2,000 rupees compensation, 2,000 rupees maintenance, and a residence order forcing her husband to leave the family home. He was also issued with an order preventing him from having any contact with his wife.
“Since I got this court order, I feel very free," Surehka says. "I am no longer scared of my husband because Chetna is here to support me. I am so happy. I cannot express my happiness.”
Since January 2007, 442 cases have been registered with Chetna. While some were resolved through arbitration and mediation, 68 were filed in court, 47 of which were domestic violence cases. Seventeen of these cases resulted in court orders, while many are still to be heard or are under appeal.
Change is happening
The process hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Chetna has faced considerable resistance to the new law at the judicial level – some magistrates and government protection officers are reluctant to accept or investigate domestic violence cases, some fail to handle cases impartially, and there has been general confusion about the roles of police and protection officers.
To address this, Chetna has begun holding workshops for police, the judiciary and government protection officers to ensure they handle cases sensitively, understand their roles and responsibilities, and are accountable in addressing women’s rights according to the law.
“Many people take [the law] as a threat to family life in Indian society,” Assunta says. “But I firmly believe that if the law is properly implemented, then we can change society."
Author: Maureen Bathgate
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