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Survivors of violence learn to fight back in Calcutta.
‘This is a violence-free zone’ proclaims a board at the entrance of the Swayam office in Calcutta, a support centre for women survivors of violence. The words mean a lot to visitors here as they attempt to seek a new life without violence. According to Swayam, the most important part of working with abused women is to create the awareness that no act of violence is justifiable. In a National Family Health Survey, 56 per cent of the 90,000 women interviewed justified marital violence. Of these, 60 per cent were rural women and 47 per cent urban. The study also showed that education and awareness had a direct bearing on the women’s understanding of their rights and lives. While 62 percent of illiterate women justified wife-beating, only 37 per cent of women who had high school level education condoned it. The power of socialisation and the norms of patriarchy are so strong that most women do not question acts of violence against them. The main task that Swayam undertakes is to rekindle a will in women and help them determine the course of their life. “Swayam,” explains founder Anuradha Kapoor, “means oneself.” The centre offers a range of direct services to the women, addressing their emotional, practical and financial needs. When a client approaches Swayam, her needs are assessed. These might include counselling for trauma, medical aid, police assistance, legal advice, financial help, help for her children, shelter, etc. Swayam has a team of volunteers, including counsellors, social workers, lawyers, and a network of doctors. Opportunities for emotional healing are important and the Swayam Drop-In Centre allows women to meet, share experiences and support each other. Support group activities have resulted in two initiatives. One is a Bengali magazine, Prayas, which deals with the issue of violence. The other is the Swayam theatre group, which regularly organises plays in public parks and streets. Programmes to sensitise the community to the problems of violence against women are also undertaken. Workshops for the police, judges and lawyers, and the public in general are organised. Swayam also holds regular campaigns in schools. “Violence against women is a result of society regarding them as inferior to men,” says Kapoor. “Making children realise the inequities and injustice that characterise gender roles is essential since they are the decision-makers of tomorrow.” Contact: Swayam
11 Balu Hakkak Lane
Calcutta 700017
West Bengal, India
Tel: 91-33-280 3429/280 3688
Email:
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