Reduce Gender Based Violence in Urban Communities

 Dear Maitri Friend,

For years of subjugation now, women’s individuality has been reduced to the four walls of the house. It is worse when the walls support domestic violence. It is the brutality and the evil associated with gender based violence that Maitri strives to fight against. Since its inception, Maitri has stood firm in its stance of protecting marginalized vulnerable women, and help them realize their potentialities to fend for themselves in all spheres of life The month of December has echoed with voices against violence.

 Maitri attended Campaign on Violence against Women organized by Mahila Garima Abhiyan. There were sharing of cases on violence against women and experience sharing by women social workersin which Maitri gave valuable information on Gender equality .The event was successful in garnering a large participation,and there was an effective engagement and exchange of dialogue.

Maitri also attended a Stakeholders Consultation Workshop on developing a network for survivors of violence in Urban Ranchi. Maitri helped built a strong support in forming the foundation of it. Further, Maitri also organised a gender sensitisation campaign with  with student of St Xavier College Ranchi.

On the occasion of International Campaign on 16 Days of Activism to eliminate Gender based violence, Maitri India also organized a staff training programme on 27-11-2017 with the project in ranchi. Some Objectives of the training were to sensitize about the gender issues,to develop an understanding on the concept of human rights and violence and to develop a skill of facing and handling different kinds of challenges in field.

We live in a country where there are instances and manifestations of violence in different forms. Creating an effective dialogue on gender is a difficult subject. Inequality and violence travels through different forms and manners. Approaching a path for reducing gender based violence consists of different steps and players. Maitri understands the position of women in our Indian society and the reasons for being oppressed are deeply interlinked with the fact that women have no resources or fewer privileges in terms of power and finances.

Amidst such nuances of gender, Maitri believes that self confidence and independence can act as effective tools in the fight towards gender equality. While working in different projects, our experiences with either Widows of Vrindavan and Radhakund, or young girls in communities have brought us this understanding that creating a space which fosters ideas of self independence and confidence actually helps in strengthening our fights against different forms of inequality and discrimination on the basis of gender.

Learning through these experiences, Maitri  has initiated a skill building empowerment project, for women and girls at Vrindavan, Radhakund and Soniya Vihar. The project focuses on providing skills and income generating opportunities. Though women and girls will be the beneficiaries of this project,there will be a special focus on empowerment of widows. We already have stitching and tailoring classes for girls and women. But converting this small step into a small time entreprenurship project will be a great step in eradicating gender based violence.

 While this initiative will have more number of gilrs, it will specially focus on working with widows as well.Maitri understands that the struggles of widows are multidimensional. Being a woman and a widow and an older person are multiple identities that each person in Vrindavan and Radhakund struggles with. In case of widowhood, a woman’s identity is defined by her husband’s, as secondary to man, the progression in society becomes one from wife to widow, with no scope to be a person of her own right. Old age is still considered as a burden, and in case of older women who have greater life expectancy but no resources; the violence faced is even higher.  Maitri believes this not only limits an individual but also violates the principles of living a life with identity, respect and dignity. And while we work towards creating gender equality, this aspect cannot be left unotouhed.

Maitri wants to thank every donor in Global Giving. Its because of your support, we have reached to a place where we can start such an initiative. You are intrumental in creating such a shift and in shaping our fight against gender based violence and  discrimination. Wish us all the best for our new initiative.