Safe Home for Survivors of Domestic Violence

Mosquito Nets

The Indian monsoon season has begun and while this conjures images of tropical rainfall - the after effects are not always picturesque. A combination of heavy rainfall and poor urban planning leads to an infestation of mosquitoes which bring a host of seasonal - and even fatal - illnesses. To protect the women and children living in the Lotus Safe Home, we have covered the windows and doors with mesh nets to keep out the mosquitoes and safeguard the health of the inhabitants inside.

Dining Table and Chairs

The women and children are grateful to have received a dining table and chairs which were donated to the Lotus Safe Home. The dining table and chairs are in good condition and now, the women and children are joined at the table every day by the staff members who enjoy their daily meals together. 

Case Study

The Lotus Safe Home recently helped a young woman named Shobha (name changed to protect the individual), who was married at the age of eighteen. Shobha was just out of her teen years when she gave birth to her firstborn child. Life changed for her and before she knew it, she was the mother of three children.

But Shobha was also facing physical and sexual abuse from her husband’s family members and when Shobha’s husband learned of this, he saw it as an opportunity to abuse her in the same manner too. Furthermore, her mother-in-law mentally abused her by alleging that she was a bad person and “deserved” her treatment. 

In desperation, Shobha wanted to return to her own home. But what awaited her there was nothing short of blame and further mental abuse. Her own mother refused to take her in and was not concerned with the well being of her daughter. But Shobha did not give up. Her cousin helped her file a police complaint and after counselling was provided to her and to her in-laws, she returned home with a little more hope that things would be different. 

But things were not different. Her husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law continued to sexually and physically abuse her, and Shobha once again filed a complaint with the police who now referred her (and the children) to the Lotus Safe Home. Here, she was given individual counselling - the first step to clearing her mind to think about what she wanted for her future and the future of her children. 

Our counsellors and legal team thoroughly educated Shobha on her legal rights and other areas of the law. Shobha left her husband’s house, sought legal protection and is now living in a women’s hostel. Our team also advised her to enrol in a skills-development course for her future livelihood.

Shobha is grateful for the time she spent at the Lotus Safe Home where she was able to live in a safe space with her children and decide the future course of action for her and her children.