Safe Home for Survivors of Domestic Violence

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, India went into a nationwide lockdown. With the lockdown in place, women experiencing domestic violence were trapped with the abusers and had nowhere to go. My Choices Foundation worked during this time to provide telephone counseling services. With the ease of restrictions after the nationwide lockdown, women experiencing domestic violence were able to access help.

Since June 2020, we have assisted 16 women with 5 young children at the Safe Home. Each woman who sought help came in a very distressing situation. These women who were going through domestic violence sought shelter in a safe home for the first time in their life. The team helped these women with the filing of FIR, provided medical care, child care, vocational training, and employment opportunities to clients. We also had a birthday celebration for a girl who turned one which was a very joyous experience for the mother. 

As the restrictions eased women stepped out to get help. One such woman was Hiral.

Hiral’s story…

Brief background: 23-year old Hiral moved to Hyderabad and met Viren. He was working as a driver at the same complex where Hiral worked. Viren befriended her and asked her to live with him but she did not have the courage to refuse and hence, she moved in and married him. Only after their marriage, she realized that her husband was already married and she would be his second wife. As Hiral was his second wife, she was not allowed to live with Viren. She had to live alone. Eventually, Viren’s wife came around and went to bring Hiral back home. She was helped by the first wife to find a job and she eventually got one.  

Viren used to physically abuse Hiral regularly. She became pregnant and the pregnancy was difficult as she had to endure constant abuse from her husband. When Hiral started working at her new job, the employer saw her condition and referred her to My Choices Foundation. Here, she was counseled extensively and encouraged to file a complaint against her husband. She was also counseled to move out of the abusive atmosphere. She said she would but the moment she went home she refused to keep in touch with the counselors as she was threatened by her husband. Her attempt to escape was foiled by Viren and Hiral was afraid to file a complaint against her husband as she was terrified of him. 

Hiral eventually gathered the courage one day and walked out of the abusive home and she was given shelter at the safe home. 

Services at the Safe Home: Hiral was counseled on a regular basis to be able to improve her sense of self-worth and how she has the right to lead an abuse-free life. She felt a sense of belonging in the safe home and learned how to maintain healthy relationships and through various activities, the counselor worked on the client’s self-efficacy. Medical care was provided when her infant was ill. Child care was also provided whenever the client had to travel to the respective Police Station to file complaints and also attend follow up. The client was provided with handicrafts training as a part of her vocational development. The supervisor collaborated with another NGO and helped the client procure a job of her own and is now living an abuse-free life with her 1-year-old girl child.

Challenges faced: The client’s husband made several attempts to convince the client to come back to him, making it difficult for her to stand up for herself. Her own mother pressurized her to withdraw the complaint. Though the husband tried very hard to pressurize her to get back, Hiral stood strong with the help of MCF and refused to return.

Activities at the Safe Home

The caretaker and her daughter engaged the survivors in various projects like- drawings, handicrafts, and making handmade soaps to keep them engaged and as therapeutic activities.  

Links:

• Domestic Violence Helpline