Safe Home for Survivors of Domestic Violence

Lotus Safe Home -  A haven for survivors of  violence and abuse

Stuck in a violence-ridden home can be a paralyzing situation. With our Lotus Safe Home, we aim to provide a haven for women to protect themselves from their abusers. Through this support service, we are helping in transforming women who are victims of abuse to holistically healthy survivors of violence and abuse. 

Since November 2019, we have assisted 60 women at the Safe Home. Each woman who sought assistance at the safe home approached in an extremely distressing situation. These women were being subjected to violence, abuse and exploitation and sought shelter to protect themselves from their abusers. Our team helped these women with a variety of tasks - providing medical care, vocational training, filing of FIR, and assistance in looking for employment opportunities. 

Kavya’s journey to freedom

Kavya* grew up with her parents and two younger brothers. She was in 10th Grade when she left home to visit her grandparents and on her return, she found that her father had died. Kavya's mother informed her that her father had been murdered. Eventually, Kavya discovered that her mother was a sex worker and along with the brothel keeper, they had murdered her father. Since the death of her father, she was in constant fear for her life. Kavya’s mother forced her to join sex work even though Kavya wanted to pursue her studies. Due to the constant protests, Kavya was sent to her Aunt who lived in North India. There, Kavya was sold in marriage to a man who brought her to South India. 

Kavya’s paternal family tried to rescue her by filing a case against her mother for the murder of her husband but to no avail. They were unable to rescue Kavya from the custody of her mother. Kavya was brought up in an extremely unsafe environment as her mother was a sex worker who would try to coerce Kavya into the same field. Even after her marriage, Kavya found no respite, she was constantly abused and was forced by her husband to start sex work. 

One day, Kavya overheard her husband making plans of getting ‘rid’ of her since she refused to cooperate with sex work. Fearing for her life, she managed to escape from his home and moved to a hostel with the help of a friend. A missing complaint was filed, and the police eventually found Kavya. Since she refused to return to her husband, she was sent to our Safe Home by the Police. 

At the Safe Home, she was provided with constant emotional and psychological support. Kavya suffered from severe trauma because her mother threatened her safety. The Safe Home provided a safe space for Kavya to express feelings and desires without any repercussions. Here, she developed her confidence and became determined to build a safe life for herself. During her stay, our counsellors provided free counselling services and conducted multiple activities with Kavya to gauge her state of mind. Through these sessions and all the legal rights education are given to her, Kavya’s confidence grew and she decided that she wished to leave her husband. Her husband was called for counselling and Kavya’s wishes were presented, he was surprised to see her confidence and tried to make several false allegations. Earlier Kavya would react but this time she knew that these tricks were played with her always and she didn’t fall for it. With great difficulty, he agreed for a mutual divorce. 

Kavya and her husband are currently in the process of getting a divorce. The husband was counselled to stay away from Kavya and respect her wishes to avoid further complications in the divorce procedure. 

Kavya also learnt to do some handicrafts. Looking at the products she created, she felt good about herself. 

Today, Kavya is happy, free and confident. She is living with her friend who helped flee from her husband and is working hard to stand on her feet.  While leaving the Safe Home she was once again briefed about her safety measures.

*Name changed to protect the identity