Services for Women Survivors of Violence in Aizwal

Lalthanzami's proposed project to set up a resource centre for survivors of violence and abuse, is currently on hold due to lack of fund support and a need for a detailed review of the work done so far.

She has however initiated the process by setting up a committee comprising experienced women from her community who will help to manage this Resource Centre. The committee members have had discussions about the prospects of initiating appropriate livelihood skill training programs for the survivors and other needy local women, that include making of artificial flowers, cooking and even beauty therapy. Additionally they plan to offer trainings on issues relating to domestic violence, property rights, accessing legal support and health issues to empower the women. Lalthanzami is also in touch with friends and wellwishers to solicit their support to sustain her efforts.

FST is also facilitating Lalthanzami's networking and capacity building with other organisations to explore options for taking her work forward. In the recent past, we arranged for her to attend a South Asian Feminist Capacity Building Course on Gender, Sustainable Livelihoods, Human Rights and Peace organised by SANGAT in Kathmandu. She recently attended a workshop on a project for Deepening Diversity, Women's Rights and Democracy in India conducted by MARG, CAFI , in Guwahati and is hoping to be involved in their plans for capacity building of a cadre of 'community justice workers' in her state of Mizoram.

FST team plans to continue engaging with Lalthanzami and visiting her in the near future and meeting with the community where she works and having indepth  discussions with other survivors who have benefitted from her efforts. The idea is to rescale the project in view of limited resources, and to explore sustainability by tapping into existing and potential options that are available officially from the state government as well as existing civil society organisations.