27^th Annual Day Celebration of Sakhya

  

While celebrating the success and dedicated service during the past 27 years, Sakhya organized “ARISE, AWAKE and ACT for CHANGE” a grand event to mark the 27th Annual Day on 22^nd February with the sole objective of sensitizing  youth and people towards atrocities on women which increasing at an alarming rate.  The day witnessed the presence of more than 300 people at Samaj Seva Mandal to participate in the event. The program included a street play competition for youth groups of different Schools, Colleges and Institutions on gender discrimination and gender based violence.

The chief guest of the day Dr. Cecelia Carvalho, Principal of St Gonzalo Garcia College graced the event with her presence.  The event began with a welcome song sung by the Sakhya staff, this was followed by the lighting of the lamp by the guests and Sakhya team. The 7^th quarterly newsletter; Hunkar cum souvenir was released by Dr Cecilia Carvalho.  Ms Hilda Fernandes, Director of Sakhya welcomed the participants.

In her key note address Dr. Cecelia Carvalho appreciated the hard work of Sakhya to make an impact and bring to fore the different issues affecting the women in the Indian society. She gave an insight and shared her own perspectives to bring to light the changes that have taken place over the years. The young girls from Shiv Shankarpada presented a graceful dance .

Nine groups from different schools, colleges and institutions put up street plays on the issues grappling women in our society.  The nine groups were:  Nirmala Mata School, St. Joseph Senior College of Commerce & Arts, Uttan, St. Joseph College Satpala, Carmel Convent High School, St. Thomas High School, St. Anthony Convent High School, Prabhat Colony Theatre Group, Nav Taare Youth Group. The street plays depicted violence on women in its various forms.  Those on the panel of Judges were: Ms. Clipsy Banji and Mr. Maxwell Rose who announced the winners of the day on the basis of their performance.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                  
 Nirmal Mata, Manikpur bagged the first prize; St. Joseph College, Satpala second prize, and Carmel Convent, Nandakhal third prize.  All the participants were awarded certificate of participation.  Ms Chatush Singh delivered the vote of thanks to all who contributed in making the event successful.  The program came to a close by singing the National Anthem. 

Husband seeking to rebuild his relationship with his estranged wife

Mr. Binod married since 3 years; has a son 2 years’ old.  He expressed to the counselor that due to some petty quarrels in his married life; his wife has gone to her natal home for the last 3 months and refused to come to the marital home.  During the time that they stayed together in the marital home; they did have occasional quarrels; his wife was suspicious about him, was instigated by her mother and used to give in to her mother’s views about Binod.  Her parents also used to pressurize him to make his paternal property in his name; he said that he could not do so as he has another brother who also has a share in the same.   He also reported that his wife accused him of assaulting and abusing her.

Before he approached Sakhya; he tried another attempt to bring his wife back but to no avail.  Thus he approached Sakhya to intervene and help him rebuild his married life.  After hearing his side the counsellor called up his wife and had a telephonic conversation.  When she was called for a joint interview she refused to come; however she did oblige to speak over the phone.  The counsellor had several telephonic sessions with her over the phone.  Binod reported to Sakhya that his wife has returned to the marital home and now they are both happy.       

Decision of a wife and daughter to stop being victims in an abusive environment within the family 

Case profile

Arati who has completed her MA and B.Ed. (name changed) hails from a middle class family comprising of her parents and two older brothers aged 30 and 28 respectively. Father is retired as a lecturer in college while the mother is a home maker; one of her brothers is pursuing his MA in English literature while the other is house bound due to being a victim of polio.  

Her brother has been unable to clear his MA due to negative peer influence, indulging in viewing porn and circulating sms related the same.  He is also intimidated by Arati and her academic performance and holds a certain grudge and revenge against her.  He begins to send her obscene images on her mobile and harasses her emotionally, at time making sexual advances.  The mother is aware of her torments and informs the father about it; he turns a deaf ear to their plight; both the women are emotionally abused.  

The counselor of Sakhya reinforces Arati’s coping mechanisms by helping her focus on her various resources; seek alternate accommodation, look for a job till the time that the abusive environment has scaled down.  The counselor seeks a joint meeting with the father; who initially expresses a lot of anger and resistance for being called on the phone.  However he agrees to meet the counselor.  After a joint meeting with the mother and the father; the counselor enables the parents to understand their roles to support their daughter and not to reinforce or support the abusive behavior of their son.  Arati continues to reside in the family is now working as a teacher; and the father has stopped her brother from entering the house and troubling the family in any way.

The event “ARISE, AWAKE AND ACT FOR CHANGE” is organized on 22nd  February 2014 to celebrate the presence of Sakhya for the last 27 years . The goal of this event is to sensitize youth and people to the atrocities on women, and to give rise to a gender bias-free society. The youth from the different NGOs, Colleges would be participating in this event.

International day for elimination of violence against women

The 25^th November marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – the United Nations annual effort to raise awareness about the women around the world who fall victim to gender base violence. It is the beginning of 16 day period of activism to address violation of women’s rights culminating with the Human Rights Day on December 10^th. The United Nations defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”,

On the occasion of this 16 day period, Sakhya organized various awareness programme in Vasai Taluka including display of posters, banners, distribution of leaflets, talks, sessions, street plays and tempo rally. On 25^th November Sakhya Social Workers and volunteers displayed 100 banners and posters at main places in Vasai, Virar and Nalasopara  which included government hospital in Vasai, Bangli Naka, Vartak college, four bus depos, Vasai,Virar, Nalasopara and Naigaon railway station, local markets, etc. The Social worker gave talk in R P Vagh Schoo,l Vasai and New English School Junior college, Vasai on “Effects of domestic violence on youth and Gender sensitization”  sensitizing  400 on domestic violence issue. On 4^th Dec tempo rally was organized in order to raise public awareness of violence against women . The Social  Worker and Volunteers  decorated the tempo  beautifully with posters and banners spreading message of women’s empowerment. Tempo went to all main places in Vasai Taluka and stopped each place for 10 minutes. The Social Workers raised slogans of women’s empowerment, had dialogues with people who approached, distributed the leaflets. Total 6000 leaflets were distributed. VAW campaign increased the visibility of Sakhya among masses as  a number of people approached to have interaction with the Social Workers on violence issues. After VAW campaign 10 people personally approached  Sakhya to get the guidance , 12 cases  had telephonic counseling, two NGOs in Vasai approached  to know sakhya’s activities, three journalist  approached after watching banners.  At  Sakhya extension centre Thane also,  various activities were organized to  raise awareness of violence against women to support the day as International observance.On 26^th November OPD campaign was organized in Thane civil hospital. Posters and banner of Sakhya were put up in the OPD by the students of Nirmala Niketan .52 brochures were distributed and a small talk on domestic violence was given by the social workers.On 27^th November senior citizen campaign was organozed by the social workers in Thane civil hospital. 88 brochures were distributed and a small talk was given on domestic violence. Handbills describing the importance of domestic violence day were also distributed.

On 1^st December the Social workers  and the students of Nirmala Niketan went to different churches and corporate sectors for fund raising event.On 3^rd December campaign was organized by the social worker in the ANC ward at Thane civil hospital. 57 brochures were distributed and a small talk was given by the social worker on domestic violence week. On 4^th December fund raising was carried out by the students of Nirmala Niketan and later campaigning was organized by the social worker and the students at Thane bus depot.

              

                 

                    

             

                                                 

Sakhya Women’s Guidance Cell is organizing Street Play Competition during its annual day celebration on 22^nd February 2014. We invite interested participants for registration. For registration please contact Ms. Chatush Singh on 7208149820 and Mrs. Shalini Jadhav on 9221078237