Domestic violence in India

Last October’s new legislation against domestic violence addresses a wide spread problem in India. BBC South Asia research reported:
1. Overall, a crime against women is committed every three minutes in India.
2. ‘We have been trying for long to protect women from domestic violence. In India alone, around 70% of women are victim of these violent acts in one or the other form’, said Renuka Chowdhury, Junior Minister for women and child development.
3. A survey by the International Institute for Population Studies showed 56% of Indian women believed wife beating to be justified in certain circumstances. The reasons varied from going out without the husband’s permission to cooking a bad meal.”
Many of us involved in the Arya Tara Mahila Trust have frequently met women who have to endure ongoing violence in their marriages. This abuse occurs across the different social strata in India. There is much fear, shame and insecurity around this matter. Most women will only reluctantly speak about it because of economic dependence and the fear of l losing access to their children.



ATMT’s response

THE FIRST PHASE
From December the ATMT started a training programme with a Canadian NGO to empower young women to face challenging and potentially violent situations arising in many homes. We anticipate that from these courses at least one woman will emerge as a trainer for other women (perhaps becoming the basis of a new right livelihood, working in the area of domestic violence).
THE SECOND PHASE
Working with Indian legal advisors in women’s rights, ATMT plans a programme of advocacy and counselling.
To continue this important programme we need funds to pay training costs and also travelling expenses of women attending the courses.
Each training course will cost the ATMT Rs.46,000 (approx. £600 or US $1000). If you can support this project, please contact us on atmt@vsnl.net

The Training so far ……..

We interviewed one of the participants in this training. We were advised not name the participants, as in the past some of the women have been violently attacked for attending the training programmes.
Editor: How is this training useful to you and other women?
P: We look at how to protect ourselves and how to teach this to others. We need to concentrate on our mind. We were told that 98% of women know that they are in trouble but that they cannot hear their inner voice. We need to identify what is happening both inside and outside so that we can protect ourselves.
Editor: So it’s not just like learning physical moves in karate but it’s about mental states as well?
P: Yes, we learn both. We learn some physical moves but we look at our mental attitude, too. We have also been trained in non-violent communication techniques.
Editor: What are your impressions of the course?
P: It is good for women. After doing this training I feel very confident and I wish all women could learn it.