No fair deal for fair sex in India

We found the victims thronging the Mahila Panchyat are mostly from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand Rajasthan, Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. Most of them live in and around the New Seemapuri that came up in late 1970s and early 1980s. In New Seelampuri slums, very large numbers of Bangladeshis also live. Now they have Aadhar card to PAN

There is still long and difficult road ahead to give fair deal to women in India. This is the impression one gets after visiting a ‘Mahila Panchayat’ in national capital that helps battered women to get justice. Alas, all the women coming here are victims of domestic violence, bigamy, alcoholism and sexual harassment. They came here to seek advice from the councillors of Women Panchayat.

Looking distraught and battered, Manju, 34, was standing outside the office of Mahila Panchayat in Delhi with some papers in a folder. A victim of abusive and alcoholic husband, Manju was here with her Saas (mother-in-law) to discuss the unending suffering at the hands of her cab driver husband. The only consolation for her is that she has the support of her mother-in-law in her fight for justice. After suffering for several years in a terrible marriage, she now wants a divorce. Mother of two kids, Manju says “Even my Saas is solidly behind me in my struggle for fair deal. She has seen as to how her son treats me so shabbily after drinking bouts. My husband beats me without any reason.” As she was narrating her sob story, her eyes were getting moist.

From Vivek Vihar, arguably the first posh colony in East Delhi, New Seemapuri is not more than two-three kilometres away. If you are driving your own vehicle, you can reach there within couple of minutes. Even though both these areas are so close to each-other, yet their world are world apart. If Vivek Vihar is full of greenery and home to known transporters and realty company owners of Delhi-NCR, New Seemapuri is a barren land in terms of greenery.

As you reach the office of Mahila Panchayat in B block, you can observe flurry of activities there as several women are coming here. Inside the Mahila Panchayat office, around 25 ladies are sitting on a floor. Some are waiting outside the office for their turn. Inside the room, the floor is covered with a bed sheets and walls are covered with posters for the rights of women.

Kiran is also a councillor here in Mahila Panchayat, which is among the first in the national capital. It was started around 25 years ago by the Delhi Brotherhood Society (DBS). DBS has established St Stephen's College and now it is opening St Stephen's Cambridge school in Rai, Sonipat. To run the Mahila Panchyat, DBS gets the support of the Delhi government. Informs Kiran, “ Panchayat gives space to women to speak without any fear. Many of them visit us to resolve disputes within their families. Here victims are told what legal rights they have and we can help them through counselling, police and courts.”

Covering her head with her red saree, Sundari is a working woman in her own way. She cooks food in three homes in Vivek Vihar and earns around Rs 22 thousand per month. A native of Jharkhand, she has come to Mahila Panchyat or women’s council because a ruffian of her area in Dilshad Colony has been stalking her for the last several months. According to Sundari- “The guy was my neighbour earlier and now he follows me in his scooter as and when I move out from my house for my work. He asks me to marry him even though I am a married woman. I am so harassed with this mad guy. Despite my frequent rebukes, he is not changing. Finally, I am here to seek the advice of Women Panchayat.”

In Delhi, there are more than 50 Mahila Panchayats. Each consists of around 10 staff members. “We identify and motivate ladies to work as councillors. We train them with legal issues and laws relevant to crimes against women as well as maintenance rights. We also train them in counselling, FIR writing, pursuing cases with police,” says Father Solomon George of DBS and who is the moving force behind the New Seelampur Mahila Panchayat. According to Father Solomon George: “I have been observing that stalking is the initial stage of a menace. The ultimate intention could be molestation or even rape. Stalking needs to be nipped in the bud without any delay. It is a serious crime that is rampant in New Seemapuri.”

At around 1:30 pm every Wednesday, Mahila Panchayats across Delhi meet with victims of domestic violence, listen to their sob stories, suggest possible solutions to disputes and educate women about their legal rights.

Says Father Solomon George “I can tell you that the cases related to stalking are only increasing thick and fast. Those who are involved in stalking are very thick-skinned people. Even after firm rejections, they keep on stalking the lady shamelessly. After rejections, they humiliate the victim by sending her obscene stuff online.”

The DBS run Mahila Panchyat is perhaps the only one in capital that gives training of self- defence to thwart the ulterior motives of vagabonds.

Says Kiran as a matter of fact way the Mahila Panchayats are not courts. “ We try to resolve the cases through social pressure and advice. We call those who treat their wives like animals here and first politely told them to change for the better or face the police action. I assure you that thanks to our persistent efforts, things have improved in many homes,” informs Kiran.

After spending more than three hours here, one clearly gets an impression that women belonging to the lower economic strata of the society deserve our empathy and help.

The sad part is that even after facing all kinds of odds in their homes, the victims do not want to separate from their husbands. Reason is financial insecurity. If they get divorce from their husband, they have no place to go. It is a very difficult situation for them.

If the only option is divorce, the panchayat sends the case to the courts. Take the case of Nimmo, a mother of four kids. Her husband got married again. Still, Nimmo is ready to live with her husband. “Where will I go if my husband’s ask me to leave the house? My parents are not around. My siblings have no time to support me. I am ready to live with the second wife of my husband. I am only here ( Mahila Panchyat) so that they convince my husband not to beat me,” says Nimmo. She works as a maid in Anand Vihar and earns around Rs 16 thousand per month. Almost 20 years into her traumatic marriage with a man, who tried to set her on fire more than once, the poor woman is still ready to live with her husband. She shows you the burn marks on left hand.

“We stop a home from breaking but we also ensure the woman is treated well after we put the case as resolved. Follow-up is an important part of what we do," says Kiran, a councillor of Mahila Panchayat.

We found the victims thronging the Mahila Panchyat are mostly from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand Rajasthan, Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. Most of them live in and around the New Seemapuri that came up in late 1970s and early 1980s. In New Seelampuri slums, very large numbers of Bangladeshis also live. Now they have Aadhar card to PAN.

As you leave the Mahila Panchayat and ladies there, you tend to think that the debate of women power would be incomplete unless women belonging to the lowest strata of our society gets just and fair deal.

(The author is Delhi-based senior journalist and writer. He is author of Gandhi's Delhi which has brought to the forth many hidden facts about Mahatma Gandhi)