The red brick building was open and warm in the December sunlight, more than anything else it felt familiar and safe. With sweetened coffee and comfortable cane chairs we launched into a conversation with Donna Fernandes, who is one of the founding members of Vimochana in 1979. We go back 30 years into the past to learn about the beginnings of Vimochana – from the lawns of Central College in '79, during the time of the mid-term elections. A time when people's political consciousness was high, they raised questions and concerns, not only about the divide between men and women but also the question of society being organised on gender lines.
“Following the International Women's' Year in 1975, women's' concerns were raised in the public sphere, it was almost a revival of the women's movement which had dissipated after independence. We felt there was a need to bring women's issues to the forefront especially after a severely indicting women's committee report was filed. The report highlighted the pathetic condition and subordination of women in the country,” says Donna.
Vimochana's work began with changing the perception of a woman's world being limited to fashion and cooking, and they attacked issues such as unequal wages and maternity benefits. This eventually grew to include larger issues which were spurred by the 1995 rape in Mathura. “Fledgling groups fought around the issue and galvanised all the women's groups into action – there was a demand to change the rape law. The changes were not radical and the laws that were brought in were short-sighted. Thirty years down the line, these laws address crime as public crimes. Many of the crimes against women are private in nature and almost always there are no witnesses. It is obvious that law is no answer, however, while we are critical of it, we know we have to use it.”
The core of Vimochana is to respond to violence against women, especially domestic violence. “Much of our work was creating awareness of the crimes women face. Women began to approach us directly for help and through us, addressed the police, court and administration. We were simultaneously challenging political, administrative and legal responses to the hostile environment against women.”
Vimochana has established a shelter for women to stay with their children till the cases are settled. The organisation intervenes at individual levels and listens to both sides of the story because perspectives can be different.
“We respect it when women don't want to go public with their problems. We have meetings with the victims and take them through a healing process. There is no place for healing in the law, we make sure to innovate in our interventions. We do not have a standard principle, we respond according to the situation,” says Donna.
And are there a lot of women who go back to a abusive relationship? “Oh yes!” she exclaims, “Marriage is such an over-powering institution. Girls are raised with the idea of marriage as their final destination. A part of society is upset about Indian culture going to the gutter with the rising divorce rates. But when women are eve teased, harassed and killed for dowry that is not a threat to Indian culture.”
Talking about the burns cases admitted to Victoria Hospital, Donna says: “Most of the women who are admitted are burnt and charred so badly they die and these are all cases that have been registered as cooking accidents and stove bursts.”
The woman can be best described as a firecracker and with a sheepish smile she says, “I have too much energy. When women emerge stronger and can resist an attack of violence it helps maintain a balance for all the other atrocities. We also focus on the community and help form women's groups, especially in the poorer communities where the feeling of ‘we' is more apparent. It gives you the spirit to keep going.”
All the services provided by Vimochana are free which is their strength and something they take pride in, but with that comes the difficulty of funds. With the help of charcoal artist Rupesh Patric, they have launched their 2012 calendar titled “Speed, Weed And Birth Control” which is for sale in an effort to bring in the money. “Every case that comes to us is a relationship. This is our life's commitment and passion. Finding money is difficult but people like Rupesh recognise the significance and we are grateful for that.”
Visit the Vimochana at >www.vimochana.in or email them at vimochana79@gmail.com. Contact 25492781/82/83.
