We Women Want: Domestic abuse and ways to escape it

This week on We Women Want, we take up the issue of domestic violence, for that has been the subtext behind the horrific murder of Shraddha Walker that has been dominating the headlines recently.

DEFINITION

Domestic abuse can take many shapes and forms. It does not always have to be physical. It can be verbal in the form of gaslighting or downright abuse; it can be marital rape; or it can be all about controlling the spouse. Domestic violence occurs behind the walls of the most expensive luxury mansions as well as the poorest of slums, and it is not limited to a specific social class.

SEEKING HELP 

What gives the woman strength to walk out or counter it is the support from her family, NGOs, and some outside help. The biggest empowerment tool is to give the abused access to financial independence, and this can be done through vocational training that some NGOs offer. The courts are there to help, as are the police stations, but these options are not easy to access.

ON THE SHOW

NewsX’s Senior Executive Editor spoke to the team at Shanti Sahyog, a Gandhian NGO based in Delhi, and discussed options as well as case studies. Dr. Suman Aggarwal, the founder and president of Shanti Sahyog, and Swati Saxena, a lawyer who helps domestic abuse victims pro bono, appeared on the show.

REHABILITATION 

The rehabilitation of a victim has many layers, of which counselling and giving them the strength to walk out of a marital home is just the first step. The NGO helps out by sending field workers on the ground to reach out and then helps with counselling, legal aid, vocational training, and hand holding playing the role of a supportive family. Women should not be made to feel as if they are born to take whatever abuse is thrown at them; they have options and can fight back, was the show’s overarching message.

Catch fresh episodes of ‘We Women Want’ every Saturday at 7:30 PM on NewsX. The programme will also be streamed live on major OTT platforms: DailyHunt, Zee5, MX Player, ShemarooMe, Watcho, Mzaalo, Jio TV, Tata Play, and PayTm livestreams.