Angala: Crisis Intervention Centre
Courtyard of Justice
The women’s crisis intervention center, Angala (meaning The Courtyard), was initiated in 1993 to systematically reach out, respond and offer moral, social and legal support to women who are victims of violence and abuse both within marriage and outside, enabling them to lead a life of dignity free from violence.
The women who reach out to us for support are from all communities and classes, rural and urban – for domestic violence is an issue that does cut across all barriers. The follow-up to each case, apart from the counseling and direct intervention is equally intensive and therefore takes a long time.
To get a job for the woman, to find admission for child/children in orphanages where the mother is not able to look after them, visit them in their houses after the compromise is made, to provide medical treatment, like involving them in other meetings, awareness/sharing programs, finding shelter, etc.At any given time, we are responding to about 400-500 women and families who approach us to help them. The nuances of the violence and harassment each woman goes through in her personal and domestic life are specific to her situation. So there cannot be ready solutions on offer for conflict resolution. Our focus in each case is on helping the woman to heal within, even as her immediate support needs – medical, social or legal, are addressed.