Towards Violence Free Communities
Vimochana’s study in 1997- 98 on the unnatural deaths of women in marriage led to taking up preventive work in two urban communities in Bangalore, Jagajeevan Ram Nagar and Ulsoor, which had the highest rate of unnatural death in the city. Over the years we have expanded to areas spanning from Sudham Nagar to Kasturba Nagar.
Our work in the communities mainly concerns engagements with issues of domestic violence, also delving into notions of intimate partner violence, which fall under the larger umbrella of Gender-Based Violence. The communities we regularly interface with are richly diverse comprising of caste, linguistic, and religious minorities. We follow a community-centric approach towards building awareness and strengthening community ties. We also seek to collectivise community voices that speak of their truths, lived experiences and personal memories.
Vimochana’s work within these communities has led to the creation of local women’s networks that are not only vigilant monitors of domestic violence in their neighbourhoods but also have formed grassroots committees to provide an alternative form of justice for victims of domestic violence. Upon realizing that the violence has taken place, the victims are immediately cared for by women from this network whether it be for food or shelter, or accompaniment to the police station working together with the family towards a safe resolution of the dispute.
