Para Legal Literacy on 22/9/16

3^rd Capacity session was conducted by the Center for social action on the 22^nd September 2016 at Salvation Church Dadar. The topic was legal rights with a specific focus on the Domestic Violence Act (2005). The resource persons for the workshop were representatives of the well known organization Majlis. The participants were around 48 representatives of various CBOs and CCO’s. 

They covered following topics :

1.      Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005)

Women  includes – Mother, Daughter, Sister, Mother-in-law, female live-in partner.

2.      A woman cannot file a case of domestic violence against another woman. Hence it has to be against a male person and male family members associated with the abuser.

3.      What is violence- not only physical, verbal , mental abuse. Also depriving food to children,  not providing money for education of children, etc.

4.      When filing an FIR one should take down the name, designation and contact number of the person filling the FIR and also ask for his superior’s name and designation.

5.      A copy of the FIR must be given immediately and free of cost.

6.      If the police is not filing your complaint, you can write your own application, submit it at the inward desk and get a stamp of acknowledgement from the Inward Desk.

7.      If a woman calls 103 in the case of Rape, the Police can go home and record the FIR at home.

8.      You can file an FIR anywhere, irrespective of jurisdiction. This is called a ZERO FIR. This ZERO FIR has to be transferred by the filing police station to the relevant police station within 48 hours.

9.      In the case of Rape or any other sexual offence it is important to get a Medico legal certificate from the Government or Private Hospital. With domestic violence it is better to get the certificate from a Government Hospital.

10.  It is important to preserve case papers/ documentation at the NGO level as such documents can be helpful for a victim at the time of Trial.

   

Under the Dv Act  Protection Officers are appointed. They explained what their duties and responsibilities were and the various initiatives of the State to make these services more accessible to the public. Several trainings and sensitization workshops were also conducted for the Police and other staff to improve their understanding of their responsibilities as representatives of the law enforcement. Also they spoke about the Rights of a Woman at a Police Station, filing of Zero FIRs, things to keep in mind when filling an FIR, how to talk in the language of the Police, and other small tips that social workers could use in various cases. They highlighted 3 main areas of Documentation of cases, Evidence Collection, and Consent terms in the case of dissolving or closing a case. Simple strategies and tips were provided so as to reduce mistakes that would otherwise hurt the client and her case. Although the workshop was a short one the participants felt empowered with more knowledge and information that they could take back to the community and their homes. Feedback from the participants was positive with a stress on more sessions on other laws as well.

The session was very interesting for the participants as most of them knew about the DV Act; however, there were still several misconceptions and questions regarding the same which were aptly addressed by Ms.Sindhu and Farhat.

Basic Cap. Bldg - 3rd Session - Para-Legal Training 22-9-2016

The third basic Capacity Building Session was conducted by CSA on the 22^nd Sept, 2016 at Salvation Kendra, Dadar. The topic was legal rights with a specific focus on the Domestic Violence Act (2005). The resource persons for the workshop were representatives of the well known organization Majlis, which is a legal centre that offers legal services, legal awareness trainings and also work at policy level interventions, PILs, etc. The participants were around 48 representatives of various CBOs and CCO’s. The session was very interesting as the participants knew very little about the DV Act and had quite a few misconceptions as was evident from the questions raised.

 

Ms. Sindhu and Farhat covered the following topics :

1.       Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005)

Women  includes – Mother, Daughter, Sister, Mother-in-law, female live-in partner.

2.       A woman cannot file a case of domestic violence against another woman. Hence it has to be against a male person and male family members associated with the abuser.

3.       What is violence- not only physical, verbal , mental abuse. Also depriving food to children,  not providing money for education of children, etc.

4.       When filing an FIR one should take down the name, designation and contact number of the person filling the FIR and also ask for his superior’s name and designation.

5.       A copy of the FIR must be given immediately and free of cost.

6.       If the police is not filing your complaint, you can write your own application, submit it at the inward desk and get a stamp of acknowledgement from the Inward Desk.

7.       If a woman calls 103 in the case of Rape, the Police can go home and record the FIR at home.

8.       You can file an FIR anywhere, irrespective of jurisdiction. This is called a ZERO FIR. This ZERO FIR has to be transferred by the filing police station to the relevant police station within 48 hours.

9.       In the case of Rape or any other sexual offence it is important to get a Medico legal certificate from the Government or Private Hospital. With domestic violence it is better to get the certificate from a Government Hospital.

10.   It is important to preserve case papers/ documentation at the NGO level as such documents can be helpful for a victim at the time of Trial.

Under the Dv Act  Protection Officers are appointed they explained what their duties and responsibilities were and the various initiatives of the State to make these services more accessible to the public. Several trainings and sensitization workshops were also conducted for the Police and other staff to improve their understanding of their responsibilities as representatives of the law enforcement. Also they spoke about the Rights of a Woman at a Police Station, filing of Zero FIRs, things to keep in mind when filling an FIR, how to talk in the language of the Police, and other small tips that social workers could use in various cases.

They highlighted 3 main areas of Documentation of cases, Evidence Collection, and Consent terms in the case of dissolving or closing a case. Simple strategies and tips were provided so as to reduce mistakes that would otherwise hurt the client and her case. Although the workshop was a short one the participants felt empowered with more knowledge and information that they could take back to the community and their homes. Feedback from the participants was positive with a stress on more sessions on other laws as well.

Mishal Dabre

Senior social worker

CSA

Cancer awareness session on 22/8/16 at Bunderpakhdi.

On Monday 22^nd August 2016, Cancer awareness session was  organized by Holy Cross Mahila Mandal under the guidance of CSA staff Mishal Dabre.

Dr. Prachi Thakar  and Dr.K.Thakar, Oncologist  conducted a cancer awareness session. A presentation based on cancer and its root-cause was shown to 32 women of bunderpakhdi community. With the rising cases of breast cancer in the country, it becomes necessary to create awareness among the women about this deadly disease.

The women were acquainted with the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. Changing trends in eating habits, symptoms, risk factors and warning signs and prevention were some of the points that were discussed in the session.

Social worker Mishal Dabre said that the objective of conducting the session was to raise awareness among the community women. After the session, women were requested to conduct a camp of mammography and Pap test.

This Program was supported through WOCKHARDT Hospital by Mr. Madhav, Marketing Manager.

Community based organisation, Mobilization and SHG Formation 11-8-2016

On 11^th August 2016, 2nd Capacity building session was held at Dadar. The topic was community based organization, Mobilization and SHG formation.

CSA staff, Ms.  Mishal Dabre was the Resource person. There were 66 participants who were present  from various community centres.

She covered the following topics using different activities, group discussion and role play. 

They are as follows:

Definition, objective, methodology, process and SHG formation and documentation.

The objectives of CBO are to:
1. Establish community based institutes for sustainable community development.
2. Develop capacity of community to manage their development projects.
 Ensure community participation/involvement and thus ownership.

Community organization is known to lead to greater understanding of community context, and is characterized by community planning, community action and mobilization, the promotion of community change and ultimately influence within the  larger systems.

The participants actively participated and had an enriching session.

Domestic Workers - Rights and Entitlements, Mulund 12-7-16

Ten Domestic Workers were present on the 12th July 2016 at St. Pius X School Mini Hall as Ms. Chitra Kadam from House Workers Solidarity shared with them on the topic of "Domestic Workers Rights and Entitlements". 

Sr. Roselyn the newly appointed CCO Director started the session and introduced herself and her expectations with the group. Ms. Chitra then went on to explain about the various rights they were entitled to as Domestic Workers, quoting from the government document on the Act for Unorganized workers. 

She spoke of the need to prepare identity cards and the process of obtaining the same. At this point the women shared their apprehensions and the difficulties faced in the past to obtain the same. They openly shared about how they had been cheated, their money and forms filled but the earlier person in contact with the CCO had not been able to keep to her promise and how the government office had not responded to their applications which had  been submitted. 

Ms. Chitra requested the group to take a follow up on the issue with the department and shared the possible process. Ms. Mishal from CSA shared her experience on the difficulties faced by her at other CCOs. The women promised to try to work on the same, however putting faith in this system was practically unproductive  and unfruitful. 

Livelihood Opportunities for SHG Women, Poinsur & Bunderpakhadi 30-6-16

Around 40 SHG women from Roshani Gruha CCO, Poinsur and Holy Cross Mahila Mandal Bunderpakhadi attended a Workshop on "Livelihood Opportunities for Women" at Roshani Gruha CCO on the 30th June, 2016. 

The Resource Person was Mr. Kokadkar from Shetkari Udyog Sanstha, he spoke on the topic of Livelihood Opportunities and in this context he introduced the various available schemes for livelihood. He shared various examples on how the women could set up stalls as per the need, as in the case of women who prepared and sold vegetable juice in a stall at the point where people come for their morning walk. Other possibilities is making available breakfast and lunch at strategic points for people near their office or their travel junctions. 

He shared different experiences of people who tried to obtain vegetables from the rural area and sell it in Mumbai less than the market price and yet make a huge profit margin. He shared the process on how the women could register their name and business with the BMC and they could then obtain an official licence to carry out their business. 

Leadership Skills for Children of Sarva Seva Sangh, Gyan Ashram, Andheri 22-4-16

Sarv Seva Sangh,Gyan Ashram Campus,Mahakali, Andheri - 22^nd April 2016

Leadership Skills for children between the ages of 12yrs to 16yrs.

The Goal was to make the kids understand the traits of leadership.

Activities were conducted so the children understand the types of leaders and how they affect the people they lead. 

For Example:

Three groups were made and were asked to elect a leader, then the leaders were called aside and each was asked to behave aggressive, lazy, and helpful respectively. Meanwhile the team members were told to make a dress for their leader out of paper where they could take help from their leaders if they want. 

The leaders were then told to join the group, where they behaved as told. In the end, the group with a helpful leader completed the task successfully. Then each group was asked to describe what went right or wrong, after which it was reviled the truth about their leaders.

Activities to understand how to- solve problems, think out of the box, take control of the situation, quick thinking, etcetera in order to make the children understand the skills be a good leader.

Ms. Mishal Dabre

Summer Camp for Children, Bandarpakhadi - 19th to 21st April, 2016

Summer Camp for Children from Bandarpakhadi

19^th April to 21^st April 2016

This camp was conducted for children from Bandarpakhadi Vilage between the age of 7 yrs to 14 yrs.

Day one- To understand the values of being a good human being. 

For example:      

The paper folds game- Each group had to fit as many members as they could on a page from a newspaper. The paper had to be folded in half after every 30 seconds. Goal- How a team can help its members during difficult times.

Spot game- Kids were asked to pick a piece of paper on which a task was written which the individual had to complete with or without the help of a team member. Goal- How to handle a situation when put on spot.

Paper bowl- Each team had to make a bowl out of newspaper pieces. Goal- How to work together as a team.

Day two- Awareness regarding saving the environment and recycling. 

For Example:

The kids were taught how to make flower pots out of plastic bottles and candle stands out of soda cans.

 Day three-Leadership Skills were taught through activities.  

For example:

Recycled fabric flowers-the team leader had to guide the members to make a flower out of an old t-shirt.

Blindfold game-the team had to guide the leader in blindfolds to retrieve their flower which was given to another team.- Communication skill

Charades- A team member had to act out a phrase without talking and the team had to guess the right phrase in given time.

Ms. Mishal Dabre

Sr. Social Worker

Women's Day Celebration at Babrekar Nagar, Kandivali

The women’s day was celebrated on Thursday17^th March 2016 at Babrekar Nagar (Kandhivali).The purpose of this celebration was to bring the women of the area together for  a bonding and to give  moral support  to each other in the various challenges faced by them. It was to motivate them and to inspire them in their struggle as women. Many time we as women do not

“A woman is a full circle.  Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.” Understanding a woman is a mystery and it needs lots of perseverance and knowledge. A woman is the epitome of love, sacrifice, care and ability to nurture life. The ability to nurture life makes woman the most powerful and strongest being. She can play different roles with ease be it that of a dutiful wife, obedient daughter, caring mother or adoring sister.

All women deserve respect, no violence and equality in everything. ‘A promise is a promise: it’s now time for action to end violence against women. Though society is changing and progressing towards equal right of both the genders but still we women are not empowered enough to raise our voice against the violation done to us. Keeping these thoughts in mind we advanced in preparing for the Women’s Day Celebration at Babrekar Nagar (Kandhivali). With dance, songs, video presentation and talk in empowering the women. There was a very good response from women of Babrekar Nagar. They were very active and enthusiastic participation of fifty women.

Since one very active women died in my women group due to cancer recently, so they requested me to have workshop on Cancer. The contributions that women make to families often are overlooked, and instead they are viewed as economic burdens. Many women are marginalized in society but they really desire to improve their lives and lives of their family members. There arises a need for women to receive timely health education. One of the most common health problems that women today are dealing with is BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER: "Breast cancer is definitely one of the most common problems with women today. While there's no one cause that can be ascertained as to why it hits one, science does understand some issues related with it. The main reason is the paradigm shift in lifestyle.

And so we invited Dr. Evelet Sequeira Public Health, Specialist Self Transformation COACH

 She is a well known person who is fully engaged in working with women to guide and motivate them in various aspects. There are times when women give priorities to other issues of life but neglect their own life. They neglect their health in taking care of others. So it was very much necessary to conscientize them and making them aware of various sudden health hazards affecting them as well. And so Dr. Evelet spoke about Complementary Approaches to CANCER. In that she covered what is cancer? The types of cancer that women suffer with. The cause symptoms and treatments of cancer. She also said about the feelings and the stress, anger which can cause cancer like disease. The intakes of food and emotions like our feelings way we treat our own selves are also the cause of   cancer. She explained in a very simple language which all women could understand.

On the whole, the workshops were highly appreciated, with anticipation for more sessions like these in the future. We express our gratitude to the resource person Dr. Evelet Sequeira, who accommodated us despite her busy schedule. I in fact thanked the women for their contribution and coming in good numbers to attend the women’s day celebration and session on Complementary Approaches to CANCER. All benefited. Ms.Premlata Thakur (Centre for Social Action -C.S.A) Mary Simon, for giving us the sound system and the space to have the programme. Roslin and Amali who helped me in mobilizing women of Babrekar Nagar.

Premlata Thakur.

Social Worker, Centre for Social Action

Women's Day Program at Hoy Cross Mahila Mandal Bunderpakhadi 13-3-16

250 children, Women and Men from Bunderpakhadi Community participated in the Women’s Day Program organized on 13^th March 2016 by  Holy Cross Mahila Mandal Bunderpakhadi. 

The theme of the day was "Stop Domestic Violence". Fr. Dominic celebrated the Mass and then we continued the program.  Men group composed and sang welcome  song on women responsibility.

Women group presented an awareness song on related to the topic. Ms.Clipsy Banji spoke on women identity and violence against her in different stages of life. 

Fr.Pradeep gave a motivation message to all the participants. With cultural program ended this program. 

~ Ms. Mishal Dabre

Women's Day Celebration, Roshini Graha, Poinsur CCO - 10-3-16

 80 community women from Poinsur Community participated in the Women’s Day event organized on 10^th March by Roshani Graha CCO, Poinsur. A ‘Face to Face’ panel discussion was conducted with four empowered women- Mumtaz Kazi, first Asia’s woman diesel and locomotive engine driver, Annapurna Shetty, a blind woman, Pushpa Singh – a community woman and Priyanka Sharma a community youth. Ms.Clipsy Banji addressed the participants on the topic of “Gender Sensitization”.

The Information derived by putting questions related to the limitations faced during their struggle period from family, neighborhood and society was a source of inspiration motivating the participants to move towards empowerment. 

The confidence of Priyanka Sharma was further boosted by representation as a youth on such an event. Annpurna Shetty a blind women conveyed that if a handicapped person can achieve, others too can easily achieve. There is need for the elements of passion and desire for achievement by any other able person.

The Outcome of this Women’s Day was that after the sharing of experiences by the four empowered women which was a source of inspiration for other women, six women came forward expressing their interest to start an SHG and requested for assistance on vocational training for livelihood.

~ Ms. Mishal Dabre

Leadership in solving a community issue of Building Toilets - Poinsur

Roshani Grah CCO, Poinsur and Prayas Foundation has jointly started a Capacity building program for the Domestic workers to make them aware of their rights and empower themselves.

CSA staff Mishal Dabre conducted a Community mapping and leadership sessions with them. 

As part of the follow up of the capacity building one of the participants Ms.Selvi had taken an initiative to solve the Toilet issue in her community. 

She mobilized the community members and collected the entire information of toilet project. She clicked pictures of the existing toilets. Toilets were there but the condition was very bad just like a Dumping ground, hence people were badly affected. 

Nobody was ready to make a complaint against the Corporator and the BMC. She herself wrote an application and collected the signatures and formed a CBO. 

With the help of CCO staff Ms.Sushilla Pallicha, together they met the Corporator as well as concerned BMC officers. 

After the follow up and meetings, finally, the BMC started the renovation of the Toilets and now they built eight Toilets in that Community’s. 

Ms. Selvi had taken the right step of leadership to solve this issue in the community.  

Children take steps to resolve the Water Issue, Bandarpakhadi, 26th Jan, 2016

Bunderpakhadi : On 26^th jan.2016, republic day, Holy Cross Children group had participated in poster and elocution competition on environment under the guidance of CSA staff Mishal Dabre. Children had prepared a poster on save water, then they presented in Holy cross Mahila Mandal meeting. 

In that community, they are getting dirty water. They took this issue to discuss in community meeting and met the corporator with application. 

He did not work on it. After 15 days the children wrote one application along with the Mahila mandal and gave it to the BMC. With the application, Mahila Mandal Core group met Assistant commisoner of BMC, and next day BMC worker came and completed the worked. Now they are getting good water.

Saheli Din, Jeevan Dai CCO, Sahar - 18th Feb, 2016

On 18^th Feb.2016 Jeevan Dai Community Centre in Sahar, Andheri had organized a Saheli Din program with 225 women at Our lady of Health Church Sahar. 

Resource person was Ms. Mumataz Saaikh, who is leading a right to Pee movement in Mumbai. Shaikh started the “Right to Pee” campaign to fight for women’s rights to basic sanitation facilities.

She expressed that, “I want the basic dignity for all my sisters in the city who go out in fear every day, wondering how they will relieve themselves if the need arises.”Women end up going to railway tracks or the fields to go to the bathroom”. 

She pointed out that it can be incredibly dangerous in the city for women to go to secluded places when nature calls, that there is a serious need for women to have a safe place to go, when they need ‘to go.’

After this session, women had a formed a group to take out this campaign in their respective community.

C.C.O committee members, Sr.Nirmal,Sr.Anmolly, Fr.Suren and Fr.Evan had given their support and help in making these workshops a success.

Mishal Dabre

Senior Social Worker, Centre for Social Action

Battered Minor Freed from the clutches of Domestic Work Violence

She is a seventeen-year-old girl from Jharkhand Simdega District. She had come to work in Mumbai on 8^th December 2015 in order to help her family. In the process of finding work she met her neighbor (from Jharkhand) a friend. In fact it was this person who told her that in Bandra there is work and they will pay her more. That’s how the girl came along to work at Bandra at Mr. Suresh Kumar's house on February 11^th 2015. (names changed to protect the identity of the victim and the perpetrator)

The new employers were kind and amiable during the first two months. However, the honeymoon phase only lasted so long and within the third month, the abuse began. After starting at her new workplace, she never saw her friend again. The man, for whom she worked, looked for any excuse to beat her. For example, if his child cried, she was held responsible because the child was placed under her care and therefore, consequently she received a beating. Another example would be, if the child wasn’t dressed for school on time, she was physically punished. The beatings took place anytime, for any slight reason. She was also beaten with any objects in sight such as the rolling pin, frying pan, belt, etc... As part of the abuse, her cellular device was confiscated as well as her identity card. She was not allowed to leave the house except to drop off the child at school and even then, she was given a 10 minutes’ window or else she was punished. As per the agreement she made with her employers during the time of her employment, she was supposed to get paid Rs.8000 per month. However, they never paid her at all. Leave alone her salary, she was not allowed to call her family members and if they ever called her, Mrs Kumar either hung up the phone or told her family members that she was unavailable to talk. During one such incident, Mr. Kumar threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone about the way they treated her, She was then beaten to the point of unconsciousness. He placed fear in her thus keeping her silent.

On January 15^th 2016, the victim dropped off the child to school like every other day however this day, she caught the attention of the teachers who saw marks and bruises all over her arms and face. They questioned her with carefully, wanting to help her. She finally told them that she was being mistreated and did not want to return to the house.

The teachers were from St.Andrews School and so they called the parish office seeking advice on how to handle the situation. The parish office referred them to the Centre for Social Action (CSA) social worker Ms.Premlata Kumari who works for the Community Centre Organization (CCO) office at St.Andrew’s Church, Bandra.

When the CSA social worker, Ms.Premlata Kumari, met the victim for the first time, she was  broken and desperately seeking help away from her abusers. Victim was asked why she didn’t leave sooner or seek help sooner and her response was that she was in need of the money however now, she feared for her life more than she cared about the money. The first thing Premlata did when victim was in her care was she called her family asked her to speak to her family whom she had not spoken to for 8 months.  When she spoke to them, her family was filled with relief and joy because they thought that their daughter was dead. They had been grieving the death of their eldest daughter for so many months and even offered masses in her remembrance so she could rest in peace. After the family was notified, Premlata filed a police case against the employers at the Bandra police station.

She in fact made accommodation for the girl at URJA Women Rehabilitation Centre Dadar, for a week . However, being a minor, that was a challenge and they were not willing to accommodate her but after our request they were ready to keep her for few days. Meanwhile, with the police case, the police officers suggested that the girl be handed over to them and they would place her in a CWC that is a Childrens Home in Dongri while the case goes on. Premlata felt uneasy with the suggestion because of the uncertainty of victim’s safety and comfort. Instead, she pushed for a settlement between both parties and kept looking for accommodation because URJA could only keep the girl for a week since she was a minor.

Victim was not wanting to charge the family criminally therefore it was no longer a criminal case but a civil case so the police closed the case.

Premlata Kumari became the mediator of the case. Over the course of a week, the settlement discussions went back and forth between social worker and police. As a social worker, Premlata was fighting for the justice of victim and fair settlement for both.

Finally, Premlata was warned by the senior inspector that if you want justice give us the girl or else anything happens you are in our watch. It is a serious case does not take on yourself. Until you give us the girl we cannot do anything. In that desperate situation Premlata strongly told the Inspector that she will do it however difficult and see that justice is done to the victim.

This was a big challenge between the victim and employer. She was concerned for both but she also has more concerned for the victim. Premlata asked the employer to give all the belongings of the victim or else she has to follow the process of court. Finally they agreed and victim received all her belongings and cash she was due. Then Premlata transferred all the money to the victims mothers bank account and booked the ticket for the victim after getting  permission of her and her family and put her in the train. She reached her home safely and informed us. She is very happy being reunited with her family.

Acknowledgements:

I thank Fr. Caesar the Parish Priest, Fr.Joe,Thelma, Reynold, Mervyn and Mohan for helping me in various ways to help the victim. We also thank the St.Anne’s Sisiers Sr. Shobha for accommodating the victim during the interim periods. All’s well that ends well, especially in this ‘Year of Mercy’

Ms. Premlata Kumari

CSA Social Worker

St. Andrew's CCO, Bandra