Crisis manager

Dubey’s decision to work met stiff resistance from her husband and in-laws. However,her mother supported her,and she managed to get in touch with CSR Director Ranjani Kumari,who was working in a school nearby. Kumari helped Dubey land a job as a teacher in the school in 1990.

“I taught there for four-five years,and I eventually got involved in women’s issues. CSR used to have meetings to discuss women’s issues to make them aware about their rights,and familiarise them with various laws. I took part in a few meetings and became associated with it. I was also trained in women’s rights,after which I started counselling women in those areas,” she says.

It took time for people in her neighbourhood to get used to Dubey’s new role. “It took some time for people to get used to it,and realise that whatever I was doing was for the good of women. Whether it’s a case of dowry or domestic violence,it can be solved to a certain extent by counselling the couple and their parents and reaching a solution amicably,” says Dubey,who now has the support of her husband and her in-laws.

Dubey may not have a degree in law or counselling but she knows all about laws relating to women. “I learnt it all from experience,while dealing with different cases,” she says.

She starts her day at 9 in the morning by preparing a plan for meetings. Following that,she handles the cases that come to her,counsels them and occasionally visits villages in the Chattarpur area.

She leaves office by 5 pm,but if she gets any urgent call after that,she returns to work immediately.

Dubey gets about 12-15 cases of domestic violence every month. “The people in the neighbouring area are not educated,and they don’t know what the Domestic Violence Act is. Once they come to us for counselling,we try to explain their rights to them and,if legal action is required,we guide them,” she says.

A particular case can take four-six months to resolve,and both the husband and wife have to meet Dubey regularly for sessions.

She also tries to make women independent — networking with local companies and hospitals in the area to get them jobs. “It’s very satisfying to see that women,once victims of domestic violence,are now becoming members of CIC and coming forward to volunteer and assist us in empowering other women,” she says.