Empowering abandoned women: National meet to address issues

Sitting beside her is another woman who had to leave behind her two children in Bengal’s Islampur area four years ago,after her in-laws threw her out claiming she was mad. Unaware that she is an HIV-positive and also a tuberculosis patient,she is just determined to get back to her family. She,however,has no recollection of being brought to the Capital by a man who lured her into prostitution. Sreerupa remembers driving past Panchsheel Park and coming across “a woman crawling on the street,barely clad and parts of her body burnt”. The woman also has a picture which she claims is that of her son. “We sent her to Bengal when she came up with the address of her family,but she returned two months later.”

At a conference organised by Sudinalay,in association with the Institute of Gender Justice,such victims of sexual abuse and mental harassment sat quietly,unable to express themselves. Except for Rupa (name changed),a 25-year-old who was sexually and mentally abused during childhood. She is determined to make something of her life. “I lost my father at six; three years later,my mother died. My relatives said they would look after me. But all they wanted was my property in Laxmi Nagar. They would come over,beat me and molest me.” When her neighbour found out,they contacted the police,following which the matter reached the High Court and her house in Laxmi Nagar was sealed. “I was taken to the SOS Children’s Village in Faridabad where I completed my studies,” she said.

Set up in 1989,Sudinalay has rescued more than 10,000 such women. To “celebrate the joy and empowerment of women”,a “joint consultative national meet on women’s empowerment” will be organised at Vigyan Bhawan on Tuesday where the President Pratibha Patil will address an audience,including survivors of sexual and mental abuse. “There is hope for these women. A better life,a better future,” says Sreerupa.