Friday, November 27, 2015

Ms. Manju Mehta - 'Sambhali’s very own superwoman’

Meet Ms. Manju Mehta!


As part of UN Women's 16 days to End Violence Against Women, we have been interviewing some of the staff and women involved here at Sambhali. This is Part 1 - an interview with Ms Manju Mehta - 'Sambahli's very own superwoman'.


Ms. Manju Mehta

For the past 6 years, Ms Mehta has been the voice behind the Sambhali Trust domestic abuse helpline, working tirelessly as its principle caseworker. Personally handling approximately 25 cases a month, Ms Mehta has accumulated valuable insight into the complexities surrounding domestic abuse in Rajasthani society. Every day she acts as counselor to the victims, mediating between them and their families, in addition to representing the women in front of third parties, such as the police and courts. Ultimately, she is working to stop the cycle of violence through intervention, and if possible, ensure economic and social independence to the women in its aftermath.

Nevertheless, while she has achieved an admirable level of success in helping countless women, there is only so much a single person, or a single organization, can do to support the huge percentage of Indian women currently suffering domestic abuse. The problem is endemic, and above all societal. According to Ms Mehta - 'it is the lack of education of both men and women, along with women's economic and social dependency on men, that is the real root of this problem'. Here, women pass their entire lives answerable to men. A woman is dependent first on her father, then on her husband, and eventually, on her son. After marriage, she moves from her parent's house directly into the house of her husband's parents. 'We are taught that men are always the priority. Abuse does not come into the question. Rather, if an argument does occur, we are taught it's our responsibility to smooth it over’.  

The hardest part of her job, Ms Mehta admits, is being confronted by the indifference of her state to the plight of these women. Although legislation against domestic abuse exists, the crime is met with impunity. The police are corrupt, and often condone abuse as legitimate. Mrs. Mehta has found that in many instances the police will even actively obstruct cases made against the perpetrators. 'The police are a big problem. They contact the husband, families, and accept bribes to shut the case down. Again, this is a societal issue. They need to understand that domestic abuse is a human rights violation, and not an acceptable part of Indian society’.  

Text by Beatrice Sell, Photogrpahy by Catherine Thomas.

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