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.

Volunteers for one night in Setrawa, Nov 2015

Jodhpur volunteers visit the Setrawa volunteers

Setrawa is a village in the desert in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is around 100 km away from Jodhpur where the main office of Sambhali is based.

Four German volunteers started working in the village in August 2015. They teach Math and English in the Setrawa Empowerment Centre and also in private and public schools.

I , one of the volunteer in Jodhpur, got the opportunity to visit them and to see what their lives in the village are like.

Here you see 3 of the German volunteers: Anna-Lena, Hanna und Linda.

My first impression of Setrawa was: quietness. No traffic, no polluted air, no noises. 

After arriving at the centre I got to know the local teachers and the students. It is one of the centres in which boys are taught as well. Everyone was very friendly and open, we played games with the children and laughed a lot.

The local teachers and the four volunteers are getting along very well. Since the volunteers stay with a guest family, their relation to locals seemed to be closer and more familiar. They experience Indian tradition first hand; they see how family life works in the village.

Because I had the chance to spend the night in Setrawa at one of the volunteers’ guest family I now see the difference between their daily life and ours at the guest house in Jodhpur.

They became a part of the family. They learn to deal with the fact that resources are limited in Setrawa. And they are still learning how to live in such a different culture.

I was impressed by the fact that they get along very well, that they love living in the desert and with their host family. Having the fact that the living standard is much simpler to the one we are used to.

Indian "Grandpa" of Hanna and Linda at their house in Setrawa

Host grandmas

Now I know that you really need to be ready for such an experience. It is not easy to accept the tradition, which includes a behavior towards women that we don’t know from western culture. It means to accept their culture and that peoples’ minds can’t be changed easily- or maybe not at all. And it might not be the duty of a young volunteer. 

 

I enjoyed staying in Setrawa for one night, seeing the differences to the city life in Jodhpur. I recommend to every volunteer to visit Setrawa. But don’t stay just for a few hours, stay for night. Then you will have an inside view of the traditionel Indian culture in a village. Even if it’s just a short one.

text and photos by Sarah Peinelt

intern at Sambhali Trust

 

Photography Workshop, November 2015

Sambhail focuses on the girls and women's lives for the perfect shot

By: Agastya Maharaj

Generally women and girls are over burden with household chores and deeply entrenched in a community of gender roles. Lucky for the girls and women of Jodhpur the NGO Sambhali Trust opened its doors for new skills in order to be ready for the next era.

Sambhali Trust introduced a photography workshop with aid of it volunteers Stephan and Monica from Germany. Life for the girls and women of Jodhpur is blurry. The girls and women are subjected to inequality that impedes their education development within the community. Sambhali Trust believes more skills are in need, therefore implementation of photography will create diversity at this NGO. Sambhali’s vision is to provide girls and women with basic education and skills which will prepares them to be future leaders in the community, nation and potentially the world. The photography workshop hosted by Sambhail auto focused the girls and women life for the perfect shot.

In September, 2015 the girls and women of Sambhali Jodhpur Empowerment Centers embraced a new skill "photography". The photography workshops served as catalyst to foster a larger change for the girls and women. It introduced them to a technological world. The photography workshops assist in opening their horizons for a possible future as a professional photographer. The girls attend these workshops alternative days for one month in groups.

"Life is like a camera, you focus on what's important. Capture the good times, develop from the negative and if things don't work out take another shot" The girls and women whom attend Sambhail Empowerment Centers are often drop out of school, adolescent pregnancy married at a young age and housewives whom are susceptible to all types of abuse. Often the girls and women have no authority to decision making powers.

The general consensus obtained from the interviews, was the workshop seized to perfect their lives for the moment. The one hour classes was the best moments. The enjoyment from the classes made the girls and women forget there socio-cultural and religious norms which restrict girls and women to claim their basic rights in society.

Kripa Hans, 18 years old aspires to be a model; the photography workshop was like a "dream come true".

The girls and women were exposed to hands on experience with the professional cannon cameras. Basic demonstration on how to use a camera was conducted. The photography workshops were filled with fun and excitement for the girls and women.

Shaheen Bano, 16 years old loved the workshop and would like to attend the workshop again.

Photography is an art of observation which the girls and women of Sambhali mastered, they went to various locations to practice this acquired skill of photography. Stephen and Monica utilize the spaces around Sambhali Jodhpur Empowerment Center as well as inside and outside of Durag Niwas guest house to capture the moments.The girls and women learnt to take group, abstract and portrait pictures.

The highlight for most of the girls was the trip to Mehrangarh Fort to practice their new skill. The splendid Fort is situated one hundred and fifty meters high, this historical Fort overlooks the entire city of Jodhpur. It has a remarkable architecture that leaves one mesmerized. The girls and women had a chance to capture the most breathtaking shots from this location.

Aaesa Khan, 13 years old enjoyed "clicking pictures at the Mehrangarh fort with her friends".

Stephan and Monica strategically planned a photo shoot for each of the girls and women with their friends at the various locations .The girls and women were given the opportunity to hold and practice the art of photography.

Pooja Gehlot, 18 years old would like to travel the world and take photographs.

At the end of workshop Stephan and Monica award the girls printed pictures in a book. The hypothesis of photography workshop was to bring out creativity which lay dominate in each of girls and women. Their photography skills was a piece of art. The girls were given the opportunity to create their own photo albums with pictures they had the privilege to take. It was an activity to allow them to perceive the landscape, objects and their friends through the lens of a camera.

It was with a heavy heart the girls and women bid farewell to Stephan and Monica.