| Counselling |
Counseling
is the main focus of Anweshi, handled by two counselors,
who are highly qualified and committed. The procedure
is of
1) Summoning opposite party
2) Holding separate and joint sessions of counseling
with both parties
3) Giving necessary protection to the clients, including
offering short stay facilities.
4) Organization public opinion in special cases.
5) Ensuring a safe environment to the victim by follow
up methods even after the settlement of cases.
6) Empowering the victim by fostering more equitable
gender relations
7) When all efforts at counseling fail, the cases are
referred to the legal aid cell
|
| Legal
Aid Cell |
Anweshi
has a strong legal aid cell headed by and advocate which
is the legal advisor. She takes up cases in court on
behalf of Anweshi’s clients and also provides
legal counseling. Another advocate takes legal literacy
classes conducted thrice a month organized by the community
workers. |
| Community Work |
Anweshi
is strongly connected to the grassroots of the community
through a network of dynamic community workers who effectively
are the backbone of the organization. Each member can
rightfully claim substantial experience of more than
15 years in voluntary work and in other services organizations.
The focus of their work is located in those areas that
are far from the urban areas. These workers also maintain
constant contacts with other local women’s organizations
such as Anganvadies, Mahila samajams and self- help
groups, etc. for the purpose of organizing awareness
programs. The work is highly planned, co-ordinated and
guided by the social worker in charge of community level
enquiry into all aspects of the petitions registered
at Anweshi. Visiting homes of the victimized women as
well as the opposite parties and carrying out necessary
enquiries at the local police stations are all part
of their field work. These courageous women have worked
hard in adverse and often hostile circumstances, and
confronted various types of harassments. |
| Short
Stay Home |
Since
August 19 2003 we have opened a short- stay home. Battered
women and children, deserted by their husbands and other
relatives are given shelter temporarily after assessing
their situation. Mean while, efforts are taken to summon
their opposite parties and settle the issue, so that
a congenial and tolerable atmosphere is created for
them to go back. Old women abandoned by their children
and sisters harassed by their brothers are also admitted,
depending on the nature of the case. |
| Library and Documentation Center |
Started
in 1995, this library has a collection of more than
3000 books in English & Malayalam, periodicals and
news papers (4 Malayalam dailies and 2 English ones).
Feminist literatures as well as general fiction are
included in the books. A trained librarian is in charge
of this library. Documentation of Anweshi activities
is also done. The process of documentation also helps
record experiences and insights from the field. The
library and the documentation center is organized in
ways helpful for feminist activism an research, which
is radically different from mainstream research and
source reference systems. We are also in the process
of subscribing research journals and magazines to enhance
our documentation capacity. |
