Self-help group as an instrument of empowerment

In the past, Kari village in Beed District (Maharashtra) was marked by regular eruptions of domestic violence. With majority of the 2500 residents being landless migratory daily wage workers on sugar cane fields, family life suffered if the husband was abusive.

According to the traditional system, the sugar cane contractor gives an advance of 50,000 to a lakh of rupees to every couple and extracts their service for 6 to 7 months in the year. Most of the time husbands used up the money for their entertainment and when the wife asked about it she was either physically beaten or verbally abused.

The platform for change was set with SHGs (Self Help Groups) that financially empowered women. With the efforts of Savitribai Phule Mahila Mandal (SPMM) an NGO that addresses domestic violence with support from Aid for Change, a Women and Men Support group took root 4 years ago. At present there are 15 members and over the years their sphere of influence and reputation has grown.

“Men are scared of this group today not only in our village but also in the neighboring ones,” smiles Sudhakar Mazmule who is a member of the men’s support group in the village. He informs that women now intervene when there is an incident of domestic violence. Men give backend support and help with paperwork and legal formalities where required. “Today women in our village make their husband accountable for the money he takes as advance,” says Suman.

There have been instances in the past where a husband doused his wife with kerosene and tried to set her aflame. The women support group members got police involved and mentioned the right section numbers to file the legal case and it brought the husband to his knees. Other general improvements witnessed here is a move to register houses under joint names of husband and wife. The local school now mentions the name of the mother in the admission form instead of only the father.

“We don’t get scared of anyone. If required we know how to file a complaint under different laws at police station,” states Baramati and reveals that at one time she did not know what SP stood for (Superintendent of Police) but today they are a familiar face at the SP office and also known for settling domestic disputes without police help. Men from the village with the knowhow help this group with filing cases under the right sub sections of the Atrocities Act and that has made husbands wary as a proper FIR (First Information Report) lodged can get them into a lot of trouble.

Every member of the women support group has been beaten by her husband in the past but today this village is sensitized about gender equality and empowered enough to take some action against violence.