Project Title

Mahila Panchayat-Grass Root women's courts

Funding Agency

Duration of the project

Delhi Commission for Women

Nov-04 onwards

Geographical Coverage

Partner NGOs

The project is operational in Tigri slum and L block of Sangam Vihar

Objectives

• To provide a forum for conflict resolution to resolve family disputes and enables women to assert themselves and live with dignity and self esteem.
• To build capacity of the grass root women to become legally aware, gender sensitive and non-judgmental and to listen with empathy to victims of domestic violence.
• To train paralegal workers to handle case work and counsel women to know their legal rights to take decisions and to act to get out of violent situations when conflict is not resolved.
• To prepare women for legal action and seek legal aid whenever necessary.
  

Project Brief

MAMTA was chosen to become member of Mahila Panchayat network by Action India in November 2004 and since then the support group prepared to solve cases on violence was merged into Mahila Panchayat. Two centers of Mahila Panchayats with financial support from 'Delhi Commission for Women' one in Tigri and another in Sangam Vihar' have been opened. The community women have been motivated to form group and organize case dealing and settlement of domestic violence cases.

• To create Community based Support systems for women in crisis and victims of domestic violence two centers were opened one in Tigri and the other one in Sangam Vihar.
• Weekly meetings in both the centers were organized on every Wednesday for case hearing and problem solving.
• Home visits by staff were paid for case enquiry, family counseling and follow up after case solving.
• Supportive counseling sessions were conducted with victims of domestic violence to provide emotional support and help the client to gain courage to solve own problems.
• Every year 6 legal awareness camps were organized to build the capacity of staff and members of Mahila Panchayat on laws protecting the rights of women.
• Regular capacity building sessions were organized with member of Mahila Panchayat on issues related to gender, gender roles, female feticide, rape, Mahila Panchyat and its functions, case dealing and counseling and domestic violence bill etc. Till now 111 cases related to dowry demand, suspician, physial and mental torture, maintainance etc have been registered. 90 cases have been settled by Members of Mahila Panchayat and others are still continuing.