Vikaspuri (West Delhi): Delhi streets are as dark as dazzling they look. NCRB data shows that 33.1% of crimes against women in 2016 were recorded in the capital, against other metro cities. This spurting crime rate against women often sparks off outrage and condemnation, yet the situation refuses to change. Western region of the state, commonly known for being densely populated, is getting infamous for Gender Based Violence. Santulan-Gender Equality program of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS), under the divine leadership of His Holiness Shri Ashutosh Maharaj Ji, with the objective to foster awareness in terms of role and contribution of women towards society’s evolution & development, is carrying out a vigorous campaign in Vikaspuri-one of the areas from said western regions of Delhi. The target audience of campaign, in particular, is the women of the area, with a vision to educate them about their rights and potential and encourage them to move in unison towards universal change in gender perspective. The sensitized are motivated to join the campaign as peer educators and extend awareness to victims of gender based discrimination (GBD) and gender based violence (GBV).
The deep-rooted, prejudicial discrimination demands regular treatment along with demystification of traditional cultures, myths and misconceptions. The campaign, thus, includes variety of events viz., gender sensitization & women empowerment workshops, awareness counters at public places such as parka and malls etc., awareness walks, advocacy sessions and much more to treat every segment of audience with a range of insightful activities.
The events under aforesaid campaign are blend of thought provoking skit on prevalent gender based challenges, edifying lectures highlighting social menaces like sex selective abortion, domestic violence and other forms of crimes and violence against women (VAW), holistic women empowerment discussions encompassing sessions on capacity building, adult literacy, holistic grooming & character building etc. The fact that socially & economically empowered women are not spared from biasness & crime, is majorly accentuated.
As mentioned above, Awareness walks are also forming part of campaign as a potent medium of spreading the message to thousands. Women & girls walk through streets and crossings, holding placards & yowling aloud slogans to save girl child and respect women.
Leaving no stone unturned, awareness counters that are being organized at areas witnessing high footfall, are adorned with posters unveiling the real meaning of age-old beliefs, like performance of funeral pyre by son, family lineage by male child of family etc., that create preference for son and tag girl child as unwanted. Mass distribution of Santulan’s enlightening pamphlets is also conducted along with one on one counseling of visitors on the subject of gender based disparities. Activities like street theatre, engaging games, wall of pledge against gender inequality, etc. are some of the constituents of the aforementioned awareness drives that carry the message of importance of women and deliver it to public at large in much effective way.
With its ceaseless efforts in the drive to create awareness about women rights & potential, encourage them for its execution and enlighten them spiritually to generate righteous approach, Santulan is aiming at holistic empowerment of women to enable them to combat all forms of gender based partisanship independently and form a gender just future for upcoming generations.
Here are some snapshots of multifarious initiatives taken by the Vikaspuri center of DJJS in regard to uplift and alleviation of Delhi women…
