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Destitute & mentally ill women constitute one of the most vulnerable sections of the Indian society – they are incarcerated, abused physically and mentally, divorced or thrown out of the house, right from the tender age of 18, due to mental illness, poverty or because of the burden of being a widow. Living on the streets becomes especially dangerous for them as they lack an adequate sense of reality and practical knowledge of the world they live in.
Mentally ill women are doubly vulnerable in society due to deep prejudices against them and an inadequate understanding and perception of mental illness. According to mental health professionals in India, it is common for women to be abandoned (entirely) if diagnosed with a mental illness. Since symptoms of mental illnesses are also physical, conventional treatments in general hospitals are mostly ineffective. Women then are at a high risk of being victims of inappropriate treatments, sexual abuse and/or open exploitation in the form of trafficking, prostitution, rape and torture. Such women rescued and brought to shelter homes experience a gap in proper treatment, rehabilitation and most importantly, re-integration into society.
Gharonda, or a “Home for the Homeless”, helps bridge this gap between shelter homes and society by making survivors bold, independent and capable by providing them the tools and skills necessary to re-start their lives. It aims to act as a catalyst to enable access to basic rights for destitute, disabled & widowed women. This includes:
- Bringing women from difficult circumstances to an organized platform, building capacity in them to fight for and obtain their rights, and lead a peaceful & dignified life
- Woman empowerment through development of leadership skills and decision-making powers
- Empowering and uplifting of disabled women so that they are able to lead independent, respected and comfortable lives
- Sensitizing community against gender-based & domestic violence against women
- Implementing programs of Reproductive and Child Health (RCH)-caring for pregnant women, lactating mothers and infants
The key objective of Gharonda is to make the rehabilitation and re-integration of these women into society as smooth as possible by providing counseling, skill based training, health-care facilities, schooling and reuniting them with their families. It is important that these women become independent – that they are able to earn their own money, provide for their basic needs, and are able to lead a life of peace and dignity.
Since 2011, CWSHA has developed a variety of holistic social and mental health solutions that address various issues faced by these women. This includes:
Since 2011, CWSHA has developed a variety of holistic social and mental health solutions that address various issues faced by these women. This includes:
- psychiatric care
- socio- psychological care offered through our community based care shelters
- inclusive long term care options for women with high support needs
- We also provide skill-based training and livelihood enhancement workshops to these women and where possible, help them find suitable employment
While Gharonda aspires to carry out its work to the best possible level, your monetary support helps us in making sure that we are able to provide adequate and holistic services to these women so that they may be able to turn their lives around. We hope that you take this noble and empowering cause into consideration and help us provide the required support.
Learn more about our work & their stories: Gharonda - Home for the Homeless
