SOMANDEPALLI (ANANTAPUR DT.): Apart from battling out poverty with their income generation activities, the women self-help groups (SHGs) functioning under the Indira Kranti Patham in the district have been stepping forward in the direction of empowerment by creating awareness constantly. Improved awareness among them has been helping them solve social problems within their samakhyas.

Awareness drive

The activities taken up as part of the awareness creation, such as running family counselling centres, have been yielding wonderful results. The main objective of these counselling centres is to create awareness among women about the domestic violence being faced by them, extending necessary help and resolving the problems.

Mandal samkhyas of Somandepalli, Gandlapenta, Chilamattur, Nallacheruvu and Talupula have been organising the counselling centres successfully. The family counselling centre functioning under the Saraswathi Mandala Samakhya at Somandepalli has set a sort of a record by resolving 27 `cases' referred to it in just one year. The centre observed its first anniversary on Tuesday.

A look into a few cases resolved by the counselling centre explains the maturity of the women in dealing with such problems. One Shafia of Penukonda was married to Rafi of Somandepalli. Everything was smooth for two months after the marriage. But, the in-laws started showing their true colours later. Upon parents advise, Rafi also used to torture his wife. Crossing his limits, Shafia's father-in-law allegedly started making uncivilised vibes at her. When Shafia approached the counselling centre, the para legal worker convened a meeting of elders from both the sides and the couple decided to part ways.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail