Bollywood actress Nandita Das and Dr Shahani of Mumbai College have created a confidential website that “reaches beyond a nation”.
Stand up Against Violence is the title of a new website launched by Bollywood performer Nandita Das and Dr Indu Shahani, the principal of HR College in Mumbai with the aim of helping women to stand up against violence and abuse.
The Akshara Centre is a women’s organisation and society, established in 1995, in response to a “material for a gender perspective”. The Centre works “towards gender justice”, and has worked on and helped to launch the website.
Dr Nandita Gandhi, Co Director of Akshara, told The Fresh Outlook about the aims of the website. Dr Gandhi stated that it is “very reader friendly” and has a “simple manner”.
The website, which is primarily based in India, also offers additional information on other programmes they have, such as educational scholarships and help from counsellors.
“Nandita Das has been a supporter of women’s rights for a long time and we are happy to have had her launch our website,” said Dr Gandhi.
The Ashkara Centre offers training for local women to handle cases of domestic violence in their neighbourhoods, and has so far trained 40 women to counsel domestic violence victims in India.
Over 100 interviews have already taken place, as a safety audit is being conducted to decide which areas in India are prone to violence.
Safety walks are happening throughout the country in order to overcome and prevent further violence to Indian women.
By Bethan Hâf Marsh
[Image courtesy of Wikimedia commons]
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