Mahila Panchayat Program
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Action India started with two Mahila Panchayats in 1993
- With the realization of the need and effectiveness of local support groups Action India initiated the Mahila Panchayat (Women’s Courts) as a forum for dispute resolution.
- Over the period of 5 years around 6700 cases were resolved at the community level by community volunteers (Mahila Panahcyat members) with the support of paralegal workers trained by Action India with the help of legal resource persons.
Why Mahila Panchayat?
- Traditional Caste and “Biradri Panchayats” where women had no place.
- The patriarchal legal State Machinery and “Judicial System” does not see men and women as equals before the law
- A community redressal mechanism the “Mahila Panchayats” – Women helping women works with a gender perspective and has been recognized for being fair and impartial to men and women.
Mahila Panchayat Steps of Case Arbitration
- Woman comes to Mahila Panchayat Office. She has heard that she can get support to stop violence in the family.
- She tells her story, they listen without being judgmental.
- She may or may not register her case on her first visit.
- After the registration of case Investigation in the neighborhoods
- The violent man/family (opposite party) are called to the Panchayat office
- If he/she does not respond written notice is delivered to his residence a letter from the Panchayat office has the impact of a legal notice as the community gives recognition to the members. So, do the local police and some lawyers
- Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
- Both, the woman seeking justice, and the man respondent to her charges are heard without prejudice.
- The Panchayat hearing provides a friendly environment for both the parties seeking a redressal mechanism to domestic conflict without going to court.
Mahila Panchayat Network: Supported by Delhi Commission for Women for “Making Delhi Safe for Women”
From 2000
- Mahila Panchayats gain recognition from men and women in communities and other NGOs as being gender just and fair in resolving disputes.
- Action India proceeded to replicate and institutionalize the model with State support.
- Partnership with the other NGOs, and Delhi Commission for Women
- Every Wednesday, more than 2000+ women from 19 NGOs around Delhi are sitting together in Mahila Panchayats in 84 communities at the same time and same day, on arbitration of disputes brought to them by women for a hearing. Negotiation between the parties leads to the passing of a judgment to resolve the dispute, which is recorded in the register and sealed with a stamp. Follow-up is an essential part of ensuring that violence has stopped and both parties are living amicably.
- Training on gender based violence and women related laws
- Gender And Legal Training
- Legal Awareness Camps
- Pre marital counseling Training
- Documentation
- Shelter Homes
- Legal Aid
- Customary Courts
- Police Session Courts
- CAW Cell
- Women Commissions
- Local NGOs
Empowerment of Victims of Domestic Violence:
- Realization that she is not alone; feels the collective strength from the support group, begins to live without fear.
- Knowledge that she is not the only one facing violence in the home; understanding that she is a victim of structural violence and power relationships in the family.
- Ability to articulate problems without feeling of guilt or a sense of personal failure and overcome self-pity.
- Empowerment to make decisions and solve her problems through counseling.
- Increased self-worth, self-esteem, and confidence amongst women victims and survivors of Domestic Violence.
- Gains the ability to assert to herself and negotiate better terms for herself.
- Belief that she has the right to live life free of violence.
Our Women, Law and Social Change Programme has created a new consciousness on the status of women and the concept of legal rights pertaining to women.
The Mahila Panchayat provides a Women’s Space to meet to share their joys and sorrows to learn about the world, give and get information and become a concerned and active citizen.
We have created an enabling environment for women, where every woman has an identity as a person and learns to assert herself even when she goes back to the marital home.
The Mahila Panchayats have provided a redressal mechanism for women in crisis situations.
In a supportive environment the “victims” of violence not only become survivors but have come forward to help other women.
Impact of Mahila Panchayat Programme
- Victims of Domestic Violence have been empowered
- The women begin to realize that she is not alone. She gains a feeling of collective strength.
- She also realizes that she is not the only woman facing violence as it is the symbol of power relationship with in the family.
- She has learnt to articulate her problem without guilt feeling, and sense of personal failure.
- Her decision-making ability has improved with the counseling made by paralegals.
- Sense of self-esteem and confidence was observed to be increased amongst female victims and survivors of domestic violence.
Mahila Panchayat Delhi Network
Narrative Data:
- 19 NGO partners in NCT Delhi
- 84 Mahila Panchayat working in community level
- 21 Coordinators
- 126 Para Legals
- 42 volunteers (Part time worker)
- 2100 Mahila Panchayat Members
Mahila Panchayat Network Annual Case Data 2004-2009)
|
Dates |
Total Case |
Solve Case |
|
14th September 2004 -15th September 2005 |
1169 |
980 |
|
14th September 2005 -15th September 2006 |
1471 |
1293 |
|
14th September 2006 -15th September 2007 |
1640 |
1201 |
|
December 2007 – November 2008 |
1823 |
1623 |
|
December 2008 – November 2009 (Action India) |
653 |
623 |
|
Total |
6756 |
5720 |