CITYVIEWS - Domestic Violence Awareness month

Manavi, a New Jersey-based women's rights organization, held its third annual 'Silent March Against Domestic Violence' on Oak Tree Road in Edison, NJ on Oct. 20. Approximately 30 women, including Manavi board members, staff members and volunteers marched on the busy Middlesex Avenue to raise awareness against domestic violence and abuse.
They were joined by Margaret Cargioli, Monica Gural and Anisa Rahim, attorneys from the Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ), who are part of Manavi's pro-bono network and members of 'Woman Aware', a Middlesex County agency providing comprehensive services for victims of domestic violence and shelter for battered women and children.
Marching with banners, signs and placards in English, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi and Bengali, they marched silently, going into stores and distributing pamphlets to customers and passers-by.
Curious onlookers, who either had questions about the organization or applauded their efforts, stopped them at every corner. People passing in cars, either honked or waved to register their support.
"One of the main reasons of this march, apart from creating awareness about domestic violence, is creating community accountability," Manisha Kelkar, director of Manavi told Desi Talk. She said that more often that not, domestic violence is not reported because of silence, on the part of the victim and family members. "Silence is what we are getting to the root of."
Kelkar, who has volunteered with Manavi since 2002, was appointed director in 2004.
"Manavi's main focus is empowerment," she said, when asked about the procedure for treating victims. Victims are provided with counseling and advice, they can participate in legal clinics, are given referrals and can join appropriate support groups Kelkar, who believes strongly in women's issues, says one out of three women in the world experience an act of violence. "Manifestations of violence are different in different communities," she said.
"Domestic violence is very common in South Asian communities," Razia Meer, a transitional home coordinator at Manavi, told Desi Talk. "I am here today to get the word across."
Seven staff members and 50 volunteers who dedicate their time and services on a part-time or as needed basis, work at Manavi, Meer said, adding that Manavi works closely with the Legal Services of New Jersey, who work with the victims, offering them legal advice and accompanying them for their court appearances.
Surekha Vaidya, one of the board members of Manavi, who was at the march, said the issues of domestic violence and abuse touched closer to the heart as her sister faced a similar situation. "Fortunately she had family support, but there are a lot of women out there who do not. We are trying to help those women." Vaidya, who volunteers her time at Manavi and handles all the accounting and auditing, added, "a lot of us are in denial, we prefer not to talk about it."
"We at LSNJ love Manavi," Gural said, adding that their partnership with Manavi has been "very productive".
"It is a great feeling dealing with the clients, when we can be of help and can make a difference in their life," Rahim said.
Manavi also manages a transitional safe home called 'Ashiana' for the displaced victims and their children. It provides unrestricted and rent-free accommodation to victims who need time to get back on their feet. By creating a culturally familiar environment where women can share similar foods from the region, practice their religion freely, or speak a familiar language, Ashiana tries to create a safe space for South Asian immigrant battered women who may otherwise feel extremely socially isolated.
"To many of our women, Ashiana is like a lifeline, where they can learn new skills and try and make themselves self-sufficient," Kelkar said, adding that the location of the home is kept confidential for the security of the residents.
A legal coordinator at Manavi, who was marching with Manavi for the first time, said, "This is an effective way to get across to the community. They are not going to come to us, so we have to take the first step."
Dimpal Patel, a volunteer at Manavi, said she was marching to support the cause. Patel, a second-year medical student at Robert Wood Johnson, added, "since the incidents of domestic violence and abuse are so much in the community, it is absolutely necessary to create awareness about it."
Published in DESI TALK Dated:10/26/2007