Shaheen Women?s Welfare and Resource Organisation: Encouraging Women to Rise Higher
“I was only 16 years old, but my family did not have the money and we badly needed some. I did not know anything about marriage nor did I know who I was getting married to all I wanted to do was make some money. I thought all people in the Gulf were prosperous. I had no idea what I was getting into and suffered terribly for it.”
These are the words of Nazia who got married to a 75 year old Sheik from a middle-eastern country. Her story is like that of many girls in the old city who are poor and get deceived by marriage brokers in search of a better life but alas that dream is shattered by the harsh realities of being a part of human trafficking for most of these bright young women of Hyderabad.
“I was sent a talaq-nama by post after I spent two weeks with the Sheik and he left me promising to send for me there. I was shattered! When I returned to my house my parents wanted me to work as a domestic help in houses but I refused to do that as I wanted to do tailoring or become a beautician, coming to Shaheen is a great experience for me I feel happy doing the vocational courses offered here. I believe I am on my way to doing what I want to do instead of being forced into things.”
There is a ray of hope in the form of the white falcon which encourages women to speak up and demand their rights. In the congested by-lanes of the Old-City around Charminar in Hyderabad, lies Shaheen a Women’s resource and welfare organisation. This is one the few NGO’s in the country that works for Women’s welfare and empowerment. The organisation works on the principle that change happens when cultural norms are challenged.
“Indeed change is what we require with regards to the status of Women in India.”, echoes Jameela Nishat Founder and Secretary of Shaheen Women’s Welfare and Resource Centre. “Women in the city are not free to express their opinion or feelings and the recent attack on Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen in Hyderabad is proof of that. Women are targeted everywhere may it be religious extremism, human trafficking, pornography or even globalisation.”
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Shaheen began as an effort to fight for women’s rights back in 1987 during a conference of men in the old city which was titled, “Woh mard ki kya joh apni biwi ko nahi marta?”(He who does not beat his wife physically is not a man). This inspired Jameela Nishat founder member and a resident of the old city to speak up for the women there and around the country. “Domestic violence is not confined to the poor and women from affluent families are also treated very badly, the concept of controlling and disciplining a wife is absurd. Something had to be done, and Shaheen was born.”
Shaheen (the falcon which flies at the highest altitude) signifies the encouragement women need, to aim higher. This organization runs vocational training courses like sewing, henna application, tailoring and also offers educational courses/tuitions for girls/women who have discontinued their education. “I had discontinued my education at 14 because I was not allowed to step outside my house. I joined Shaheen for learning henna and I got a lot of support from the workers there to continue my education. Now I have completed my B.Com through distance education.” adds Arshiya another one of Shaheen’s products.
Shaheen has a set of very dedicated workers who visit houses and try and know the status of women there and there are several problems associated with that as people do not allow the workers in as they fell that their conversation with the women of the house will corrupt the moral fabric of the household. “Most women are not aware of their potential and rights, our workers help them realize that. In fact many of our field workers were just students for vocational workers or have been helped by us as they were victims of domestic abuse. These women have been through that and want to help others who are in their position now.” says Jameela who is fondly referred to as Jameelaji, Jameela Aunty and Jameela Didi. For many girls in the old city this is the only place which teaches them to fight back against domestic violence. They have an active domestic violence counseling centre and a lawyer for consultation
As this is a place which encourages women to speak up against men who are usually their husbands and their families it does not go down well with most people and as a result there are constant threats to these women. In response to this Jameelaji says, “I keep getting threats which are verbal and even sometimes physical but I am born in this part of town and know how to deal with people here. Our organization has to bear the brunt of many disgruntled men and upset religious organizations, but we have to take these things into our stride. We often have groups coming of men coming to threaten us.”
This centre serves as a ray of hope for many women around the old city and its surrounding areas. The organisation also has an active rural centre to serve the women who live in villages or the outskirts of the city. The larger objective is that Women need to be a part of the socio-economic development of the country to progress and need to have equal rights as our constitution guarantees that to every citizen of India. Why should women be left behind or considered after the men? Organisations like this form the basis of a new social movement for recognising the importance of women’s rights and the girl child. To lend a helping hand and further this cause contact.
The Shaheen Centre at
23-3-540, Baqshi Bazar, Sultan Shahi,
Hyderabad-500065,
Andhra Pradesh,
India.
Phone: – 23486994 E-mail:- jameelanishat@eth.net
M.A in Mass Communication from the University of Hyderabad, worked for Hydrogen Youth Magazine Hyderabad (now Chill @ Hyderabad) for a year. Worked for many television channels like CNBC-TV18, MAA TV, ESPN-STAR Sports.
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