"Enthusiastic" response to 16-day Utthan campaign to end violence against women

By A Representative
The 16-day campaign on ending violence against women, launched by Utthan, ended with district-level programme organized in Dahod, Mahisagar and Bhavnagar districts on December 10 and 11, in which 1,500 delegates from 50 villages (including sarpanches, panchayat members, local leaders, and women) participated. During the 16-day campaign, more than 12,500 people from 50 villages of Dahod, Mahisagar, Bhavnagar and Amreli districts participated enthusiastically.
Conducting the campaign, Utthan activists apprised people that violence against women and children in the country has been increasing steadily over the past few years. There has been an 83% increase in the incidence of violence against women between 2007 and 2016, which is worrying.

The awareness campaign to end violence collectively, supported by the Edelgive Foundation, commenced on November 25. Several panchayats came forward to pass resolution to free their village of violence against women. People participated in signature campaigns. Those participating in district programmes included child security officers, women police officers, members of the Mahila Sahayata Kendra, women’s organization such as Vanita Shakti Mahila Sanghatan, Ekta Mahila Sanghatan, Samarthan Mahila Sangathan,, Mahila Vikas Sangathan and local civil rights groups.
Addressing women, Komal Vyas, PSI, Dahod, asked women to become more aware by recognizing their power, insisting, girls, if they are molested, they should immediately report it to parents or teachers, who should complain with the police. Bhavanaben Joshi, Mahaila Sahayata Kenra, Santrampur, called upon women to raise their voice against injustice done to them.