Mobilizing ourselves

As of June 2012, our Activities can be grouped to :

1. Participation
2. Dissemination
3. Consultation

1. Participation

To better network with like minded platforms and to ensure capacity building, the members of the South Kolkata Sannidhya have been consistent  participants in workshops and programs conducted at national and international levels. The interactive sessions and discussions in-person enable us to help others better. 

Till date, we`ve participated in the international Gender Training at Hope Training Center, Baroipara, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. This ‘Two Country Gender Training’ was organized by SANGAT with the help of SWAYAM (India), Oxfam (Bangladesh) and other organizations of both the countries. There were 15 participants (all women) in total. Faculties were from both the countries and from different fields.  This interactive 12 days training was very enriching. Furthermore, because of its residential nature all the participants shared a very warm relationship. We were taught differences between sex and gender from sociological, psychological, physiological and philosophical angles. Many misunderstandings and misconceptions were cleared. 

Other participation included:-

• Rehabilitative support given to burn victims.
• Worked on a project of Inner Wheel Club, Kolkata, Lansdown.
• Participated in Aman and Maitree programs. Maîtree secretariat was with us for four months. (May to August 2011). 
• Attended a workshop organized by NICE foundation.
• Participated in a Fair organized by Federation of small scale industries at Rajpur.
• Donated clothes to through Suchetana (Organization OF Dakkhin Barasat)

Participated in Violence Fortnight (25 Nov to 10 Dec'11) through other organization such as:

• AMAN National meeting in Pune (April 21st-23rd'12) and highlighted the plights of victims suffering from burn related deformity (also as a result of domestic violence) in West Bengal
• ANTI DOWRY DAY (26th Nov) through Sutanututi Sakhya at Rajpur Gopalpur Municipality.
• An initiative to draft mental health guidelines for organizations working with woman and girl child at BITM organized by SWYAM (29th Nov).
• SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN’S DAY celebrated by SWYAM at Maxmullar Bhawan (30th Nov) the speakers were Kamala Vasin, Kavita Srivasstava , Khushi Kabir and moderator was Sumita Sen.
•  INTERNATIONAL DISABLITY DAY (3rd Dec) Participated in a rally.
• Participated in a Fair organized by SANCHAR at Diamond Park, Joka (3rd to 5th Dec).
• Attended a program on Domestic violence organized by SWYAM at BITM (5th Dec).
• Participated in a program organized by AWWD on Human Rights at Rotary Sadan (7th Dec).
• Condolence gathering at Hazra More was organized on the devastating fire at AMRI hospital (10th Dec).
• Meeting organized by South Kolkata Sannidhya for the purpose Safety comes first than Security many other organizations also attended it.

2. Dissemination

We prepare demonstration material to reach out to the people. Some of our materials are as follows:

3. Consultation

Since establishment, we have been engaged in 3 cases:-

Munmun

Case 01 - MUNMUN:  She was any ordinary girl of 19 till some fiends assaulted her with an acid attack. Hailing from a family of poor means from Delhi, Munmun had little hope of a normal life. The acid burn had left her incapable of opening her eyes, which were cauterized shut, perhaps permanently. Today, after the efforts of a few kind and dedicated souls, she can not only open her eyes, but is happily married to a man who has the courage to live his life with her.”

**-Name changed on request

Rinki

Case 02 - RINKI:  She is a 24 year old married woman who had a beast of a husband. She has a daughter of 6 years, and is as loving to her as a mother can be. However, this did not stop her husband from setting her aflame in the most heinous act of arson. Her burn effects were so bad, that her chin became glued to her neck, while her arms were cauterized shut at the armpits, leaving her an invalid. After the efforts of doctors and social workers with hearts of gold, she can not only move freely, but has also gained back most of the natural movement of her arms and neck. She was also aided in rehabilitation in her post – traumatic situation, and today, after much counseling and encouragement, holds a job at a call-center worth enough to support herself and her daughter – a true example of motherly love and courage.”

**-Name changed on request

Sumita

Case 03 - SUMITA: “Sumita is a beautiful and lively girl of 12 from Rajpur, in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. However, the joys of her life were marred by the fact that she was born with a cleft lip and palette, considerably quite a common congenital disfigurement. She was operated upon by a health center doctor, who after all his capabilities managed to leave a hole in her palate. Whatever food she used to eat came out through the hole which conjoined her palate with her nose – quite an unsavory thought. Today, due to the care and love of some honest to good Samaritans, she can not only eat normally and look at her pretty face with pride in the mirror like other girls her age, but this was done free of cost. With corrective lip surgery, and free speech therapy she is still undertaking, little Sumita can now have a normal life that her parents had only dreamed of for their precious daughter.”

**-Name changed on request