Targeted campaigns in the Marathwada region sensitise young people, adults and state actors against gender based violence and discrimination. Through a holistic approach, the dream of a life free of violence should finally become a reality for as many girls and women as possible.
Facts
Aims
In India, the extreme gender inequality is reflected in a high level of violence against women, with domestic violence commonplace. Many women are under the age of 18 when they get married. This project therefore focuses on preventing domestic violence and ending child marriages. SWISSAID and the local partner organizations work together with state actors to mobilize the entire society and thus enable sustainable change. For a future in which women experience less violence and more self-determination.
This project is co-financed by the European Union.
The Marathwada region in the state of Maharashtra is underdeveloped. 30 percent of families live below the poverty line. The level of education is low and malnutrition is widespread. Increased drought poses further challenges for the 20 million people living in the Marathwada region in central India. Suicides among farmers are not uncommon; many people migrate and try their luck in another state.
Patriarchal structures
Against this backdrop, many patriarchal structures prevail. «Indian girls should be married off early to avoid sexual confusion.» According to a study, 67 percent of Indian men in Marathwada are of this opinion. Yet it is precisely child marriage that leads to a life without rights and education for girls.
It is often accompanied by early pregnancies, which are a great psychological and physical burden for the girls. According to a study, almost half of the women in the Marathwada region are married off as underage girls (young women aged between 20 and 24 were surveyed). Child marriage and domestic violence are closely linked, as studies show: The younger the women are, the more often they become victims of domestic violence.
Another problem is domestic violence. Around 42 percent of respondents believe that violence by the husband towards his wife is justified under certain circumstances and that the wife should tolerate it for the good of the family. Domestic violence is commonplace in India. Victims receive little to no help from their families, communities and the government.
This is why SWISSAID, together with local partner organizations, supports women in building a life free of violence. Prevention measures are designed to raise awareness of the issue not only among girls and women, but also among boys and men. Sneha Giridhari from SWISSAID India was able to see the effectiveness of the prevention measures for herself on site. She says that it is important to work with young people in particular in order to bring about fundamental change.
Peers as role models
But what is the best way to reach young people? In over 100 villages in the Marathwada region, SWISSAID relies on so-called «peer educators» from existing groups of boys and girls. A few motivated and socially competent young people from each group are trained in gender issues.
At the monthly meetings of the youth groups, they present various topics for discussion. For example: What is masculine? What is female? What does violence mean for the victim? What for the perpetrator? What are the consequences of child marriage for those affected? Songs, discussions, posters and role-playing games are used to explore the topics in a playful way. In addition to the monthly meetings, there is also the opportunity to get advice.
Indien Mädchen Magazin
Women's sponsorship
Holistic change
You have to start with the young – stop with the old. Public campaigns such as rallies, video clips and poster campaigns should spread the message of gender equality as widely as possible.
In addition to social approaches, state actors must not be ignored. They must be aware of their role and actively offer support if necessary. Be it legal services or state counseling offices: The aim is to ensure that child marriage and violence against women are taken seriously. This is why representatives of institutions are also sensitized.
Through this broad approach, SWISSAID supports measures that are intended to initiate change in society as a whole. So that gender based violence and discrimination in Marathwada will soon be a thing of the past.
Witnesses of domestic violence
Portrait of 33-year-old Priyanka Amol Chavan with a knife attack scar on her face. On 20th of May 2006, 16-year-old Priyanka got married to 20-year-old Amol Chavan. The early days of their married life were filled with joy and happiness. Amol Chavan was earning good money as an event photographer and they had two children (a son and a daughter). Unfortunately by 2010-11, Amol Chavan started to make friends with a new set of people and developed a habit of drinking and started an illegal gambling club. Within months he was arrested and he lost his money and motivation for life. Amol started drinking heavily and stopped supporting his family financially. Priyanka took up odd jobs to support the family but Amol was not happy with this. He would go to her workplace whenever he wanted and would physically beat her up in front of her colleagues. One day in March 2024 when Priyanka was working as an administrative personnel at the cooperative bank, Amol walked in drunk and started to shout and physically beat her in front of her colleagues. Priyanka had enough of this abuse and reached out to the local NGO personnel. They arranged for a meeting with Amol and told him that this abuse must stop otherwise they would file a case against him and he would go to prison for domestic violence. Everything went well for a few months, unfortunately Priyanka had to look for another job because of the previous workplace incident caused by Amol. She started working at a private hospital as an administrative assistant. One afternoon, Amol visited her at her workplace and started beating her in front of her colleagues. Priyanka immediately was fed up and called her family and informed them about the incident. Her nephew had enough of Amol’s violent behaviour and confronted Amol. He threatened him and told him to stop abusing Priyanka or else he would do the same to him. On 20th of Aug 2024 in the afternoon Amol was drunk and angry and visited Priyanka at work and attached her with a kni
Priyanka was only 16 when she got married to Amol. The first years were happy, and they had two children. When her husband started drinking and losing his money in illegal gambling, he became violent. Priyanka was forced to work odd jobs to support her husband and two children. Amol often came to her workplace and beat her in front of her colleagues. Supported by a local NGO, Priyanka filed a complaint and asked her family for help. Despite this, in August 2024, Amol went to Priyanka’s new workplace and tried to kill her with a knife. The staff of the partner NGO took up the case and filed a complaint against Amol for domestic violence and attempted murder.
“My name is Anjali Ramdas Jadhav. I am 29 years old. My parents married me when I was 14, and I became pregnant very quickly. I was only able to go to school for a few years. After 8 years, my husband abandoned me with my two children.I struggle with supporting my family. I can no longer afford to buy milk for my children. The last time I bought vegetables was a month ago.” The project has provided Anjali with mental and social support over the past two years. It has helped her gain the self-confidence to cope with her difficulties. She got a job as a cook in the state lunch program at the local school. Slowly, she is emerging from fear and shame (society considers a woman guilty of her husband’s irresponsible behavior). She is now trying to live her life with dignity, courage and respect.
