Life is difficult for these women

Yesterday evening, my friend Dr. Vasantha (who is also an Art of Living'er herself) invited me to visit the Mahila Dakshata Short Stay Home, situated in the outskirts of Bangalore. Dr. Vasantha gives free medical consultancy for the women inmates of this Home.

I joined her yesterday to conduct a short Shivir (mostly a program of stress relaxation techniques and some spiritual counselling) for these women inmates of this Home.

Meditating to calm the mind- Dr V is also seen meditating in the top right hand corner

Our bumpy ride to the sleepy town of Tindlu was no match for the bumpy lives of these women. These women are mostly from Karnataka state but a few have also come from parts of India. Many of them are victims of rape, dowry harassment, domestic violence and some of them have children of their own from hurtful marriages.

Unlocking hidden pain through group discussions
Stand up and speak out- a group leader

The Mahila Dakshata Samiti is a Non Governmental Oorganization which runs this home along with conducting other activities such as running Primary Health Care Centers, aiding village development, and empowerment of women through education.

The main aim of this shelter is to lend some emotional and financial support to women who have run away from their homes to seek some peace and dignity in their lives. The Home gives them training, medical help, and much needed counselling. The Home also tries to place them in jobs such as garment factories and other manufacturing units. Since this is a short stay home, women often return to their families or are rehabilitated elsewhere.

I could only spend a few hours with these women, but I learnt more than I could ever teach. Some singing, some group discussion, some meditation and some dance was what I had on my agenda. On their part, I could see eagerness to learn new things that can ease some of the pain that was so evident even through their smiling eyes.

Dancing away their blues

I hope to conduct a full-fledged Nav Chetan Shibir as soon as I possibly can. Mahila Dakshata Samiti runs partly on the government funds and generous donations of compassionate citizens. They can be contacted at: 080- 23512543

True heros: L>R: Kusuma (warden of the Home), Lijjy and Melanie (counsellors)