” I had never ever experienced love from my family– neither my parents nor my spouse. Ive known love just from the people in my neighborhood.”

CORO offered me a platform to combat for my rights. Now I can put forth my thoughts with self-confidence and it provides me the power to continue. Now that I have actually stepped out of the darkness into the light, I have actually taken charge to do so for all the females in my neighborhood.

admin |
01 March, 2021

I was married off at a very young age. My fate turned out to be the very same as my mom. My spouse was an alcoholic and I dealt with a lot of abuse from my marital family. After some time, I offered birth to a child boy and went to cope with my mom. She told me, “In life, a lady should always stay with her spouse. If she selects not to then people will spit on her”. I quickly accepted this as my fate.

Im from Gonda, Uttar Pradesh but I was born in Mumbai. Ive seen a great deal of battles as a girl. I couldnt study beyond 7th grade and needed to begin making money. My father was an alcoholic, who couldnt work. The entire burden of looking after the family fell on my mom and me. We utilized to work as rag pickers in the discarding ground at Govandi, Mumbai.

I am currently working with 350 households on reducing domestic violence and gender discrimination. I also work with the cops, hospitals and other state mechanisms to support women who face any violence or abuse.

I was working 12 hours a day to make some money. It felt like I had hit rock bottom. One day I was available in contact with Badrunisa Khan from CORO who was forming a femaless group to particularly deal with domestic violence. She took me into this group and I began going to several conferences with these women. For the very first time I felt that people observed that I am a human being. I satisfied lots of ladies who had a comparable fate and my discomfort might be shared with so many of them. I joined these females in assisting other females who faced violence. It seemed like I lastly had a voice and an identity. It gave me confidence to stand up to my husband and marital family.

Im Shahjahan Mirza. Im 37. Today if Im able to speak with such self-confidence and self-belief, it is solely due to the fact that of CORO. The life I have actually been able to lead, I owe it to them.

But it was never ever like this. My life constantly included struggles, which I face even today but I have increased from the ashes and continue to combat every day.

In my community ladies arent allowed to step outside the house and talk to other males; speaking out versus violence was unthinkable. Such ladies were looked down upon. These social norms constantly held me behind. Nevertheless, my work gave me the chance and encouragement to challenge these standards. Today Im a strong woman who can take on any foe. It is this same neighborhood, women and men, who support me in every method.

My life constantly included battles, which I face even today however I have risen from the ashes and continue to fight every day – Shahjahan Mirza

I can not thank CORO enough for the change it brought in my life”

She told me, “In life, a woman ought to constantly stay with her partner. One day I came in contact with Badrunisa Khan from CORO who was forming a ladiess group to particularly work on domestic violence. I signed up with these ladies in assisting other females who dealt with violence. In my community females arent permitted to step outside the house and talk to other males; speaking up against violence was inconceivable. Today Im a strong female who can take on any foe.

This material was originally released here.