Confessions of a Social Worker

October is the month of Domestic Violence Awareness and Breast cancer Awareness. As an urban educated society, we have acknowledged the importance of physical health and successfully removed any inhibitions on discussing Breast cancer openly. But, we fail, when it comes to even acknowledge  Domestic Abuse. And to add to this open secret, are the only stereotype abuses shown in films, which further hampers our understanding or ability to grasp the depth and intensity of the subject. kyunki, estraang hai hum! I am approached almost every once in 2 days by friends, acquaintances and sometimes strangers for help, advice, network to address abuse in their life or their closed one's life. The system has anyway failed many victims, but so have we as a society. We only intervene when things go out of control and we do that too very conveniently.  According to NFHS-4, every third woman has complained of domestic abuse, but the cases registered are a mere 3 digit number. EVERY

Here are my 5 favourite movie suggestions (Part-1). Do watch and let me know your views! All the stories are somewhere inspired by true events. They are powerful stories of women fighting this patriarchial society in their own way, in their own places. But, their fight is for all of us.  I bring you movie recommendations from across the globe. This is to indicate, that women across the world are fighting together for our collective future! And, this is to celebrate more and more such women! May our tribe increase! 1. Suffragette (2015)  -  UK Imagine a time when we didn't even have the social media opportunity to say #metoo. Thanks to the power of many many suffragettes, the world indeed is a better place for women. It started with the 'Right to Vote'. And if you thought all the women were suffragettes, you are wrong! Just like misogynistic women in our era who question the #metoo of their fellow women, even suffragettes faced such harassment from their ki

What is PCOS? Why is it important to address it? Why is it further important to talk about it? What are the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment? Can it be cured? Can women with PCOS still bear children?... Stronger with or without PCOS! samjhe kya?! September is observed as the PCOS Awareness Month. Despite working on Menstrual Hygiene Management closely, I didn't know much about this. So, when two of my fellow Women's Health advocates (Triparna and Kamal) spoke to me about the idea of an event - I was all in! PCOS affects 1 in 10 women globally. And is one of the most common endocrine disorder in women. PCOS can occur in girls as young as 11 years old! and, if not diagnosed early, the risk of other health problems increases. A woman with PCOS has 4-7 times higher risk of a heart attack than a woman of the same age without PCOS. and so much more... Why is this not talked about? I often see women with dark patches around neck and arms who also suffer from hirsutis

I loved celebrating birthdays as a child. I remember surprising my parents by inviting all my school bus kids to an unplanned party and put my parents on the spot, who'd then run around making my birthday arrangements! But, that was it! Growing up, I dreaded my birthday , either cuz I didn't have enough pocket money to treat my friends (which was, unfortunately, the norm!) or having to spend the day out with 'The Guy' (you know!) or just going too philosophical 'Why should i celebrate?', 'what have i achieved?' etc. etc. The Turbanator, they call her! But this year, I was ecstatic! I loved every single day of my life, I loved the people in my life (even those who have moved halfway across the world!), I loved what I was doing for a living, I loved what i was doing otherwise, etc etc. And i was determined to make my birthday special! I wanted to plant 28 tree saplings indicating my 28th Birthday and asked mum to help me arrange saplings at home. L

It seems like India has taken its title of 'Rape Capital' seriously and is leaving no stone unturned to retain it. Not a day is passed by without a single news article on sexual harassment. Where are all the nationalists?! (ooh! they're all busy with Hindu Ekta Manch, I forgot!). Well, more on that later. This post is dedicated to the Kathua filth.  It is high time we start naming the accused. Start showing their faces publicly. Our news titles should read differently. Where are the accused? Where are their faces in news? Why is Asifa being named and shown? Was consent for this taken from her family?! A charge sheet reveals the accused names and gruesome acts . Read it at your own discretion. I've written a gist. https://www.firstpost.com/india/kathua-rape-and-murder-case-full-text-of-chargesheet-filed-by-jammu-and-kashmir-police-4426853.html 1. Sanji Ram, Former revenue official and custodian of Kathua’s Devisthan temple - Mastermind behind kidnapping and a

[My experience from April 2016] As a CSR Project Planning intern for Godrej Interio, one of my tasks was to plan remedial classes for a School adopted by Godrej Interio. The CSR team wanted to adopt best practices from a nearby Govt School. This School in Kenjal was coveted for its appeal and innovation in educational practices. By now, I had an experience of 3 years with Make A Difference and was pretty well versed with the idea of an ideal education system. I also had visited plenty of rural schools that were considered 'good', all decked up in bright colors, its English-medium instruction, and appeal, barring any recognition to its mundane pedagogy. I was almost picturing the same visual for this hyped up School in Kenjal. [ prejudice and stereotype are bad qualities of a social worker, btw!] I reach the School and i was blown at the sight of its campus and especially the assembly zone. I calmed myself, put my skepticism back [pedagogy! focus!]  and went to meet