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Sujatha, 'ASWAS', Panampally Nagar, Ernakulam |
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33-year-old Sujatha, after her husband’s untimely death, found an empathetic group in the classes of Syriac Elias Voluntary Association (SEVA). One of the persons she met at the classes, another young widow, rang her up with her woes of harassment by in-laws and her determination to commit suicide along with her child that very night.
Sujatha pacified the young woman and contacted other members of the class. Together they met Fr. Jacob of SEVA with their determination to resolve the issue of the harassed woman. He then advised them that it would be better for them to tackle the problem as an organization instead of being a motley group.
That led to the birth of Aswas (Association of Single Women for Action and Self-help). Registered in November 2000, the association now has a house at Edappally, whose doors are always open for the single women, be they widows, divorcees, spinsters or those separated from their husbands. At present 2 women live in this residence, which had housed 6 others earlier..
Vrindavathi is the president of the association whose secretary is Advocate Sujatha.
Some women are financially shattered by the death of their husbands. To help them, Aswas has training classes for stitching, soap making, squash and jam making etc.
Says an inmate who retired from Government service: “thinking of many troubles, I could hardly sleep earlier. After coming to 'Aswas' I am able to sleep peacefully”.
Advocate Sujatha and Vrindavathi
Courtesy: Pushpa.M (text), Benny Paul (photo), Vanitha, February 1-14, 2003
Contributed by: Administrator
