When violence takes place, the victim requires certain specific and immediate assistance. Shakti Shalini provides personalized and professional services to each of our clients. We work with women, men, children and members of the LGBTQ community.

Our responsive mechanisms come into play after violence has occurred and a person requires aid in rebuilding and rehabilitating oneself. They include a shelter home for women in distress, crisis intervention and counseling service, physical and mental healthcare, legal advice and litigation services, vocational training, art programs, educational and employment assistance.

1. ‘Pehchan’, Shelter Home for women in distress

Pehchan, connoting “identity”, is the shelter for distressed women victims and survivors of gender violence (often accompanied by their children), provided by Shakti Shalini.

It has an independent ground floor unit, 4 rooms and 2 bath cumtoilets, a kitchen, a sitting room and a comfortable, green courtyard. It can accommodate a large number of victims together if the need arises. However, ideally it can cater to a maximum of 10 women along with their children in cases where they accompany the mother. As a policy, no woman who seeks shelter post sunset is ever denied shelter. The women there live in a secure and clean environment. Sanitary and dietary amenities as well as medical aid are regularly provided at ‘Pehchan from case to case basis.’ However, recognizing our own present limitations of resources, expertise, infrastructure and workforce, we do not accept individual who suffer with very extreme mental conditions and clinical psychiatric concerns.

2. Crisis Intervention and Counseling Centre (CICC)

CICC provides support and counseling to clients irrespective of their gender and sexual orientation who have experienced abuse, physical or psychological, and are undergoing a crisis. It should, therefore, be noted that our counseling services are available even for men, children and for the LGBTQ community in addition to women and girls. CICC includes services of crisis intervention, intensive and regular counseling, physical and mental healthcare, legal advice and litigation aid, art programs, vocational training, educational and employment assistance, rehabilitation and housing aid.

Counseling has proven to be an extremely effective method of mitigating the suffering of survivors. Each survivor undergoes various levels of counseling at our organization. In a month, we may conduct as many sessions as necessary for a client. All sessions are designed according to the needs of the individual concerned. The form of counseling is flexible. We prefer counseling in person, however, if the need arises, we conduct counseling over phone calls and pay home visits as well. Counseling need not be limited to the client. Depending on the case, we, more often than not, include the husband, marital and natal families of the client as well. In the eventuality that a legal case has to be fought in court, we are able to provide lawyers. Survivors may also need assistance in mental and physical health and we provide therapy and treatment for the same.

The aim of counseling is to gauge every aspect of the client’s suffering in order to assist him/her in creating and implementing an informed plan for one’s relief with the client’s participation. The choice and the decision rests entirely with the client concerned. Our role is of facilitation not of dictation.

3. Shakti Shalini and Delhi Commission of Women (DCW), Rape Crisis Cell

Shakti Shalini works in collaboration with DCW, Rape Crisis Cell in nineteen police stations across the South-East districts of Delhi. Two professional and skilled counselors provide immediate support to victims of sexual violence. Our clients include victims of rape, molestation, trafficking and those who are missing.

Approximately 30-35 survivors are addressed in a month. Every client undergoes various levels of counseling according to his/her needs. The counselors create an excellent support mechanism for the clients by providing them psychological and emotional support, assisting them with court statements, Medico- Legal Certificates, legislative procedures and necessary legal, economic and social awareness. Thus, through a participatory process, the client is gradually led to overcome his/ her suffering, make informed decisions and lead a life of dignity and independence.