Mangaluru, 2nd November, 2015: Breakthrough, an NGO working to end violence against women took their campaign against domestic violence forward by running a video van on 23rd October, 2015 to raise awareness. They held a press conference today to share the success of the Video Van run where more than 4000 people were connected under this initiative. Mudushedde Gram Panchayat marked the starting point of the video van which concluded its expedition at Kuvettu village, Beltangady Taluk on 1st November 2015 video van. It went into 20 Gram Panchyats to educate people on women safety and security under the Domestic Violence Act 2005. Spreading awareness through trainings, theatre performance, events and campaigns Yakshagana (A folk art) was also used in Dakshina Kannada. The VV campaign at Dtioakshina Kannada was successful with the support of Zilla Panchayat and Women & Child Welfare Department of Dakshina Kannada in 20 Gram Panchayats.

During the Press meet, Kanmani, State Manager - Breakthrough shared her experience of spearheading the Ring the Bell’ campaign she said “We have been working on in Karnataka since 2007 in the seven districts of Gulbarga, Koppal, Raichur, Mysuru, Dharwad, Udupi, Shimoga, Mandya, Dakshin Kannada, Tumkur, Bangalore. We have now focused our attention to the four larger districts of Bangalore, Tumkur, Udupi and Daksin Kannada. We have worked with NGO, CBOs, Anganwadi Workers, Young people between the age group of 15 – 35 years along with the Police, PRI, Garment Workers, Frontline Health Workers, Self Help Group Anganwadi teachers and marginalised youth out of schools and conducted more than 1000 trainings among and along with them. Over 23,500 community members across three districts – Bengaluru, Udupi and Tumkur and enrolled over 10000 social change actors who are trained and willing to raise their voice against violence. We have urged the youth to take part in spreading awareness about the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act 2005 and empower women to safeguard their rights are individuals.

Breakthrough, in past 10 days we made a connected directly with the society on this delicate issue with the help of video van. During this we found that people have started raising voice against domestic violence. While educating people we made estimation that 70% people accepted that domestic violence is a big issue, 41% accepted that their gender is decided by the society and 49% accepted that this is natural. Whereas 55% accepted that they possess basic knowledge of Prevention of Domestic Violence Act 2005.

Through our interactions with the community we found that alcohol consumption has been the main reason of domestic violence in rural areas aggravating violence against women. Breakthrough has devised the simplest way of stopping this violence; Ring the Bell. A form of subtle interruption that brings domestic violence to a halt. “

Breakthrough has encouraged people to acknowledge domestic violence is not a way of life. Haritha, A student of Human Rights course at St. Joseph’s Evening College is a domestic violence survivor who attended a Breakthrough training and got the courage to raise her voice and filed a complaint at police station against her husband.

Among such women is Zareena (name changed) a Muslim woman from Kuppepadavu village who attended Breakthrough training program met some of the families in the Sangha and encouraged them to send their children to school. Families realized their mistake and sent their children to school.

After Breakthrough training at Dakshina Kannada, the Self Help Group women have sent their husbands to attend BT training who too attended this training to understand the issue of domestic violence.

Breakthrough has surely made a difference in many lives but they want the society to take responsibility and make it a safer place for women.