ONE Family

Often swept under the carpet and discussed only in hushed whispers, mental health has for far too long been a taboo topic of discussion. While in recent times, individuals and institutions have been working towards breaking this taboo and addressing mental health concerns and educating the public, it was probably the unfortunate pandemic that brought more attention to this much needed discussion. News reports were many about an increase in mental health issues during the pandemic this year as we stepped into lockdowns the world over. The reasons may have been diverse, but rather importantly, it forced one to address the elephant in the room.  Mental health continues to be understood in very superficial ways. To be able to address it, one must be able to understand what causes it- in a comprehensive manner. A counselling psychologist by profession, Ashvini.N.V. began to notice a trend amongst those who presented to her with anxiety disorders. A large percentage of them had been subj...

  A few months ago, a group of women in the Koppal area of Northern Karnataka managed to shut down an illegal alcohol shop in their neighbourhood. A decade ago, these women may not have had the voice or the means to do such a thing. Living in one of the poorer districts of Karnataka, women in Koppal have been in poverty for long. Land is arid and agriculture is heavily dependent on rain. In the name of the Devadasi system, many young girls continue to be pushed into a lifetime of servitude and disempowerment. With no legal sanction for their children or themselves, most of these women were also cut off from government welfare schemes. However, disadvantaged populations like these have the potential to become self-reliant; provided they are given the opportunities and the know-how. It was with this thought and goal in mind, that in the year 1991, Dr. Smita Premchander, founder of Sampark, a Bangalore-based NGO, decided to reach out to these women. At a time when many social outrea...