Empowering Voices: ASAP Program’s State-Level Survivors Collective Meeting in Panipat
- Admin Blog
- Apr 27
- 5 min read
Updated: May 7
On April 26, 2025, Empower People organized a meeting of the State executive of survivors collective in Israna, Panipat, Haryana, under its Activating Survivor's Advocacy Program (ASAP). Held in honor of the birth anniversary of Ms. Kamla Bhasin, a trailblazing feminist and advocate for gender justice, the event celebrated her enduring legacy while advancing a survivor-led movement to combat bride trafficking, sexual harassment, and gender-based violence (GBV). The gathering bolstered advocacy initiatives and promoted systemic reforms in Haryana, a region facing deep-rooted gender disparities.
The ASAP Program: A Framework for Change
The Activating Survivor's Advocacy Program (ASAP) is Empower People’s flagship initiative to empower survivors of trafficking and local women facing GBV across Haryana. This Program is build on four pillars
State-Level Survivor Collective: A state level collective unites district-level CBOs to advocate for anti-trafficking and anti-violence policies while providing peer support and safe spaces to fellow women while promoting their leadership and political participation in Panchayati Raj system as well as mainstream Political domain.
Paro Voice : An initiative helping survivors claiming space in Mass Media, creating and contributing to the existing narratives around lives of women in cross-region marriage, their lives and aspirations.
Enhancing Accountability Mechanisms and Reporting: Collaborates with government authorities to integrate trafficking and GBV into legal aid, with survivors leading awareness and clinics and also engaging other stake holders as support groups.
Survivor Fund : would provide micro-grants for education, vocational training looking after welfare aspects of the program and seed funds for entrepreneurship. The idea of survivor fund is to establish it as a small financing bank dedicated to serve women in cross marriage.
ASAP extends services to women facing violence, sexual harassment, or honor-based abuse through support groups, vigilance training, awareness campaigns, and access to legal aid and the Survivor Fund, fostering community-led change.
A Day of Solidarity and Advocacy
The Panipat meeting brought together survivors, local women, community leaders, and advocates for a day of impactful dialogue. Facilitated by Ms. Jyoti Goyal, the event opened with an overview of ASAP’s mission to empower survivors and local women as change-makers. Her remarks set a tone of collaboration and purpose.
Mr. Shafiq R. Khan, Empower People’s founder, guided a discussion where participants shared stories of surviving trafficking, domestic violence, and honor-based abuse. The exchange, charged with emotion, underscored the power of shared experiences. Mr. Khan emphasized collective action, inspiring attendees to see themselves as advocates for justice.
A key moment was the drafting of a Demand Charter, a document articulating priorities for policy reform, social support, and access to justice. Participants, in small groups, identified critical needs such as robust anti-trafficking laws and economic empowerment. Ms. Kajal, a community leader, presented the charter, her voice resonating with the group’s shared commitment. The charter serves as both an advocacy blueprint and a vision for a future free from violence.
The Demand Charter: Securing Fundamental Rights
The Demand Charter, crafted during the meeting, addresses the systemic marginalization of women, particularly those brought to Haryana through inter-regional marriages from states like Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Often treated as outsiders, these women face bonded labor, domestic violence, and exclusion from basic rights like property, education, and government services. The charter demands constitutional protections and equal treatment, asserting that these women seek not special privileges but their fundamental rights as Indian citizens.
Key Demands:
Mandatory Marriage Registration: Enforce registration of inter-regional marriages within one week, with legal penalties for non-compliance.
Economic Security: Allocate a fixed sum to women in inter-regional marriages to ensure financial stability and encourage registration.
Clear Guidelines: Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for inter-regional marriages to safeguard women’s rights and dignity.
Simplified Documentation: Remove barriers to obtaining Aadhaar, ration cards, and voter IDs for access to services.
Priority Access: Grant 5% priority for these women and their children in employment and education opportunities.
Education and Skills: Provide free tutoring, computer training, and reserved school seats for children.
Support for Prior Children: Recognize and support children from previous marriages with education, skills training, and property rights.
Property Rights: Mandate land transfers to women in inter-regional marriages and ensure their share in ancestral property.
Crackdown on Brokers: Impose strict penalties on intermediaries profiting from exploitative marriage arrangements.
District Monitoring Committees: Establish committees, led by affected women and supported by social organizations, to monitor brokers and address violations, with monthly meetings.
Ban Derogatory Terms: Prohibit terms like “Biharo,” “Molki,” or “Paro” and ensure women receive full spousal status.
Citizenship for Foreign Nationals: Facilitate Indian citizenship for women from Nepal and Bangladesh married in India.
Right to Return: Ensure safe, dignified return for women wishing to go back to their native regions.
Equal Spousal Status: Grant women the full status of a local daughter-in-law.
Family Visits: Fund biannual trips for women to visit their parental homes at government expense.
These demands seek to uphold constitutional rights, empower women and their children, and advance social justice, aligning with Empower People’s vision of equitable communities.
Ms. Anjum Bano, a Paro Voice reporter, shared her story of resilience, inspiring attendees to embrace advocacy and counseling roles. Her narrative highlighted the Paro Voice Peer Counsellor Network’s role in trauma-informed support. District coordinators Mr. Rajendra, Ms. Rajbala, and Mr. Dildar Hussain ensured the event’s success through meticulous planning, creating a space where every voice mattered.
Honoring Kamla Bhasin’s Legacy
Held in honor of Kamla Bhasin’s birth anniversary, the meeting paid tribute to her groundbreaking work in India’s feminist movement. Her commitment to women’s rights and collective action echoed throughout the event, as participants embodied her vision of empowerment and equity.
Building Healing and Solidarity
The meeting fostered a safe space for healing and connection. Women bonded over shared struggles, finding strength in community. Support groups, a cornerstone of the Paro Voice Peer Counsellor Network, enabled peer counseling, nurturing sisterhood. Workshops on community vigilance and women’s rights equipped attendees to tackle GBV locally, while discussions about the Survivor Fund highlighted opportunities like education, vocational training, and lemongrass cultivation.
A Vision for Transformation
In his closing remarks, Mr. Shafiq R. Khan lauded the participants’ courage, stating, “Through ASAP, we are building a movement where survivors and local women lead for justice, equity, and hope.” He outlined next steps: expanding the Paro Voice Peer Counsellor Network, deepening DLSA partnerships, and scaling the Survivor Fund. An upcoming AI-driven app will enhance case tracking and resource access, further empowering survivors and local women.
The Panipat meeting marked a milestone in Empower People’s mission to reshape Haryana’s social landscape. The Demand Charter will steer advocacy efforts, while forged connections will sustain support groups and outreach.
Join Our Movement
The Panipat survivors collective meeting highlights the power of survivor-led advocacy. At Empower People, we believe every voice can drive change. Through the Activating Survivor's Advocacy Program, we are forging a future where survivors and local women lead as advocates for a world free from violence.
Support our mission by donating, volunteering, or sharing our work.
Together, we can build a Haryana where every woman thrives with dignity, safety, and opportunity.
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