011 4653 8000 friendsofoxfam@oxfamindia.org
  • Warning: Use of undefined constant Blog - assumed 'Blog' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in oxfamfrontend_preprocess_breadcrumb() (line 1940 of themes/custom/oxfamfrontend/oxfamfrontend.theme). 
    oxfamfrontend_preprocess_breadcrumb(Array, 'breadcrumb', Array) (Line: 287)
Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render('breadcrumb', Array) (Line: 431)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array, ) (Line: 200)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render(Array) (Line: 501)
Drupal\Core\Template\TwigExtension->escapeFilter(Object, Array, 'html', NULL, 1) (Line: 91)
__TwigTemplate_2b51de83e80063ec313274ce6f3ceba482516f92c663ad86a8dc53843f4be9ec->block_content(Array, Array) (Line: 216)
Twig\Template->displayBlock('content', Array, Array) (Line: 80)
__TwigTemplate_2b51de83e80063ec313274ce6f3ceba482516f92c663ad86a8dc53843f4be9ec->doDisplay(Array, Array) (Line: 455)
Twig\Template->displayWithErrorHandling(Array, Array) (Line: 422)
Twig\Template->display(Array) (Line: 434)
Twig\Template->render(Array) (Line: 64)
twig_render_template('core/themes/stable/templates/block/block.html.twig', Array) (Line: 384)
Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render('block', Array) (Line: 431)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array) (Line: 444)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array, ) (Line: 200)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render(Array) (Line: 501)
Drupal\Core\Template\TwigExtension->escapeFilter(Object, Array, 'html', NULL, 1) (Line: 63)
__TwigTemplate_fae2745a282c7dd5710ffd9c7581cc0c9c45b8844f89293b3dec313e1fc4c8b0->doDisplay(Array, Array) (Line: 455)
Twig\Template->displayWithErrorHandling(Array, Array) (Line: 422)
Twig\Template->display(Array) (Line: 434)
Twig\Template->render(Array) (Line: 64)
twig_render_template('themes/custom/oxfamfrontend/templates/system/page.html.twig', Array) (Line: 384)
Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render('page', Array) (Line: 431)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array, ) (Line: 200)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render(Array) (Line: 501)
Drupal\Core\Template\TwigExtension->escapeFilter(Object, Array, 'html', NULL, 1) (Line: 377)
__TwigTemplate_84ae86668151776ad24629f511bb4827c89c640cfc686ccf61ea2115b5f096d9->doDisplay(Array, Array) (Line: 455)
Twig\Template->displayWithErrorHandling(Array, Array) (Line: 422)
Twig\Template->display(Array) (Line: 434)
Twig\Template->render(Array) (Line: 64)
twig_render_template('themes/custom/oxfamfrontend/templates/system/html.html.twig', Array) (Line: 384)
Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render('html', Array) (Line: 431)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array, ) (Line: 200)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render(Array) (Line: 147)
Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\{closure}() (Line: 573)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->executeInRenderContext(Object, Object) (Line: 148)
Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->renderResponse(Array, Object, Object) (Line: 90)
Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\MainContentViewSubscriber->onViewRenderArray(Object, 'kernel.view', Object)
call_user_func(Array, Object, 'kernel.view', Object) (Line: 111)
Drupal\Component\EventDispatcher\ContainerAwareEventDispatcher->dispatch('kernel.view', Object) (Line: 156)
Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handleRaw(Object, 1) (Line: 68)
Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 57)
Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\Session->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 47)
Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\KernelPreHandle->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 191)
Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->fetch(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 128)
Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->lookup(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 82)
Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 47)
Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ReverseProxyMiddleware->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 52)
Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\NegotiationMiddleware->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 23)
Stack\StackedHttpKernel->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 708)
Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel->handle(Object) (Line: 19)
  • Warning: Use of undefined constant News - assumed 'News' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in oxfamfrontend_preprocess_breadcrumb() (line 1944 of themes/custom/oxfamfrontend/oxfamfrontend.theme). 
    oxfamfrontend_preprocess_breadcrumb(Array, 'breadcrumb', Array) (Line: 287)
Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render('breadcrumb', Array) (Line: 431)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array, ) (Line: 200)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render(Array) (Line: 501)
Drupal\Core\Template\TwigExtension->escapeFilter(Object, Array, 'html', NULL, 1) (Line: 91)
__TwigTemplate_2b51de83e80063ec313274ce6f3ceba482516f92c663ad86a8dc53843f4be9ec->block_content(Array, Array) (Line: 216)
Twig\Template->displayBlock('content', Array, Array) (Line: 80)
__TwigTemplate_2b51de83e80063ec313274ce6f3ceba482516f92c663ad86a8dc53843f4be9ec->doDisplay(Array, Array) (Line: 455)
Twig\Template->displayWithErrorHandling(Array, Array) (Line: 422)
Twig\Template->display(Array) (Line: 434)
Twig\Template->render(Array) (Line: 64)
twig_render_template('core/themes/stable/templates/block/block.html.twig', Array) (Line: 384)
Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render('block', Array) (Line: 431)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array) (Line: 444)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array, ) (Line: 200)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render(Array) (Line: 501)
Drupal\Core\Template\TwigExtension->escapeFilter(Object, Array, 'html', NULL, 1) (Line: 63)
__TwigTemplate_fae2745a282c7dd5710ffd9c7581cc0c9c45b8844f89293b3dec313e1fc4c8b0->doDisplay(Array, Array) (Line: 455)
Twig\Template->displayWithErrorHandling(Array, Array) (Line: 422)
Twig\Template->display(Array) (Line: 434)
Twig\Template->render(Array) (Line: 64)
twig_render_template('themes/custom/oxfamfrontend/templates/system/page.html.twig', Array) (Line: 384)
Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render('page', Array) (Line: 431)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array, ) (Line: 200)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render(Array) (Line: 501)
Drupal\Core\Template\TwigExtension->escapeFilter(Object, Array, 'html', NULL, 1) (Line: 377)
__TwigTemplate_84ae86668151776ad24629f511bb4827c89c640cfc686ccf61ea2115b5f096d9->doDisplay(Array, Array) (Line: 455)
Twig\Template->displayWithErrorHandling(Array, Array) (Line: 422)
Twig\Template->display(Array) (Line: 434)
Twig\Template->render(Array) (Line: 64)
twig_render_template('themes/custom/oxfamfrontend/templates/system/html.html.twig', Array) (Line: 384)
Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render('html', Array) (Line: 431)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array, ) (Line: 200)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render(Array) (Line: 147)
Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\{closure}() (Line: 573)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->executeInRenderContext(Object, Object) (Line: 148)
Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->renderResponse(Array, Object, Object) (Line: 90)
Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\MainContentViewSubscriber->onViewRenderArray(Object, 'kernel.view', Object)
call_user_func(Array, Object, 'kernel.view', Object) (Line: 111)
Drupal\Component\EventDispatcher\ContainerAwareEventDispatcher->dispatch('kernel.view', Object) (Line: 156)
Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handleRaw(Object, 1) (Line: 68)
Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 57)
Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\Session->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 47)
Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\KernelPreHandle->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 191)
Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->fetch(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 128)
Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->lookup(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 82)
Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 47)
Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ReverseProxyMiddleware->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 52)
Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\NegotiationMiddleware->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 23)
Stack\StackedHttpKernel->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 708)
Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel->handle(Object) (Line: 19)
  • Warning: Use of undefined constant Stories - assumed 'Stories' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in oxfamfrontend_preprocess_breadcrumb() (line 1948 of themes/custom/oxfamfrontend/oxfamfrontend.theme). 
    oxfamfrontend_preprocess_breadcrumb(Array, 'breadcrumb', Array) (Line: 287)
Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render('breadcrumb', Array) (Line: 431)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array, ) (Line: 200)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render(Array) (Line: 501)
Drupal\Core\Template\TwigExtension->escapeFilter(Object, Array, 'html', NULL, 1) (Line: 91)
__TwigTemplate_2b51de83e80063ec313274ce6f3ceba482516f92c663ad86a8dc53843f4be9ec->block_content(Array, Array) (Line: 216)
Twig\Template->displayBlock('content', Array, Array) (Line: 80)
__TwigTemplate_2b51de83e80063ec313274ce6f3ceba482516f92c663ad86a8dc53843f4be9ec->doDisplay(Array, Array) (Line: 455)
Twig\Template->displayWithErrorHandling(Array, Array) (Line: 422)
Twig\Template->display(Array) (Line: 434)
Twig\Template->render(Array) (Line: 64)
twig_render_template('core/themes/stable/templates/block/block.html.twig', Array) (Line: 384)
Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render('block', Array) (Line: 431)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array) (Line: 444)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array, ) (Line: 200)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render(Array) (Line: 501)
Drupal\Core\Template\TwigExtension->escapeFilter(Object, Array, 'html', NULL, 1) (Line: 63)
__TwigTemplate_fae2745a282c7dd5710ffd9c7581cc0c9c45b8844f89293b3dec313e1fc4c8b0->doDisplay(Array, Array) (Line: 455)
Twig\Template->displayWithErrorHandling(Array, Array) (Line: 422)
Twig\Template->display(Array) (Line: 434)
Twig\Template->render(Array) (Line: 64)
twig_render_template('themes/custom/oxfamfrontend/templates/system/page.html.twig', Array) (Line: 384)
Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render('page', Array) (Line: 431)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array, ) (Line: 200)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render(Array) (Line: 501)
Drupal\Core\Template\TwigExtension->escapeFilter(Object, Array, 'html', NULL, 1) (Line: 377)
__TwigTemplate_84ae86668151776ad24629f511bb4827c89c640cfc686ccf61ea2115b5f096d9->doDisplay(Array, Array) (Line: 455)
Twig\Template->displayWithErrorHandling(Array, Array) (Line: 422)
Twig\Template->display(Array) (Line: 434)
Twig\Template->render(Array) (Line: 64)
twig_render_template('themes/custom/oxfamfrontend/templates/system/html.html.twig', Array) (Line: 384)
Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render('html', Array) (Line: 431)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender(Array, ) (Line: 200)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render(Array) (Line: 147)
Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\{closure}() (Line: 573)
Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->executeInRenderContext(Object, Object) (Line: 148)
Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->renderResponse(Array, Object, Object) (Line: 90)
Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\MainContentViewSubscriber->onViewRenderArray(Object, 'kernel.view', Object)
call_user_func(Array, Object, 'kernel.view', Object) (Line: 111)
Drupal\Component\EventDispatcher\ContainerAwareEventDispatcher->dispatch('kernel.view', Object) (Line: 156)
Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handleRaw(Object, 1) (Line: 68)
Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 57)
Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\Session->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 47)
Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\KernelPreHandle->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 191)
Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->fetch(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 128)
Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->lookup(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 82)
Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 47)
Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ReverseProxyMiddleware->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 52)
Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\NegotiationMiddleware->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 23)
Stack\StackedHttpKernel->handle(Object, 1, 1) (Line: 708)
Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel->handle(Object) (Line: 19)

Meenakhi fought for her marriage with the help of Oxfam India’s women support centre

Meenakhi fought for her marriage with the help of Oxfam India’s women support centre

Sharelines

Women support centre of @OxfamIndia gives legal advice and support to women in need. Know more.

“Nineteen years is a long time to be married to someone. And you would think you know your spouse inside out. But, that is not true as I have discovered the hard way,” says Meenakhi Naik with stoic resignation. 

There is no bitterness in her now, after her husband of 19 years, decided to stay with another woman. 

Raghumani Naik is a security guard at the local park. He is paid no salary and his income came only from the tips that parents of kids who play in the park gave. Ironically enough, Meenakhi and Raghumani, both of different castes, fell in love and married against the wishes of their families.

“It was my job as Anganwadi worker that helped us light the chulha everyday. In spite of that, I really loved him,” says Meenakhi. 

She was devastated the day she learned that her husband was in an extra-marital affair. “He said I needed to adjust and that she was also working so she can give him money too. She was a relative, well-known to me, but I never expected that something like this would happen,” said Meenakhi.

Meenakhi came straight to the Women Support Centre, Kalahandi, run by a partner of Oxfam India, as she was already aware of its existence through her friends who attended its inauguration. 

She filed an application for a joint meeting saying she wants him back and that he should be convinced. “But later on, I realised that all I wanted was for my kids, a boy and a girl, to be given a secure future. I was no longer interested in the relationship,” she said.

The 40-year-old Anganwadi worker then sought the intervention of the Support Centre in getting her a residence order under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (PWDV) Act. 

The order was important as she feared that Raghumnai might ask her to leave along with children. She now lives in the house that belongs to her husband. Raghumani has been made to contribute to the running of the family by making him bring wheat, rice and sugar on his ration card. “I know he does not make much money, so it is ok. He loves the kids, brings them food and gifts. I am ok with that too,” Meenakhi said.

There was a time when Raghumani was adamant and hostile. “’It’s my wish how many women I want to keep. You have no right to speak”, he told me. 

Once I got the residence order, I showed it to him and told him to get out. I said “Do what you please, but this is my house and I will live here with my kids.” He slowly yielded. I think he is afraid of me now that he knows the Support Centre is behind me,” Meenakhi says with a faint smile. 

Meenakhi has the support of her in-laws who disapprove of their wayward son too. 

 

Written by: Oxfam India staff

Photo credit: Oxfam India

 

Others

Find out how Oxfam India is enabling communities by working to provide a life of dignity and equal opportunity for all.Get to know more about Oxfam India`s latest projects.

Read More
Recent Stories
A Generous Unforgettable Help

01,Oct,2020 | Savvy

In the Nick of Time

29,Sep,2020 | Savvy

Despite All Odds

14,Sep,2020 | Savvy

On Auto Mode

14,Sep,2020 | Savvy

Help for Weavers in Lockdown

24,Aug,2020 | Savvy

Relief for Weavers Community

21,Aug,2020 | Savvy

Locked Down in Tea Estates

07,Aug,2020 | Savvy

A Pleasant Surprise

15,Jul,2020 | Savvy

A Shopping Experience

15,Jul,2020 | Savvy

Timely Intervention

14,Jul,2020 | Savvy

Bypassing The Digital Divide

01,Jul,2020 | Savvy

Lockdown Tough on Single Mothers

29,Jun,2020 | Savvy

'Pad'ding Up During Crisis

16,Jun,2020 | Savvy

Leaving a Life Behind

23,May,2020 | Savvy

The Homeward Journey

21,May,2020 | Savvy

On Foot, On Truck and Finally, A Bus

17,May,2020 | radhika

Getting Home, Somehow

16,May,2020 | radhika

A Bleak Future

06,May,2020 | Savvy

Swantana has big dreams to achieve

20,Nov,2019 | Anisha

Empowering girls through education

30,Oct,2019 | Anisha

Devyani goes back to school

05,Jul,2019 | Anisha

Lakshmi Returns Home After Fani

27,Jun,2019 | Anisha

Music for a New Life

21,May,2019 | admin

Ungendering domestic work

21,May,2019 | admin

Ajay Goes To School

26,Apr,2019 | Anisha

United Voices against Alcoholism

19,Mar,2019 | ursila

Fighting for a brighter future

31,Dec,2018 | ursila

A champion of change

31,Dec,2018 | ursila

Stronger Together

31,Dec,2018 | ursila

Paving the way for change

03,Dec,2018 | ursila

Being a trailblazer

01,Dec,2018 | ursila

Being the voice of her community

01,Dec,2018 | ursila

Broken but not defeated

01,Dec,2018 | ursila

Her struggle for an education

15,Nov,2018 | Anisha

Scripting Her Own Fate

03,Nov,2018 | admin

Breaking Boundaries at Home

03,Nov,2018 | admin

Small Steps towards Empowerment

03,Nov,2018 | admin

"Land is our life"

27,Sep,2016 | oxfamadmin

Surviving the floods

19,Aug,2016 | oxfamadmin

No-Detention: Who Is Under The Scanner?

18,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin

A Tense Calm: Mehjabi Khatun

02,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin

Helping others find a way to safety

25,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin

Because it’s 2015!

09,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin

“No Woman, No Cry!”

30,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin

Meet Jyoti

23,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin

Privatising Forests: A Bad Idea

16,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin

Gender Quiz

04,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin

Last mile smile

13,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin

Floods in Manipur and Gujarat

25,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin

A Tribute to Humanitarian Workers

21,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin

Nepal: Building shelters for women

11,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin

Surging tides of inequality

12,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin

Money Matters!

24,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin

All for Education, Education for All

21,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin

Leading from within

12,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin

Making up for lost time to get education

17,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin

Balancing expectations, learning lessons

04,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin

Breaking the silence, standing tall

25,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin

Let’s Talk About Sex

16,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin

Urgent need to "Even it Up"

20,Jan,2015 | oxfamadmin

Our Response To Cyclone Phailin (Odisha)

22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin

Changing the Face of Urban Poverty

22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin

Intolerance Impeding Innovation

22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin

CLOSETHEGAP Launch

22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin

I Want My Land

22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin

Video: Even it up!

22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin

Girl, Interrupted

22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin

Changing the Face of Urban Poverty

07,Nov,2014 | abhij89

Related Stories

A group of children playing in Oxfam India's intervention area, Balrampur
#IndiaWithoutDiscrimination

03 Mar, 2020

Uttar Pradesh

Reducing Inequality by Ensuring Formal Education

Nine-year-old Zaid* is studying in a primary school in Balrampur. However, he would have missed formal education had Oxfam India not intervened.

Read More

Oxfam India supported specially abled Fairland Group affected by Kerala floods
#IndiaWithoutDiscrimination

25 Feb, 2020

Kerala

Disaster Resilience through Economic Empowerment of Women and Excluded Communities in Kerala

The 2018 floods in Kerala had affected the lives of many women and girls, boys and men, differently abled persons, and transgender group in different ways.

Read More

Constant advocacy helped strengthen Gardhanibagh hospital
Health

04 Feb, 2020

Bihar

Community-Based Organisations Raise Awareness on Healthcare

Kajal Kumari lives with her husband, Aakash and her in-laws in Jakkanpur in Patna in Bihar. Aakash is a daily wage labourer and did not have a regular source of income; the financial burden increas

Read More

Women in Kerala learning bamboo craft
Humanitarian Response and DRR

30 Jan, 2020

Kerala

Rebuilding lives of flood-affected families in Kerala

The 2018 floods in Kerala ravaged the state and had a devastating impact on lives and livelihoods of everyone affected – from women and girls to men and boys, and from differently abled to the tran

Read More