In July 2007, PRERANA, with assistance from the Delhi Social Welfare Board started a Family Counselling Centre at Jaitpur. The objective was to provide counselling, referral and, possibly rehabilitative services to women victims and also to others who were affected by family and social problems and disputes.
The last year saw cases seeking help gradually come in. The number of cases registered with the centre has been 38 so far.
The kind of cases range from dowry demands to marital maladjustments due to alcohol/drug addiction and extra marital relations.
Around 7 cases were registered for disturbances because of dowry demands.
Many of these cases are under regular counselling with many sessions being taken with the client and sometimes with their families/spouses even. Efforts have been made to resolve the cases at the community level. However, if the cases are identified as requiring professional assistance/help, then they are referred to the relevant and concerned agencies for legal aid.
Some cases have been successfully closed on the basis of mutual settlement.