The Scale of the Problem

National surveys consistently show that domestic violence affects a staggering proportion of Indian women. In rural areas, cultural norms, economic dependency, and geographic isolation compound the challenge. Reporting is rare; prosecution rarer still.

MASUM's violence prevention programme begins with a fundamental premise: domestic violence is not a private matter. It is a public health crisis and a human rights violation that demands a collective response.

Building Community Intolerance for Abuse

Through village-level awareness campaigns, street plays, and women's collectives, MASUM works to shift community norms. The goal is a village where neighbours intervene, where women know their legal rights, and where abusers face social and legal consequences.

This is long, painstaking work. Attitudes built over generations do not change overnight. But evidence from MASUM's programme areas shows consistent shifts in what communities consider acceptable and what they consider shameful.

Support, Not Just Survival

Survivors of violence need more than a hotline number. They need legal support, shelter, counselling, and economic alternatives — because without economic independence, leaving is not truly an option for many women.

MASUM's case support work addresses this holistically, connecting survivors to legal aid, government schemes, and community networks that help them rebuild.

Engaging Men and Boys

Sustainable change requires men to be part of the solution. MASUM's work with men and adolescent boys tackles the attitudes and behaviours that enable violence — ideas about honour, control, and what it means to be a man.

These conversations are difficult and sometimes resisted. But they are irreplaceable if the goal is a world where women are safe not just in law but in their homes and communities.