Lockdown in India means so many more women are at risk. But I take hope from their strength

As lockdown results in spikes in domestic violence globally, women need our help now more than ever. Sarika Sinha writes

In India, one rape is reported every 15 minutes and countless more go uncounted (Samyamoy Debnath/ActionAid)

A total of 1.3 billion people are currently in lockdown in India and, as with most other places around the world, the virus is causing huge disruption. I live in a city called Bhopal in the centre of the country and manage the Gauravi centre which provides emotional, economic and legal support to survivors of violence.

Women in India face extremely high levels of violence including domestic abuse, rape, harassment, acid attacks and “honour killings”. One rape is reported every 15 minutes on average, and countless more are committed. This violence is also closer to home than many might think – because with the vast majority of reported rapes, the survivors know their rapist. As lockdown results in spikes in domestic violence globally, the vital help we’re providing is needed now more than ever.

Alongside rises in violence, the food crisis caused by lockdown is also a huge problem here. There are now many, many migrant workers in jobs like construction, agriculture, garment making, mining and domestic labour who have lost their jobs overnight. As informal workers, they don’t have protection from their employers and if they don’t work, they simply don’t eat and they are facing starvation.

However, as I write, there are a dozen local women driving their rickshaws to deliver vital food, hygiene supplies and other essentials to those who are vulnerable and those especially at risk. This includes sex workers, transgender communities, Muslim minorities and homeless people. Whilst we’re carrying on our important work for local women whose lives have been shattered by violence and abuse, the Gauravi or “brave heart” centre has also become a hive of activity and evolved into a real hub for a range of people affected by Covid-19.

Some of the local women volunteering to deliver supplies are survivors of violence themselves who have been helped by the centre. These women were previously trained to drive rickshaws so they could earn a living independently of abusive partners and it’s inspiring to see them using their skills to help others amidst all the pandemic chaos.

ActionAid has also teamed up with different groups and organisations in the area, including community kitchens and shelters. With all of these people working together around the clock, we’ve been able to distribute up to 7,000 food packets and dry rations to those in need every day.

As for me, I fell ill at the start of April with a very high temperature, high blood pressure and a cough. I also lost my sense of taste and smell, so I thought I had the virus and had to quarantine for several weeks. As you can imagine, I spent a lot of time on the phone helping to co-ordinate all the work at the centre during that period.

Also around this time, Bhopal’s entire health department was affected by the virus because they are frontline workers and the authorities made the lockdown really strict. For about a week, my family had very little food in the house, and we had to really limit what we were eating each day to make everything go further.

I’m feeling better now but my life still feels very topsy-turvy and I work from early in the morning to late at night, but I’m definitely not the only one. Like other places, there have been equipment shortages here and we worry about running out of PPE, which is so vital for keeping our volunteers safe. But I also derive a lot of strength from the people around me. These stories of people getting rations, of our volunteers being out there and getting stuff done, they give me hope.

Sarika Sinha manages a women’s centre in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, which has the highest reported rate of violence against women and girls in the country.

ActionAid works with women and girls living in poverty. Find more information on how you can support frontline workers here