Ruma Devi Foundation will establish two women support centers for women empowerment, a mobile van will go to remote villages

A panel of women experts from diverse professions discuss the challenges women face, promoting awareness and solutions.

Barmer:In light of the growing number of cases involving insecurity, mental stress, confusion, and the adverse effects of social media among women and adolescent girls leading to rising incidents of suicide and abuse, renowned social activist and Nari-Shakti awardee Ruma Devi announced a new initiative on Sunday, July 13 in Barmer. The initiative brings together aware women and senior women experts from various sectors, with the goal of offering mental health, medical, legal, and social support to empower women to remain strong and self-reliant in any circumstance.

Ruma Devi shared that an active advisory committee is being formed, which will consist of senior women professionals from fields such as law, health, education, and administration. These experts will help guide the initiative's efforts and provide tailored solutions to the issues faced by rural women.

As part of this campaign, two Women Support Centers will be established—one in Barmer and the other in Balotra. Additionally, a mobile outreach van is being developed, which will travel to distant villages and hamlets to listen to women’s problems and connect them with the appropriate experts and support systems.

Speaking at the event, Ruma Devi stated:

"Loneliness, lack of patience, and misleading information on social media are confusing many women and pushing them toward suicidal thoughts. When one woman takes such a step, it affects the entire family. We want to make sure that no woman feels alone. every woman deserves the right guidance, support, and respect."

During an open dialogue session, educationist Anita Choudhary spoke about various government-run support programs and pledged to offer regular, voluntary career counseling services to rural schoolgirls in collaboration with the Foundation.

Advocate Muskan emphasized the need to eliminate hesitation around seeking legal advice and committed to offering her legal services free of charge through the initiative. Senior Advocate Karnaram Choudhary, who had previously proposed to take up special legal cases free of cost for the Foundation, reiterated his continued support for the cause.

Architect Amrita Harsh, based in Seattle, USA, encouraged women not to fear challenges in life and to reach out to the Foundation’s mobile van and advisory committee for help.

Village Development Officer Rukhmo highlighted that many problems can be resolved within families if proper communication is established.

Foundation spokesperson Kavita Kumari urged women not to be afraid of their problems and assured that the organization will act as a bridge, connecting them with expert women professionals from different fields to find effective solutions.

During the solution-focused session, participants discussed a wide range of issues, including mental stress, domestic violence, and gender discrimination, and explored ground-level approaches to resolve them through collaborative efforts.

Among the participants were local women including Jamna Devi, Laxmi Devi, Shanti Devi, Gumani Devi, Khemi, Pappu, Pushpa Devi, Khetu Prajapat, Anita, Geeta Devi, Neelam, Nirmala, Teebu, Sushila, Jassu Kanwar, Prakash Kanwar, Evnan Kanwar, Hemlata, Satti Devi, Guddi Devi, Chuki, Palu, Daya, Nirmala, Indira Devi, Chandra, and others. Field workers from Ruma Devi Foundation and Gramin Vikas Evam Chetna Sansthan (GVCS) were also present at the event.