It’s my choice

Working as a Head of Projects at My Choices, Farzana is known for her relentless work in empowering women and creating awareness to things they are not keen about.

Coming from a very economically poor family in Lucknow, Farzana with the help of her father finished her PhD in political science in which she also received an award for her research “Indo Sri lankan Relationship”. She was the first woman in her village to get a PhD. Not only did she excel in her work and inspired many girls too from her village to fight for their rights for education.

After her PhD her father insisted she become a civil servant, but she wanted to give her part to the society. She then came across a Non profit organisation called AALI (Association for Advocacy and Legal Initiative). “AALI changed my views of reading women rights. Looking at National and International Human Rights together gives a broader perspective,” she says. Working as a project manager, she and her team fought for identity of the LGBTQ, Dalit, women etc.

During her tenure in AALI, she made a group of lawyers to fight on significant issues. She also educated women on various issues like child marriages, Education and Rights for women in general.

After migrating to Hyderabad with her husband, with her zeal to serve society, she joined “My choices”, women empowerment centre, as a project manager. ““My Choices” gives women a choice to live violence and abuse free life” says Farzana.

In the given platform, she continues to fight against Patriarchy in the society and even plays a key role in conducting awareness programs. One of her programs is to train women in the society and send them into the field to find more women who are bait to violence.

In the wake of growing instances of violence against women, the centre is also partnered with Bharosa team and the Hyderabad Police who send cases of domestic violence, sexual harassment and cases.

“The centre which usually focuses on women who are from the low economic strata, this year’s focus will be to reach out to the Elite part of the society who are hindered and have no place to go to” states Farzana.

She also advises women suffering from distress to reach them through the centre’s helpline from anywhere in India. She further said “Everybody has a role to stop Violence against women and women are as equal as anybody. Never tolerate violence and violence is not justified”.

By Nathaniel Anthony