Looking Back…
We are extremely proud of the great strides we made last year (2015)! Here’s a list of some:
- Dhanak members began paying social visits at interfaith couples homes on the 2nd or 4th Saturday of each month. The monthly visits are planned with the following objectives:
- To build a personal rapport with the couples
- To extend solidarity to the couple in case they face social isolation after its marital alliance
- To ensure participation of one of the couples who is either shying away or avoiding discussions related to identity based issues
- To build a platform for mutual perspective building on potential issues of disputes
- In July, 2015, we had a proud moment when members Shabana Siddiqui, Ranu Kulshrestha and Asif Iqbal received a memento from the Department of Social Works, Delhi University after students orientation on the issues of Right to Choice (Right to Choice in Marriage/Alliance)
- Dhanak has experienced various legal and systemic challenges for couples trying to exercise their constitutional rights related to marriage. We are demanding the following changes for the recognition of Right to Choice in Marriage by the government of NCT Delhi. Here’s a list of the demands we have made to change in the rules/guidelines for implementation of the Special Marriage Act-1954:
- Provision of using proof of address from any state in India
- No intimation “Notice of Intended Marriage” to homes/family of marrying couple
- No intimation “Notice of Intended Marriage” to police stations
- Attestation of documents by officials receiving papers for marriage solemnization and registration
- Establishing Government Protection Homes for couples in need
- Establishing Counseling, Guidance, and Marriage Solemnization/Registration Center for Interfaith/Inter-caste couples
- Public awareness Campaign on Gender Equality
- Inclusion of Interfaith Marriage in State Scheme for providing incentives for alliances of such nature
- Currently, Dhanak is supporting an inter-caste couple. The Human Rights Law Network has helped them to seek legal protection. The case came to us through General Body Member Abdul Mabood. The couple was provided transit accommodation by Dhanak Members Shakeel followed by Kashifa and Rajeev for another couple of days. Dhanak is helping them financially and will pursue the case for their marriage registration
- Our group has expanded our ways of communication using social media apps such as Whatsapp. This allows our group to benefit from communicating pertinent messages to each other instantly
- To ensure the acceptance of the organization by the Income Tax department we are in the middle of 12a certification followed by 80G certification. After getting the certifications the organization will become privileged to provide tax exemption to donors like you. We will keep you posted on the progress once the auditor gets back to us