Varanasi: Thousands of cases are reported of drunk men committing violence against their wives and families. Their family members live in pitiful condition as they lose of hope of making their sons better citizens. 

In a similar case, an elderly woman reported that her son scalded her daughter with boiling oil. Her daughter suffered from severe burns. The same woman implored the young students to get rid of the liquor and gambling problems of the village men. She believes that instead of the industrial development, the women must feel safe to live their houses. 

Adopting the village

A team of students adopted the Khushiyari village in the year 2016. They were moved to tears listening to the painful story of the old lady and wanted to bring in a change in the society. 

The students had limited resources with them, so the idea of organizing a social campaign occurred to them. Students, Ravi Mishra and Divyanshu Upadhyaya formed the Green Army. The army was formed to educate women about domestic violence and become confident to raise their voices against it. 

The Green Army

Divyanshu shares that they form a group of 25 women; these women are educated and made aware about their social conditions. Brave stories and teachings of Rani Laxmibai and Savitribai Phule are taught to them. Education is used as a weapon to build their courage. A professional team also provides self-defence training to women. 

Police Mitra

The then senior superintendent of Police Akash Kulhari visited the village. They gave the status of Police Mitra to the Green Army. Presently, the Green Army teams are working in 6 districts namely, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Sonbhrad, Jaunpur, Ayodhya and Ballia. Almost 2000 women are associated with the Green Army. 

Ravi and Divyanshu have been able to make the village women believe that domestic violence is not normal and is unacceptable and that they must fight against it to make their lives better. 

How does the army work?

Green colour was adopted as the symbol of peace and harmony. Whenever a domestic violence case is registered, the women clad in their green sarees visit the culprit’s house to make them realize the repercussions of their actions. If the situation persists, the matter is reported to the police. 

The important part of the army is the union; when a group of women dressed in the same green colour visit the house of the perpetrator, the visual in itself is enough to instil a fear in them.

Through this, the women have realized that they must stand strong together to make a change in the society. Hundreds of women have been freed from the shackles of domestic violence. 

The strategy

The team of students believe that filing a case against the perpetrators is not enough. Their aim is to counsel men and educate them about the harms of gambling and drug addiction. The help of police is taken when matters go out of their hands. 

The Green Armies have been able to bring peace in many households. When they are out on their duties, they destroy the playing cards of the gamblers. The fear is such that people run away from them whenever they see them approaching.