Ahmedabad: Abhayam counsellors persuaded community leaders to allow a woman to return to her family after she complained of harassment by her husband. The woman’s family was reluctant to accept her fearing being ostracized by their community.About three years ago, the woman married a man she loved. Around one-and-a-half years into the marriage, problems began to surface, with the husband allegedly subjecting her to mental harassment and threatening divorce, a counsellor said. With her family having distanced itself from her after the marriage, the woman had no support system.She recently contacted her parents, who said they were willing to take her back but feared backlash from the community members.The Abhayam team sought assistance from an NGO working with the community and approached local leaders. According to the counsellor, the community leaders initially demanded Rs 10.5 lakh from the family for permission to take her back. Following the Abhayam team’s intervention, the family agreed to take the woman back, and the NGO assured continued support.
