Abhayam workers put life at risk to unite others

Vadodara: Their families worry about them and their children too suffer while they are out, working in a 24-hour shift, trying to reconcile families. But even in lockdown, the counsellors of 181 Abhayam helpline are equally motivated and work towards esnuring that every domestic quarrel has a happy ending.

A counsellor for past three years, Gopi Patel has been reporting to work without any holidays even as her son faces social boycott. “My son’s friends are not playing with him like in the past as their parents are afraid of getting infected with virus because I continue to go out for work and meet people. But I cannot leave my work and sit at home as my work is all about uniting families when they are on the verge of separation,” said Patel, a resident of Old Padra Road. When she receives a call, Patel reaches the place with a cop and tries to understand the situation first.

“We counsel all family members to make them realize how the situation went out of hand and what could have been done to avoid it. If the woman does not want to file a police complaint, we take an undertaking from her in-laws that the situation will not be repeated and they can live happily together,” Patel added.

Patel said that in Vadodara city, even as lockdown is in effect, the number of average daily calls are same. But that is not so in the rural area of Vadodara district.

“As all are at home due to lockdown, the number of calls of family quarrels have increased,” said another counsellor Pravina Tadvi.

Her son too is suffering like Patel’s. “As I go out and meet people, I have sent my four-year-old son to my mother’s house in Chhota Udepur so that he does not get affected by any infection,” Tadvi said.

“There is always a risk of contracting virus, but when my advice or words console a woman whose in-laws as wells as parents are not ready to accept her, I feel it is worth taking the risk,” Tadvi added.