12.07.2016, Alwar: An ashram in a nondescript village near Bharatpur has become home to mentally challenged, differently-abled, and deaf and mute women who were sexually abused, and abandoned by their families.
"In the span of last five years we admitted 103 women who were pregnant at the time of their admission into our centre. Several of them were those who were mentally challenged, couldn't speak or hear, and usually begged on streets. These women were raped and had been abandoned by their families," said Dr BM Bhardwaj, director of Apna Ghar Ashram.
According to Bhardwaj, on an average the ashram admits 20 to 25 women per month. Out of these, usually two to three women are pregnant. "We have women who used to beg on streets and were raped. They have no place to go. Often people prey on such women as they can not easily identify the culprit. Several of these women are mentally disturbed, deaf and mute, thus, they are unaware of what has happened to them," he added.
Situated on 17 acres of land close to Bajhera village near Bharatpur, the ashram makes medical arrangements for the deliveries of these women and also takes care of their children. "There are currently 60 children who are growing up in our ashram. We also provide counselling to these women," he added. Established in year 2000, the ashram has as many as 40 women who are HIV positive. The average age of these women is between 21 to 40 years. There are currently 70 such women who know the address of their homes but their family members are not willing to take them back.
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