Renowned female stand-up comedians to organize show about gender-based violence
A Pune-based group is teaming up with some renowned female stand-up comedians to organize a show to create awareness about gender-based violence. The show will be part of the group's annual event, 'Take Back The Night' (TBTN), on April 11 and help raise funds for women who have been victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, the organizers said.
Organizers have been working around women issues
The outfit - Aks Foundation - has been working in the area of gender-based violence, primarily domestic violence, and sexual assault, and offers counseling, advocacy, and support to victims. "We provide support to victims of domestic abuse and violence in order to empower them and help them overcome the situation and become self-reliant," said Barkha Bajaj, a noted psychologist who founded the organization.
Foundation provides both counseling, legal support to victims
Bajaj said the Aks Foundation has two types of programs ─ intervention and prevention. "In the intervention, women impacted by violence, sexual assault or abuse call our 24/7 helpline number and we provide counseling, legal support or sometimes both," the Aks Foundation functionary added. To provide legal support and help the victims get on their feet, funds are needed, Bajaj said.
'Take Back The Night' is the organization's annual fund-raiser event
"On the prevention front, we organize various workshops in schools, colleges and other places to create awareness about domestic violence, good and bad touch and other issues," Bajaj said. "Take Back The Night is our annual fund-raiser event that happens in April with the same title. Every year we do something different. Last time, it was music and poetry," she said.
This year the tagline of TBTN is 'freedom to stand-up'
"Since this year it's going to be the 10th edition of TBTN, which has a tagline 'freedom to stand-up,' we decided to organize a show featuring women stand-up comedians," Bajaj informed. "The event is held in April because April is observed as sexual assault awareness month globally and the reason behind the show featuring women comedians is being organized because this arena is male-dominated."
Here's more about the event
The show is going to talk about issues related to women and emphasize on the need to provide a safe environment for them. The program will feature four women stand-up comedians, including Niveditha Prakasam, the winner of TV show 'Queens of Comedy'.
