Latest news with #Samvedna
Time of India
12-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Bid to sensitise, strengthen police helpline counsellors
Lucknow: In a step toward enhancing well-being and efficiency of its tele-counselling staff, Women and Child Security Organisation of UP on Tuesday organised a capacity-building workshop in collaboration with UNICEF for 1090 tele-counsellors and launched 'Samvedna', a dedicated mental health service for police counsellors. Inaugurated by ADG WCSO Padmaja Chauhan, it aimed to provide counsellors stress management skills, enable active listening, confidentiality protocols and gender-based violence intervention. Mental health experts led interactive sessions to strengthen counsellors' resilience and improve their ability to provide effective psychological support to survivors of harassment and abuse. During Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, cases of domestic violence surged sharply and helplines like 1090 saw increase in number of distress calls, prompting induction of private counsellors to work alongside police personnel in offering family counselling on phone, volunteering services from across the state. They handled over 26,000 domestic violence cases, helping prevent family breakdowns. WCSO plans to hold monthly sessions to ensure counsellors are mentally strong, emotionally balanced and capable of performing duties effectively. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
I love roles where there is more to it than meets the eye: Samvedna Suwalka
Samvedna Suwalka Samvedna Suwalka , who was recently seen in the Ram Kapoor and Mona Singh-starrer web series Mistry, says it is a 'really exciting phase' in her career. The actress, who has done Bollywood films like Fighter and Drishyam 2, was in Ahmedabad recently for the muhurat of her Gujarati film Get Set Go. She shares, 'I am eagerly waiting for three Hindi films to release, which are very different from each other. In Bicycle Thief, I play a Dalit woman facing discrimination; in Ahuti, I play an NRI living in London and then there is Ek Ruka Hua Faisla.' 'Excited about doing action in my latest Gujarati film' Talking about Get Set Go, Samvedna, who has done Gujarati films like Nikki, Natsamrat and Bey Yaar, shares, 'I am excited about doing action and that was the primary reason for taking it up. Also, I said yes because Jhinal (Belani), who has written the film, reached out to me. It's a terrific cast and the story is very interesting. This has been a very good year for Gujarati cinema, and it is heartening to see that the kind of stories, level of production, professionalism, everything is going up. This is a great time for regional cinema.' She is enjoying shooting in Ahmedabad. 'Ahmedabad feels like home away from home. I am trying to catch up with my friends. I love eating dal dhokli at my favourite restaurant here. Being in Ahmedabad also means relishing fafda with papaya chutney and khaman. Deepak Tijori sir (her co-star) is also relishing these snacks with us,' she says. 'Playing a negative character unlocked another level in my craft' Samvedna, who was appreciated for her first negative role (inGyaarah Gyaarah) last year, says, 'That character unlocked another level in my craft. It was a liberating experience because I didn't know playing a villain was so much fun. I want to play more dark and complex characters. I love playing characters where there is more to it than meets the eye. It was fun to play a role (in Mistry) where she turns out to be something completely different at the end. The fun here was to not play her like a villain or a negative character. I loved working with so many amazing and experienced actors.' 'I believe it's an act of courage to ask for help' The actress, who went through a phase of acute anxiety not too long ago, has been vocal about the need to normalize talking about mental health. She says, 'Talking about mental health should be celebrated. You must seek help and take care of yourself mentally and physically. I have always admired people who were honest about their struggles and when it was my turn, I decided to speak about what I believed in. If it helps even one person, it will be worth it. ' 'I am no longer ashamed of my body' Samvedna, who lived with a deformity for 10 years (from the age of 13 to 23), grew up thinking that her body was not normal. But finally, she has overcome that thought and recently, she felt confident enough to post her bikini pictures on social media, captioning it as 'a huge milestone.' She shares, 'I have never spoken publicly about this but now, I am more comfortable and accepting of my journey and my life. While growing up, it was an isolating experience and I would spend hours on Google, searching for people who had a similar condition and if they made it in life. ' She adds, 'Now, I am at peace with who I am, what I was given and what I had to deal with. Each one of us has a story and now, I accept mine with grace. I am no longer ashamed of my body. I am speaking out about it for the 13-year-old Samvedna, who desperately wanted to know if she was going to be ok.'
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PIL alleges elderly parents face abuse despite legal safeguards
Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Wednesday issued notices to the respondents, including social justice ministries of Central and Maharashtra govt, along with the collector and commissioner of police on a PIL that alleged abject neglect, abuse, and systemic failure in protecting the rights of the elderly. A division bench comprising Justices Nitin Sambre and Mahendra Nerlikar asked the respondents to file a reply within two weeks. The public interest litigation (PIL), filed by city NGO 'Samvedna', sought urgent enforcement of maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens Act, 2007. "Despite clear legal mandates and repeated court directives, the condition of many senior citizens remains pitiable," the PIL states. The PIL filed through counsel Pradeep Wathore underscores the state's inaction in setting up old age homes, awareness programmes, and the appointment of nodal officers as required under sections 19–22 of the Act. "We are not asking for new laws. We are asking that the state uphold what already exists," the petitioner said. The petition highlights unchecked violations of the Act in Nagpur, including non-payment of maintenance by children, illegal occupation of parental property, and lack of district-level old age homes as mandated under Section 19 of the statute. Referring to specific instances of abuse, the plea contends that many elderly parents suffer mental distress after being abandoned by their children, who also usurp their homes, or don't pay allowance ordered by tribunals. The 2007 Act was designed to offer both legal and infrastructural support to senior citizens. Section 5 allows them to seek maintenance through specially constituted tribunals, while other provisions aim to ensure shelter, healthcare, and dignity. However, the petition says implementation has remained dismal, leading to recurring litigation and distress. Citing Supreme Court rulings, the PIL stresses that senior citizens' right to live with dignity is embedded within Article 21 of Constitution and had declared care for the elderly a fundamental, not just statutory, obligation. The petitioner has sought HC to direct state govt to compile and publish data on old age homes, pension schemes, medical facilities, and grievance redress mechanisms, and to submit a time-bound compliance plan.
