It was the year 2002, Suhail Saifi, a man in the Old Mustafabad area in Delhi, had opened the door of his house, dead set on changing lives with the gift of education.

Having just completed his studies, he decided to help others less fortunate ones by giving tuition classes. Thus started the admirable journey of NGO Sofia in 2004.

Suhail Saifi, the founder of NGO Sofia in Delhi, which has been providing rape victim with rehabilitation programs and working in the field of education, health, hygiene, advocacy, women empowerment, and vocational training like tailoring, dress designing, beauty culture and computer training to girls and women from the weaker section of the society. In fact, they have placed more than 30-40% of them in different companies, enhancing their self-confidence and making them independent.

Giving his all to this noble cause, Suhail Saifi shared his insights with IWB.

What rehabilitation program do you have in place for rape survivors?

I will explain it from the start. We handle the northeast area of Delhi under the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). We’re connected to 16 police station in the area, and if such a tragic event takes place, the police first inform our NGO’s counselors. They go to the police station and provide the necessary counseling and any help including food, medical aid, etc. After talking to the victim, the counselor draws a report, after which only the police is allowed to converse with them.

Afterwards, the Delhi Legal Services Authority provides, if the victim is a minor, with compensation ranging from Rs 50,000 to lakhs. If the victim has no money to get a lawyer than that too is provided to them. The DCW monitors each and every case very closely.

It’s not only the survivor but her entire family that goes through the tragic ordeal of rape. Do you have any kind of support program or counseling process for such families too?

We call the victim’s family and provide them with necessary counseling. Actually, sometimes where the accused is someone rich, or if there is some political pressure that the police doesn’t file a FIR easily. In such cases, we help the families and the victim so that their complaint is registered.

You mentioned the role of NGO in getting justice for rape victims when they are denied justice on time. Your thoughts on the Indian legal system?

The legal system in India is rather flexible owing to which some people find it easy to bend the law to suit their interests. In some cases, even after we get a FIR registered, the police is unable to find the accused and instead of trying to put efforts into finding him, sometimes they let the case go cold under political pressures. We organize rallies and protests, and then they jump into action and start to actively look for the culprit.

Apart from aiding rape victims, how else are you spreading awareness?

We organize a rally in our Northeast zone every month on a mass level. Women, children, laborers, school children and even the police join us. We showcase Nukad Natak and speeches. Other rallies we organize are in girl’s schools to educate them on topics ranging from domestic violence, need for education, and rape. Children and teachers even share with us relatable cases of their own.

Do you think the fast-track courts in India in their haste to wrap up a case, omit the psychological aspect of handling the case?

Maybe, but that happens in rare cases. In fact, I feel that seeing that so many cases are still pending, more courts should be there to take them up. Speedy justice needs to be provided.

So seeing that NGOs like yours working for the betterment of rape victims, how can citizens like me, the common man, contribute towards it?

You can join our NGO, and we would give you the duty of raising awareness in the area you belong to. Like you could arrange public meetings wherein we can come and impart the necessary info. No matter which city you belong to we can connect from here in Delhi.