RATI Foundation Supports Abuse Survivors

A critical gap in post-abuse support in India led to the establishment of RATI Foundation, an organisation that provides comprehensive support to survivors of sexual abuse, gender-based violence, and online abuse.

The foundation was set up to address the needs of survivors who often require legal assistance, mental health counselling, financial support, and help removing explicit content from online platforms. Uma Subramanian, co-founder and director of RATI Foundation, explained that the organisation adopts a multidisciplinary approach, with a team of social workers, lawyers, counsellors, and technologists working together to address survivors' legal, emotional, and practical needs.

Through its socio-legal interventions programme, RATI Foundation currently supports 106 children and families across the city, with the youngest victim being just four years old. The NGO has worked with over 750 survivors affected by online abuse, child sexual abuse, and domestic violence. The support provided by the organisation extends far beyond the immediate aftermath of abuse, with the goal of helping survivors and their families rebuild their lives and regain a sense of normalcy.

Social workers at RATI Foundation develop personalised care plans based on each family's needs, providing support with education, access to ration, livelihood challenges, and other essential services. The team works to restore routine, stability, and long-term well-being, recognising that abuse often disrupts every aspect of a child's life.

Online abuse can take many forms, including the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyberbullying, and sustained online harassment. In such situations, a survivor's immediate priority is often to have the offending content or account removed from digital platforms. RATI Foundation helps survivors achieve this goal, working with them until all offending content is removed from the internet.

Beyond the online attack itself, survivors frequently experience intense emotional distress, grappling with fears of judgment, stigma, and the impact on their personal, academic, or professional lives. They may also be unsure about the legal process, including how and where to report the abuse. To address these challenges, RATI Foundation runs Meri Trustline, a safety helpline that offers immediate support through phone, text message, and WhatsApp.

The helpline connects survivors directly with trained counsellors who provide emotional support, guidance on content takedown, and assistance with navigating legal and reporting procedures. Documentary filmmaker Svati Chakravarty Bhatkal, who has seen RATI Foundation's work at close quarters, praised the organisation's empathy and seriousness in listening to children and adolescents before formulating a course of action.

RATI Foundation's work is crucial in addressing the critical gap in post-abuse support in India. The organisation's comprehensive approach and commitment to helping survivors rebuild their lives make it a vital resource for those affected by sexual abuse, gender-based violence, and online abuse.

The significance of RATI Foundation's work extends beyond the individual survivors it supports, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing abuse in India. By providing legal, emotional, and practical support, the organisation is helping to create a safer and more supportive environment for survivors, and contributing to a broader cultural shift towards greater awareness and understanding of these issues.

In conclusion, RATI Foundation is playing a vital role in supporting survivors of sexual abuse, gender-based violence, and online abuse in India. The organisation's multidisciplinary approach, comprehensive support services, and commitment to helping survivors rebuild their lives make it a valuable resource for those affected by these issues. As India continues to grapple with the challenges of abuse and violence, the work of organisations like RATI Foundation is more important than ever.