For years, Kumari Hema* has never belonged anywhere. The 32 -year -old mother moved from the colony to the Hyderabad colony, persecuted by whisper, evicted by landlords, and judges neighbors who recovered the moment when they learned the truth: that she had survived a sexual attack.
“We jumped meals just to pay 3,500 GBP for renting a place that barely felt like a home,” she recalled, her voice trembling emotions. “Even then the owners bothered us,” she said.
This burden, as he says, has now been canceled.
Hema is one of several survivors, which in the newly built community housing in the emerging residential centers of the city was assigned a 2BHK apartment in newly built community housing. This is part of the Telelangany Government initiative within its Indiramma Indles Housing system. The houses are assigned planned caste (SC) and planned trunks (ST) victims of serious crimes, including cases of rape and murder, where convictions were provided to offer security, dignity and new beginning.
“Now no one can ask me to leave. I have my own house. My name is on patta certificate. For someone whose name was once on fir, it’s like real identity,” she said, smiling her eyes.
For a 27 -year -old Sonal*, life also stopped after she was sexually attacked. At that time, the promising student of engineering dropped out of college and withdrew from the world because of the trauma and pain the incident brought. Now, a few years later, she cleared the joint entrance test of Telangana and is preparing to start the LLB course through distance education in about a month.
“I stopped believing that the future was even possible,” the victim of children’s protection against sexual offenses (POŠO) said. “But things are changing. In my studies I have a second chance, in my marriage and now in my new home.” Sonal, who works part -time as a teacher, married six months ago and is about to move to his new apartment with his husband. He already finds that nearby schools will work and continue their education.
Sudha Laxmi*, 35, mother of two and domestic worker, lived in the same locality for almost three decades. However, the knowledge did not participate in the stigma after being attacked, even after the perpetrator was convicted. “Neighbors will never let me forget. I have been facing mockery for years,” she said. “I was relieved to leave it all behind.”
Women are waiting for the final plumbing and electrical work to move to the apartments, built within the first phase of the government’s wider initiative for housing for atrocities. At this stage, 43 survivors in Cyberrabad were assigned houses from Rachakonda.
The wing of the development of the SC district in cooperation with the police assembles lists of eligible victims. These have been cases since 2014, which ended in belief. Officials say they focus on verified cases to avoid legal complications and ensure security.
“They are people who were not only victims of crime, but also social neglect. The least we can do is to give them a sense of belonging,” said a senior policeman with the project.
“The whole process is dealt with discreetly. In most cases they are moved to neighborhoods where the others from their community already live.”
The houses 2Bhk themselves are simple but sufficient. Each apartment has 560 square feet, with two bedrooms, hall, kitchen and two bathrooms. The kitchen opens on a small balcony with washing. Many passengers have decided to upgrade the floor, add tiles or fake ceilings, or adapt the space in a small but meaningful way.
*The names were changed to protect the identity of the survivors.
Published – 16 July 2025 09:27
