Introduction
Under Development Consortium’s Diversity & Inclusion focus, the Supporting Right to Choice program champions the right to love and choose one’s partner freely—regardless of caste, religion, or gender. In a society where relationships often come under scrutiny and control, the program offers vital support to couples in interfaith and inter-caste partnerships.
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Spanning 11 states, the initiative provides crisis intervention, legal assistance, psychosocial support, safe housing, and counseling to individuals facing threats such as forced marriage, honor-based violence, and familial opposition. Alongside direct support, it works to build awareness, challenge systemic discrimination, and advocate for reforms to the Special Marriage Act and marriage registration processes.
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Originally rooted in the work of Dhanak, the program continues to stand as a stronghold for autonomy and justice—empowering individuals to live and love on their own terms, with dignity and safety.
Background
Since its inception as a support group in 2004, and its formal registration in 2012 under the Societies Registration Act, the program has been at the forefront of advocating for gender equality, the right to choose one’s partner, and challenging societal myths and stereotypes. The project aims to foster a society grounded in secular values and free from discrimination.
Goals and Objectives
The Program is committed to:
Promoting the right to choose one's partner irrespective of religion, caste, or gender identity.
Fighting against honor-based crimes and forced marriages.
Educating young people about their rights and promoting a culture of acceptance and equality.
Implementation Strategy
The program’s strategy involves:
Socio-Legal Counseling: Providing support to adult survivors of social and domestic violence, including legal protection and mental health counseling.
Youth Engagement: Conducting educational outreach in schools through creative competitions and interactive activities to spread awareness about gender violence and discrimination.
Community Outreach: Engaging the community through street plays, walks against honor killings, and other public events to discuss and disseminate information about individual rights in relationships.
Impact 2024-25
In 2024–25, 784 individuals were directly supported through Dhanak’s interventions. These included young couples in distress, children and adolescents at risk, and communities needing awareness on issues like consent, diversity, and inclusion.
Dhanak’s core activities span three pillars:
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Crisis Intervention and Capacity Building – Counseling, legal aid, and safe housing for survivor couples; workshops for students and community members on autonomy, decision-making, peer pressure, and healthy relationships.
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Child-Centered Programming – Engaging 266 children through summer camps, art-based sessions, and discussions on topics like “Good Child – Bad Child,” consent, and inclusion.
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Social Awareness and Advocacy – Theatre performances, public events, and community outreach on topics like honor-based violence, gender rights, and legal access. A key achievement was the release of a working paper, “Registering Marriages under the Special Marriage Act 1954: Choices and Challenges”, co-published with BML Munjal University, which explores legal barriers faced by interfaith couples.
The organization also launched new partnerships with Mariwala Health Initiative and LEAP, enhanced their child support infrastructure, and onboarded new mental health and rehabilitation professionals to extend their reach.
Impact and Achievements
Over the years, our initiative has made significant contributions to the community:
Assisted over 5,000 couples and individuals through direct interventions and digital platforms.
Implemented rehabilitation counseling in collaboration with Child Welfare Committees to address issues arising from POCSO-related offenses.
Recognized with several awards, including the Babu Miyan Bandwale National Integration and Communal Harmony Award in 2019, the Mahatma Award for Human Rights and Equality in 2020, and the Swami Agnivesh Memorial Award in 2021, acknowledging its impact and dedication to social change.
This program has evolved organically, and over the years it has emerged as a Champion organization working for an individual’s Right to Choose in matters of Marriage or Relationships, against religious conversion for the sake of marriage, against Honour-Based Crimes, and against Forced Marriages in India.
Dhanak’s unique footing, passion, and experience drive the core team. Dhanak is the only organization in India working on a spectrum of issues and challenges faced by interfaith and inter-caste couples, LGBTQIA couples, and individuals who choose to assert their autonomy.
Future Direction
This program continues to expand its reach and deepen its impact by empowering more individuals to assert their rights in choosing partners and leading lives free from discrimination and violence. The organization remains dedicated to building a more inclusive and equitable society through ongoing advocacy, support, and education.
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This program stands as a beacon of hope and resilience, driving change through advocacy, support, and community engagement. It continues to uphold the rights of individuals to live authentically and freely in their choice of partners and relationships, contributing profoundly to societal transformation.