SALT Seeds: Planting Equality in Bhatpara's Heart

[Nityam Ghosh]

Basa Lane SALT Session: From Gender-Based Violence to Equal Upbringing—An Analysis. I, Nityam Ghosh, as the SALT facilitator, conducted this session and witnessed how open community conversations plant seeds for deep social change. On December 10, 2025, this session was more than a discussion—it was a mirror to the community's self-reflection, spanning GBV realities to dreams of equality for the next generation.

SALT's Power: Bridge from Problems to Solutions

Why does SALT work? It unites the community to identify their own issues and support each other. In this session, participants realized that good or bad events impact them first, sparking a desire for collective action. This builds not just talk, but a support network, fostering long-term change through mutual encouragement.

Family's Mirror Hiding GBV Shadows

Ice-breaking revealed family joys, but GBV talk exposed realities: violence by husbands in nearly every home, fueled by alcohol and restrictions on women. This highlights power imbalances behind 'ideal' family images. Acknowledging the problem marks the first victory, paving the way for awareness and prevention.

Dream of Equal Upbringing: Same Path for Sons and Daughters

Group activity clarified: both boys and girls should get education, sports, and household responsibilities. This challenges GBV roots—gender roles. Analytically, regular sessions like this could reduce power imbalances in future generations, making society more equitable.

AER Lessons: From Participation to Call for More

End-of-session reflections highlighted challenges like punctuality and needing more members, but positives shone: busy women enjoyed it, youth learning was urged. SALT turns participants into change leaders. Future sessions can build on this momentum.