Kochi: Geetha Kumari today embodies the ‘fearless’ woman that ‘Nirbhaya’ movement, launched by the state government, has resolved to create in the state. By coming to the aid of a hapless auto driver at Kathrikadavu bridge in Kochi who was hit by a car on July 24, she has emerged as the ‘infantry head’ of Nirbhaya and received accolades from Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala who took the initiative to empower women against the background of increasing atrocities both at home and outside.
Incidentally, Geetha, 53, is a divorcee who separated from her husband in 2012 after 34 years of their marriage. “It was my own bitter experiences in life that prompted me to come to the aid of my suffering fellow women through the Nirbhaya movement. The incident on the bridge occurred the day after our three-day Nirbhaya training got over. I was coming in a car. When I spotted the accident I got down to help the wounded man and called 100 to alert the police. The police arrived in five minutes and took charge. I was happy about their response,” Geetha said thanking Deccan Chronicle for publishing the photo and bringing the incident into focus.
The day before that, as part of their training, Geetha and her group members had visited some of the police stations in the city and familiarised themselves with the steps to be taken in different critical circumstances. A total of 105 women underwent the three-day training and Geetha says it was a confidence-giving training with a lot of exposure visits to different institutions and classes.
Geetha, a BCom graduate, is settled at Edappally and her daughter Soumya lives in Pollachi with her husband who is a scribe with a Tamil news channel. Geetha, who is involved in a variety of social activities, is also a member of Kerala State Human Protection Council. “I must have got this trait of public service from my father who was a panchayat member for 15 years,” she said.
