Draft:Red Brigade: Usha Vishwakarma

About
Established in 2016, and operating since 2011, Red Brigade Lucknow works towards breaking the silence on sexual violence, and creating a safe and stronger space for the survivors. Usha Vishwakarma, the founder of Red Brigade, formed this organization along with other 15 girls most of whom were survivors of sexual violence. Thus began a journey for this organization to fight for the freedom and justice of survivors, and to establish FLOW, which stands for 'A Fearless Life of Women'.

Red Brigade continues to works to combat sexual violence through self-defense training in NISHASTRA and by creating an empathetic environment for the survivors through psychological, and mental health support, socio- legal assistance, shelter and rehabilitation. The organization also works to challenge the social structures and create a stronger internal impact through gender sensitization workshops, providing financial support and education to girls of marginalized communities, imparting skill-based training to women for economic empowerment, and creating women leaders within the community.

Presently, Red Brigade has trained more than 2 lakh young women, and adolescent girls in self defense in a skill-based technique, Nishastra. The organization has also worked with 225 schools and 150 villages, to train young women and girls belonging from marginalized social groups. It envisions to train all the girls and women in Lucknow in NISHASTRA, so that Lucknow stands as a model for the other districts in India.

1. Nishastra Kala
'New Instrument against Sexual Harassment And Stand Against Rape Aggression' or Nishastra Kala is a self- defense technique designed by survivors of sexual violence. This technique is built out of the survivors experiences and has been imparted to over 2 lakh women and girls in 13 states and over 150 districts.

2. Apna Hunar Kendra
In this initiative, Red Brigade focuses on creating better opportunities for women with the purpose of making them economically independent. Apna Hunar Kendra therefore works to create a space dedicated to honing stitching skills of these women, and further empowers them to establish small businesses or secure employment for a sustainable livelihood.

3. Bal Manch
In 2005, Red Brigade Lucknow launched an educational support initiative BALMANCH, which aimed at ensuring education for children, particularly girls from marginalized communities. With the vision of creating a platform for an easier access to education for all, Bal Manch works with girls and adolescents from minorities, Dalits and other disadvantaged groups.

4. Educate a Girl Program
This program aims to work towards providing financial support to girls from marginalized communities.

5. National Women's Day
This annual program covers a range of themes which includes building a healthy Self-Image, training women in the self defense technique of Nishastra Kala and narrating to them the inspirational stories of women who led freedom struggle in India.

6. Survivor's Support
Red Brigade works dedicatedly to create a safe and an empathetic environment for the survivors through psychological, and mental health support, socio- legal assistance, shelter and rehabilitation.

Awards and Recognition
The work of Red Brigade Lucknow has been recognized by over fifty countries and has been featured in numerous documentaries and print media. In 2014, the organization received award from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India as a part of the "100 Women Achievers of India", Red Brigade Lucknow has also been honored with the Rani Laxmi Bai Award by the Government of Uttar Pradesh in 2015. Usha Vishwakarma's accomplishment in working towards eradicating sexual violence was also acknowledged by Forbes India Magazine, where she was named as one of India's Top 20 Women Achievers in 2020.

Additionally, the organization was also invited as special guests on popular television shows including Stree Shakti on the Doordarshan Channel, Kaun Banega Crorepati on the Sony Channel, Savdhan India on the LiveOk channel and Live Zindagi on the Network 18 channel.