Our Story
The journey of three people shaped what PCVC is today.
In 2001, our founders witnessed a place where survivors of violence could lean on a thoughtful, seamless network of care. The contrast to home was stark. They returned carrying a simple, aching question: Why should safety feel like a privilege?
So they opened a crisis helpline, expecting a spectrum of emergencies. Call after call, 99 out of every 100, was a woman whispering about the terror inside her own walls. That single statistic exposed a silent crisis and crystallised our purpose - survivors of domestic violence needed a lifeline created just for them.
PCVC was born in that realization.
We started small, we listened, we showed up, we learned. We sat with women in hospital corridors at 2 a.m., rewrote safety plans at dawn, and borrowed best practices from friends in faraway shelters to stitch together our own. Each step forward was guided by the voices on the other end of the line.
By 2017, our mission had widened its embrace to queer individuals, because no one facing gender-based violence should stand alone. Today, that circle of care spans hotlines, burn care units, legal support, economic empowerment, and spaces for collective healing.
More than 100,000 times - and counting- someone has reached out and heard, “You’re not alone.” Behind every number is a name, a story, a future reclaimed. That truth still steers us, we stand beside survivors at their pace, honouring their choices, always with dignity and respect.
This is our journey, and it is far from over. We walk it every day with the same simple promise: safety, healing, and hope for anyone who asks.
Dignity, Safety and Autonomy, At the core of our work.
- Dignity
We treat every person with dignity — creating space to feel safe, heard, and seen beyond their experiences of harm. - Justice
Justice means safety, fairness, and the right to rebuild life in ways that feel right for each individual
- Respect
We respect each person’s choices and pace. We offer support without pressure — always led by what the survivor wants and needs. - Integrity
Our actions are rooted in honesty, consistency, and a deep sense of responsibility. - Inclusion
We work to make our spaces welcoming and safe for all — including women, queer and trans individuals
Our Approach
Our work is rooted in approaches that centre each survivor's experience, recognise the impact of violence, and respond with care, clarity, and respect.
Survivor-Centric
Support is led by each person’s choices, needs, and pace — never imposed, always collaborative.
Trauma-Informed
We understand how trauma affects people. Our responses are gentle, respectful, and aimed at preventing further harm.
Domestic Violence-Informed
We recognise the patterns, power dynamics, and long-term impact of abuse — and shape our support with that understanding.
Queer-Affirmative
We provide support that affirms queer and trans identities — creating inclusive spaces that respond to their specific needs and lived realities
Rights based
We provide support that recognises safety, dignity, and autonomy as fundamental rights, ensuring every survivor is treated with respect and without judgment.
Milestones
Your support brings more than healing, it fuels a movement. Here are a few moments that shaped PCVC into the survivor-led space it is today.
2001
1) PCVC registered as charitable trust 2) Initiated Shanthi crisis helpline
2002
Shelter for survivors of domestic violence
2005
Initaited work at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Women's burns ward
2007
Holistic support for child survivors of violence
2012
Recovery and Healing Centre (RHC) for Burns
2017
Rebranded and relaunched Dhwani - Voice for Change, the National Domestic Violence Hotline
2018
1) Inclusive shelter, women and queer individuals 2) Outreach activities initiated.
2020
1) Shelter space for PCVC Long-term clients, provided by The Madras Seva Sadhan 2) Expanded burn care services to other districts in Tamil Nadu
2021
Formalized partnership with Women Helpline-181 and OSC.
2024
THRIVE
Our Partners
In Change
Meet the Core Team
Behind the Mission
our work is shaped by a team of committed individuals who bring empathy, clarity, and care to everything they do.The collective strength ensures that every survivor is met with respect, support, and understanding.
Founder Note
Every story that reaches PCVC begins with pain, but it never ends there.
When we launched a crisis line in 2001, I answered calls from women whose courage outshone the violence they faced. Their voices taught me a truth that guides us still- safety and dignity are not luxuries, they are rights.
Today, PCVC is a continuum of care—hotline, shelters, burn-recovery centers, legal support, economic empowerment-rooted in one promise, you will be heard, and you will not walk alone. We are here for anyone who needs support, determined that not a single survivor should ever feel without hope.
If you are reading this as a supporter, your solidarity fuels that hope. If you are seeking help, hope is real and waiting on the other end of our line.
Together, we can make safety the norm and healing the expectation.
Dr Prasanna Gettu
Co-Founder & CEO, PCVC
PCVC in the Media
Stories of strength, healing, and impact, featured across platforms as we amplify survivor voices and drive conversations on ending violence.
At this Writers’ Cafe, every face has a story to narrate
Chennai cafe helps victims of domestic violence
This Chennai Café Hires Burn Survivors as Kitchen Staff, Giving Them a Second Lease on Life
Awards & Recognition
Each recognition we receive honors the strength of the survivors we serve and reaffirms our mission to build safer, more dignified futures for women and queer individuals.
Partner Testimonials
We Value Feedback
From Our Community
I congratulate team PCVC and send them lot of love and strength. May they continue to make a difference in the lives and families of many and I hope someday we will all live in a society that respects all genders, practice non-violence , provides equity , peace , respect and dignity to all.
Sruti Harihara Subramanian
Filmmaker and entrepreneur
What sets PCVC apart is its trauma-informed, survivor-centric approach. The organization doesn’t merely offer temporary relief—it provides holistic, long-term care that honors the dignity of survivors. Whether it’s through crisis intervention, legal aid, emotional healing, or shelter, PCVC ensures survivors are met with empathy and action. It is great that PCVC put in tireless efforts in building a safer, more equitable society. Their work inspires hope—and action—for a world free from violence.
