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{{Short description|Indian victimologist and women right's activist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Prasanna Gettu
| image = Prasanna Gettu.png
| alt = Portrait by Prasanna Gettu by Anne Klein Award Committee
| caption = Portrait by Prasanna Gettu
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| education = {{unbulleted list
| [[University of Madras]] (PhD)
| [[Tokiwa University]] (Post-graduate diploma)
}}
| occupation = {{unbulleted list
| Criminologist
| Victimologist
| Social activist
}}
| organization = International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC)
| known_for = Activism against domestic violence
| awards = [[Anne Klein Women's Award]] (2020)
}}
'''Prasanna Gettu''' is an Indian [[criminologist]], [[victimologist]], and women right's activist from [[Chennai]], India. Gettu is known for her work in supporting survivors of [[Domestic violence in India|domestic violence]] and [[interpersonal violence]]. She is the co-founder and managing trustee of the International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC), a Chennai-based [[Non-governmental organisations in India|non-governmental organization]]. In 2020, she was awarded the [[Anne Klein Women's Award]] for her work.

== Early life and education ==
Gettu holds a Master's degree in Geology and a PhD in Criminology from the [[University of Madras]]. Her 2002 doctoral thesis was titled "Corruption – A Public View", and focused on police corruption. Gettu's interest in criminology began at a young age, inspired by reading crime and murder stories.<ref name="gotn">{{cite web |title=The Story of Chennai's Criminologist |url=https://www.gotn.in/the-story-of-chennais-criminologist/ |access-date=22 June 2025 |website=GoTN.in |archive-date=17 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250617173204/https://www.gotn.in/the-story-of-chennais-criminologist/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Gettu also has a post-graduate diploma in Victimology and Victim Assistance from [[Tokiwa University]] in Japan, where she was part of the first batch of a program held by the World Society of Victimology. This course sparked her interest in focusing on the victims of crime and its need in India. She has also received professional training in domestic violence and crisis intervention.<ref name="boellbio">{{cite web |date=9 December 2019 |title=Dr. Prasanna Gettu |url=https://www.boell.de/en/2019/12/09/dr-prasanna-gettu |access-date=22 June 2025 |website=Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung |archive-date=15 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415163113/https://www.boell.de/en/2019/12/09/dr-prasanna-gettu |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="hercircle">{{cite web |title=Dr Prasanna Gettu: Helping Domestic Abuse Survivors |url=https://www.hercircle.in/engage/get-inspired/achievers/dr-prasanna-gettu-helping-domestic-abuse-survivors-6563.html |access-date=22 June 2025 |website=Her Circle |archive-date=20 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720062559/https://www.hercircle.in/engage/get-inspired/achievers/dr-prasanna-gettu-helping-domestic-abuse-survivors-6563.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Career and activism ==
Gettu co-founded the International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC) in Chennai in 2001,<ref name="boellbio" /> along with [[Usharani]] Mohan and Hema Ramachandran—victimologists she had met in Japan during her studies.<ref name="boellbio" /><ref name="gotn" /> The organization was established to provide support services for victims of crime, particularly women and queer individuals facing domestic and interpersonal violence.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=K.B |first=Pragati |date=2020-04-10 |title=Not all survivors of violence can stitch bags for a living: Prasanna Gettu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/not-all-survivors-of-violence-can-stitch-bags-for-a-living-prasanna-gettu/article31306270.ece |access-date=2025-06-23 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |archive-date=20 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420234249/https://www.thehindu.com/society/not-all-survivors-of-violence-can-stitch-bags-for-a-living-prasanna-gettu/article31306270.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gupta |first=Shivani |date=2024-10-08 |title=This Mom of 2 Fled Abuse To Rebuild Her Life: How Can We Help Women Facing Domestic Violence? |url=https://thebetterindia.com/369214/prasanna-gettu-helps-domestic-violence-survivors-rebuild-lives-suggests-ways-to-end-crime-abuse-in-india/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=The Better India |language=en-US}}</ref>

In its first year, the majority of cases PCVC handled were related to domestic violence.<ref>{{Cite web |title="It is my job to tell the victim of violence that she is valuable." {{!}} Heinrich Böll Stiftung |url=https://www.boell.de/en/2019/12/09/it-my-job-tell-victim-violence-she-valuable |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=www.boell.de |language=en |archive-date=22 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422135101/https://www.boell.de/en/2019/12/09/it-my-job-tell-victim-violence-she-valuable |url-status=live }}</ref> This led Gettu and her colleagues to study shelter models in the United States to build specialized services in India.<ref name="hercircle" /> Since 2005, Gettu has been the managing trustee of PCVC, leading its operations with a board of members and staff.<ref name="boellbio" />

Under her leadership, PCVC has grown to provide a wide range of services. The organization runs [[Dhwani]], the [[National Domestic Violence Hotline]], which operates 24/7 and offers confidential crisis counseling and information.<ref name=":0" /> PCVC also provides emergency, long-term, and transitional shelters for survivors and their children.<ref name="hercircle" /><ref name="boellportrait">{{cite web |date=10 December 2019 |title=Addressing inter-personal violence, one little joy at a time |url=https://in.boell.org/en/2019/12/10/addressing-inter-personal-violence-one-little-joy-time |access-date=22 June 2025 |website=Heinrich Böll Stiftung}}</ref> The foundation offers a holistic, survivor-centric approach, providing legal and medical referrals, psychological support, and assistance with economic rehabilitation, including education and skill-building.<ref name="pcvcabout">{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://pcvconline.org/about-us/ |access-date=22 June 2025 |website=PCVC - The International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care |archive-date=3 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250603000444/https://pcvconline.org/about-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="boellportrait" />
[[File:Jury und Preisträgerin Jutta Wagner, Renate Künast, Elke Büdenbender, Michaele Schreyer, Prasanna Gettu, Barbara Unmüßig, Thomas Herrendorf (49647732657).jpg|thumb|296x296px|Prasanna Gettu (pictured with flowers) with members of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung foundation.]]
Gettu is an advocate for changing societal attitudes towards domestic violence. She emphasizes that such violence is not restricted to any particular socioeconomic class and that survivors deserve to be treated with dignity.<ref name="boellportrait" /> She is a proponent of creating support systems that empower survivors to make their own life decisions.<ref name="betterindia">{{cite web |date=9 October 2024 |title=This Mom of 2 Fled Abuse To Rebuild Her Life: How Can We Help Women Facing Domestic Violence? |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/369214/prasanna-gettu-helps-domestic-violence-survivors-rebuild-lives-suggests-ways-to-end-crime-abuse-in-india/ |access-date=22 June 2025 |website=The Better India |archive-date=15 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215070444/https://thebetterindia.com/369214/prasanna-gettu-helps-domestic-violence-survivors-rebuild-lives-suggests-ways-to-end-crime-abuse-in-india/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition to her work at PCVC, Gettu serves as an external member on the Internal Complaints Committee for the prevention of sexual harassment for over 50 companies and government departments.<ref name="boellbio" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Balasubramanian |first=Roshne |date=2020-07-18 |title=Engaging employers to address abuse |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/Jul/18/engaging-employers-to-address-abuse-2171227.html |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116144836/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/jul/18/engaging-employers-to-address-abuse-2171227.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Recognition ==
In 2020, Gettu received the [[Anne Klein Women's Award]] from the [[Heinrich Böll Foundation]].<ref name="akaward2020">{{cite web |title=Anne Klein Women's Award 2020 to Prasanna Gettu |url=https://www.boell.de/en/anne-klein-womens-award-2020 |access-date=22 June 2025 |website=Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=deutschlandfunkkultur.de |date=2020-03-06 |title=Indische Aktivistin Prasanna Gettu - Mutige Kämpferin für misshandelte Frauen |url=https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/indische-aktivistin-prasanna-gettu-mutige-kaempferin-fuer-100.html |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=Deutschlandfunk Kultur |language=de |archive-date=6 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206184802/https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/indische-aktivistin-prasanna-gettu-mutige-kaempferin-fuer-100.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The jury recognized her as a "remarkable and courageous defender of human and women's rights, championing the right to a life free of violence, a life lived according to one's own wishes and in dignity and good health."<ref name="akaward2020" />

== Publications ==
Gettu has contributed to several publications on criminology and victimology. Her selected works include:
* "India: the state of criminology in a developing nation" in the ''Routledge handbook of International Criminology'' (2011).<ref name="boellbio" />
* "White Collar Crimes: A Victimological Perspective" in ''Human Rights and Victimology'' (1998).<ref name="boellbio" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}{{Authority control}}{{Commons and category}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gettu, Prasanna}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian criminologists]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:Indian social workers]]
[[Category:Indian women activists]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Prasanna Gettu - Revision history

Ashok Vijayakumar: Added Basic Post More To Come...