Members of NGO Right To Love, which was formed in 2015 to help couples in need

Close on the heels of the upcoming Valentine's Day celebration, a Pune-based NGO that has been working towards protecting the rights of couples, especially those  targeted for cosying up in public places, is spearheading a campaign to demand a garden exclusively for lovers. The group, which runs Right To Love, has written a letter to the Pune Municipal Corporation requesting that the garden be created at the earliest.

A space of their own
"The idea is to provide a space for lovers to enjoy quality time without any interference from authorities or violent mobs," said Abhijeet Kamble, 33, in-charge of Right To Love. The NGO, Kamble said, was launched in 2015 after footage of a Latur-based couple being brutally attacked, went viral. Until now, the group has helped nearly 37 couples - facing stiff opposition from their families - settle down.