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Gender Session |
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Project Presentation – Ravishanker Arunachalam |
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Day 1 Afternoon started with a song , “ Geet Gaarahe hi aaj hum..” and announcements regarding Dowry issue, Bird watching trip, and South Asian group
- Explanation about posters on dowry issue.
- Great effort by Aid India to raise the issue. Would like to talk about that issue in personal view. Need people to endorse the campaign.
- India is moving with economic boom, but what is also important to observe the increase in violence on women. Domestic violence statistics show that in 97 , 7543 dowry deaths, 150 % increase in no of deaths. India being consumer driven society, dowry deaths have become a common issue.
- The word came in 70s, and since then started with constant increase. Till 1983 u had no law against dowry. Also we belong to a community where we don’t talk anything that’s happened in side the house.
- But in 1983 Govt. observed the fact and realized the need for a law.
- Female infanticide in Salem at Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu. For who has no money it is infanticide and when u have money it is feticide.
- New slogan for sex selection is “ Pay 500 now to avoid 50,00,000 later”. Numbers are increasing, and medieval council took it and imposed some rules and regulations. To possess the equipment you need to get registered.
- Statistics: There had been more than 11,259 dowry related deaths in India.
- One dowry death every one-hour 42 minutes, every 2000 suicide deaths are reported. Every year as a consequence of dowry, one rape every 54 minutes.
- Legalization of acts are needed, Sainath explained the figures, saying there are 3 different data sets( regarding the no of kids aborted ).
- Dowry prohibition act of 1961.
- No Dowry pledge. The dowry related deaths are very high in literate community.
- AID women’s effort in bringing the No dowry pledge.
- Actual meaning of dowry can be interpreted in any meaning u understand from the pledge. Movement started with T-shirts and endorsing the pledge. Every person, and family should take stand against it.
- Make amends right now even if u have taken dowry by depositing the amount in your wife’s account.
- Even in US there are many women suffering in silence due to dowry related problems.
- SO far just 120 people signed the pledge, we don’t know why all the people have not signed.
- Q: how many people here think that dowry campaign is related to their family.
- Q: How much inheritance is enforced, as the amount is deposited on the daughter name.
- A: This practice is not considered as dowry as it has been the practice in some community.
- Q: AID is doing lot of slogan and verbal protestation these day, why don’t we do a much better solution by spending the money on the girl child education?.
- Aruna Roy’s story: 56 years old. One issue on women are crucified in India is dowry. Main reason why we selected our own husbands in our time is dowry, but today women are selecting their own husband and still demanding dowry.
- Bihari and Kerala IAS officers take dowry of a crore. The rates are fixed.
- Literacy does not reduce the issue, as there are many literate and high cadre people who have fixed rates of dowry.
- It happens in urban area too and is called feticide, as I have taken from Banglore.
- Nagasuri: He has 5 sisters who are really well educated. Even parents being well educated too…they had to give lot of dowry. But he went against the community and against the family and had a dowry less money. Constraints are in our minds….as long as we don’t stand against them they can not be perished.
- Volunteer: In some communities without dowry it’s hard to find a match. So I have asked to promote a no dowry section in matrimonial agencies.
o Rachana: My mom was a dowry victim, married at 21 years…she was forced to get married to a man from a community that encourage dowry. My mom got divorced when I was born, as they had objections against a girl child ( as they had to give dowry).
- Rishi: Question is how to change the mind set, educating men is equally important to fight the issue.
- Dinesh: It would be great if we can publish some success stories when we pledge.
- Murali & Deepa :Marriage expenses are viewed as a different thing than dowry. During their marriage we imposed strict No Dowry rules, getting motivated by the AID dowry pledge. Though we say parents are big obstacles for No Dowry., its your responsibility to convince ur parents.
- Sudha from Minnesota. About a match she got 5 years back. Her parents thought that, though she is the only one , a girl should inherit the money only during marriage.
- Om, Boston: Pledge is not an ending but is a beginning for the fight.
- Dr. Bhagath: I have no daughters, I had two sons but we were strictly against dowry during their marriage. The problem rises from considering women as second class people. As long as women is not treated equal to men this problem can not completely perish. So lets pledge that every one is equal void of their religions, casts and gender.
- Volunteer: As my younger sister chooses her own husband against the dowry, she is considered as a shame to the family.
- Shiva: One of the principal problem in India is a rule in that a woman should get married.
- Though community supports dowry no one tries to disown the community , but every one is comfortable with it. So don’t include community in to account when u have to decide about marriage.
- MEN OF QUALITY DO NOT FEAR WOMEN OF EQUALITY.
- Observing things happening in Gujarat, we collected lot of money from AID side. Amount of involvement was a bit less than what it was supposed to be. We have dispersed 80k dollars for relief efforts. 50k dollars for short term efforts.
- The difference in Gujarat projects is the short period for review process due to the severity of the problem. Even AID was doing it for the first time and released 30k dollars in a very short time.
- We were very fortunate that we had a volunteer to spend much of time in Gujarat working with the NGO’s ( Gautam Desai) and has been instrumental in maintaining the relationships with BGO community.
- What should be the strategy while reviewing fast projects like Gujarat project.
- Mridula: Different perspective to disaster relief, at the same time in India same amount of people would have died , compared with the disaster management. The question should be Are we well equipped with the infrastructure for Disaster Relief.
- Tharun: Priorities should be changed quickly depending on the situations.
- Bhagath: The purpose of the AID is to go to the small NGO’s who respond quickly to disasters, as they need monitory help. Building relationship with these small NGO organizations who would really like to work is very important.
- MOKSHAYYA: One important thing that AID did during disaster was mobilizing help to the marginalized communities. Gautam back in India was doing the same thing in India during the disaster management.
- It is important to recognize that it is supporting AID’s philosophy of establishing long term relationships. It is important to help the marginalized communities, which are not helped by any other organization.
- Anandi, Disha etc.. are the names of the projects that AID supported during the disaster. And also organized “ Chotisi Aaasha” during the communal rites.
- What we would like to do is to have a special session for special projects during the project workshop session.
- Project started in State College called VIMUKTHI. It seemed a normal project. Premdas started the project in Potnal village of Raichur Dist of Karnataka.
- The very first step taken was to organize women meeting, and secondly start chilipili, alternate education or girls.
- Last year evolved from Sanghas to Sangatans, that raises voice against the govt. policies .
- Conducted training sessions in a broader sense containing introspection sessions, cultural, caste-class , and practical sessions.
- Explanation of different activities through photos and slides.
- Activities: Made to talk 12 devadasis at a public meeting, made a doctor return the money he took a bribe twice.
- Lessons VIMUKTHI learnt, issues important to Dalits were taken, women taking ownership of sanghatans, emerging consciousness.
- Vimukthi & AID: Tried to measure the results and realized the need to maintain the relationship that to look for tangible benefits. Basically was a new experience for the chapter, and rate it as a big success.
SRINIVAS: On
Project ARANYIKA.
- Introduced by Parameshwar Rao.
- Focus is to build and develop leadership qualities in tribal youth, women and villagers & simulate volunteers among them
- In terms of activities, 10 schools are running with 167 students. Trained teachers in first 2-3 months. Schools are run in villages and teachers are selected from the same area.
- Community activities: 10 – 15 tribal youth are recruited as volunteers in Community Health centers. They are provided boarding and lodging and books for finishing high school.
- 2-4 of them got graduated and found jobs. More youth wants to join them
- REPAIRING CHECK DAM: Checkdam constructed by the govt with an amount of 42 lakhs was not working due to lack of maintenance and incomplete constructions. Aranyaka took up the issue and held shramadan to complete the construction.
- A private doctor was opposing the Aranyika’s plans to build a food center for patients.
- National tribal Academy. The vision behind the academy. Tribal students from different parts come here to learn things and go back to their regions to educate people.
- It is a residential program, students stay here for a period of two years and they learn Law, history, English , hindi , and technical studies ( computers, cartography, data analysis)
- Trainees conduct micro credit programs, below poverty line schemes.
- AID is getting involved early in what might be the pivotal tribal training academy of the future.
- Dr.Devi’s study says that tribal involvement noticeable in the recent communal rites.
- AID is planning to recruit adivasi students, engaging new faculty, and closer ties with the tribal development.
- !6 students and 8 teachers and the student to teacher ratio is 2:1 which might be the important reason for development.
- There are 11 news letters run in the local dialects of tribal people.
- A poem. “Our troubles have become like a mountain. We need an outlet.
We don’t want to create chaos, we want a change. On every road, in every lane, we want the passion by which even dead people come alive and ask for change. The walls are shaking already but it is not enough. We want to shake the foundations. The fire is not just within me, but also within all of us. We want the fire to come together and burn the negative things. The fuel for change is there; it needs a spark to light it. It will engulf the society. Although our boat is shaking, we are struggling with the waves, and we will win one day”.
- AID –wide effort with AIPSN, i.e. TNSF in Tamilnadu, BGVS in Bihar and respective science movement NGOs in other states.
- To make it more manageable we have divided the blocks for different chapters.
- Chapters have to work very closely with the individual blocks.
- The HBP follows the Arogya Iyakkam model.
- Objectives
o Improve utilization of PHC services
o Improve child and women nutrition.
- Arogya Iyakkam model
o May 99 to Feb 01 in 10 blocks
o Regular training camps
o Active involvement of local panchayats and govt.
o Street plays, midway in the program
o Measurable improvement in child nutrition
o Voted one of 10 best community programs by UNICEF
- Health program following the arogya iyakkam model will have regular training camps.
- Block full timers are critical to program
- Savings groups are key to sustainability.
- Motivated volunteers in each village.
- OVERALL STATUS
- Blocks chosen by different chapters. Some block visits complete.
- Program in TN. Very few blocks remain to be taken up.
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- Chandrika, AID Austin:
o First state camp completed
o Blocks selected by existing activities and participation in camp
o Block coords selected. I personally interacted with block full timers. They are from the section of people we are trying to address by HBP program, i.e. economically not well off. They work with very little salaries and can barely afford two square meals. Their husbands have deserted some of them. One of them was so moved by the women’s rights movements she decided to support herself while working on this program. Another one had opposed pressure from the community about getting her daughter married. One interesting thing was communication between Dr. Sundar and the block level full timers. They were very free in their interaction about various issues. When I took pictures, one of the women was very amazed that a girl could operate a camera!
- Govind, AID Mwk:
o Visited Kanyakumari, Malar savings groups.
o Very strong savings program. 2000+ groups with 20+ members in each.
o Health program not that well developed. Focusses primarily on hygiene and women’s health. The district coord, Kamalam is a housewife and a remarkable person.
- Cuddalore.
o Literacy from 93 to 97 was not that effective but increased awareness about literacy.
o 2 year savings program in Bhuvanagiri.
- BIHAR and JHARKHAND.
- Alka: Begusarai, Nawada, Jahanabad
- HBP blocks (14) classified by BGVS as strong, medium, weak, other.
- Visits give better idea of situation and increase our understanding.
- What did we find during visits.
o Self help groups in 14 districts.
o Along with savings, have worked on other issues like untouchability, caste, womens’ libraries, village registers, violence against women etc.
o In 2001 after 23 years, Bihar finally had Panchayat elections. Over 300 BGVS women members were elected. Usha Devi – was elected Dy. Council vice chairman.
o Begusarai has a strong savings program with over 10,000 members in 680 groups. Some other districts have much less groups and members.
o Nawada – attended a workshop. Women were very keen to find out what AID is, whether we can give them better resources etc. They have 5 savings groups. The women wouldn’t sit in front of men. We had to move to another area. There were a lot of issues – caste, finger pointing etc. We need to do some work here.
o Unique issues for Nawada.
- High fluoride content in water
- Naxalite activity.
- Communal issues – high Muslim population. But Hindus wouldn’t go to urdu school. But people were happy in context of violence in Gujarat that there was none there.
- Organizing women.
- Primary education – looking for funding.
o Begusarai district. I was floored by BGVS organization here – very impressive.
o Usha Devi runs the work here. Very eloquent, doing grassroots work. She talked about her story coming from a conservative background and how she became an activist.
o Dandari block – they wanted more info on HBP. They also wanted info on how to collect data and reporting. They have limited exp. With healthcare.
o They insisted on two aspects to healthcare program – short term and long term. Villagers will lose interest if they cannot see short term benefits. Benefits 2 to 3 years down the road don’t help them.
o Women in Dandari very empowered. They demanded to know my phone number so they could follow up with me if necessary!
o Panchayat meeting in Baank (Dandari). The women were very tired during the meeting at 5 PM. One of the neo-literate women gathered more women, and they talked about a lot of gender issues, all is in my report.
- Nishant – GAYA Visit
- Manpur block has 68 villages. I spent 5 days in the block, spending half a day in each village. Within each block there is tremendous diversity in the villages. I classified the villages in three categories – 1. strong (literacy and awareness), 2. similar to first by needing a catalyst, and 3. lot of problems from drinking water, poverty and needing lot of work.
- BGVS came to their block in early 90s. Funding came from BGVS and government. After 96 no funding and no programs are on here. There are enough volunteers at village and district level. But some of the observations – there are no full-timers. So all the effort is very adhoc. Only in 3 or 4 villages has there been progress. The rest of the people feel abandoned, and they are very angry with BGVS. Secondly, people feel that programs are dictated from the top. They feel that district and block level people don’t have a feeling for the unique problems in the villages. They want to drive the programs themselves.
TO SUMMARIZE:
Some of the things we noticed in BGVS.
- Communication was challenging. Phone works, and you can call the respective district rather than state office. Email is starting to be set up.
- Documentation is hand-written and is in Hindi. We could help them with formats and translations. They want to do more surveys and put info. Out on their accomplishments. Communication across blocks and districts not good.
- HBP – selecting volunteers in May. Awaiting funds for training.
Summary of issues for Bihar
- BGVS presence is stronger than we thought in some blocks.
- Visits very mutually encouraging to AID and BGVS.
- Districts support ‘honorariums’ for volunteers.
- Need details about HBP and AID – standard formats for documents.
- They use a lot of creative ways to reach villagers – plays, songs and skits. The women volunteers learn these plays and perform to the villagers.
- PHCs role seems unclear. Not enough infrastructure and doctors.
- Could use some help in interaction with government and other NGOs.
- EACH CHAPTER MUST UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE SITUATION IN THEIR OWN BLOCK!
What is our role?
- Motivators. Talk to our blocks. We have more questions than answers. We need to keep talking to the block full timers.
- Documentation is also our job. Be realistic. Don’t ask for PowerPoint and PDF. Help translate and help them with what we really want.
- Chapter responsibility – your block is your responsibility. You should know some stats and where your block stands today. Current state of healthcare, infrastructure etc. should be learned. You can ask them for example how the savings group money is used.
- I told them they should communicate between different blocks but I felt hypocritical because realized even I didn’t know other AID volunteers were visiting blocks at the same time I was!
- Writing prompt site visit reports is important – and read them!
- Opportunity. To involve buddy chapters.
Questions:
Srisundar: Are rural enterprise and education projects also planned or do we stop with savings and health?
Govind: We will start with health and then see.
Priya ranjan: the volunteers in Bihar don’t even get money for phone bills.
Vol: Other NGOs in these states, are we going to involve them in HBP?
Rash: we should discourage non-TNSF projects from TN. Other NGOs getting involved depends on local dynamics.
Alka: In Bihar they are learning a lot about savings groups from other NGOs at least in Begusarai, Nawada.
Ravi K: One of the things to keep in mind is this is an AIPSN program. We could give out the info. Like for example the malnourishment data from Balaji, which other NGOs could use if they wish.
Vol: Is TNSF a part of AID? Why doesn’t their website have any info?
Naga: They are not part of AID! Balaji requested some help with the website. Something may be wrong with the links we set up.
Srihari: You mentioned lot of village volunteers but no activities in some Bihar blocks. SO what are the volunteers doing?
Priya: they do what they can do with the resources available. They are hooked on to social work but they don’t have resources!
Alka: They have some funding, just not enough to support a lot of projects. They are creative in use of resources.
Vol: Education level of volunteers.
Alka: Usha Devi and other district level vols. Had Bachelor’s. Village level have lower education level.
Priya: I’d like to ask Alka and Nishant how they visited Bihar and survived?!
Alka: I have lived in Bihar villages. I felt pretty safe traveling there. We were getting off our trains at 3 AM and people were pretty helpful.
Nishant: I didn’t have any problems. Villages ranged from romantic villages with big trees and charpoys and elders smoking hookas, to those with terrible poverty and drinking water problems. The ideas we get from the media are not necessarily true. There are pockets in Bihar where it is dangerous but these pockets are safe.
Alka: Naxal activity exists but they leave BGVS alone.
Vol: My question pertains to TN. What is the present idea about sustainability of the project.
Govind: This is one of the main reasons we need the savings program. Health is allied with savings. Hopefully that will keep the program sustainable.