Women's Group Learns to Fight for Rights

Women's Group Learns to Fight for Rights

Veera village is located 45 km from Anjar, close to the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat. Ashapura Vridh Mahila Bachat Mandal (Ashapura Savings Association of Older Women) is a Self-Help Group formed in this village by HelpAge, under the post earthquake reconstruction project.

This group has 13 members. To start with, the attendance of members was very low and savings were irregular. Constant counseling and formal training for concept clarity and effective leadership helped them to understand the hidden benefits of being organized. Training of record keeping was more effective as it ensured their financial security.

The group was taken for an exposure visit to Dwarka where they met another women's group working on rights-based issues. This visit supported HelpAge's efforts to broaden the agenda of the group and encourage them to address issues other than savings and credit.

Their village is remote and basic facilities like drinking water, health, education etc., were lacking. Although there is a pipeline running through it, supply of water was very erratic. Constant drought had compounded matters and the women of Veera had to walk 5 to 10 km to fetch water in overhead pots. Neither the villagers nor the Sarpanch (village head) were bothered about their problem.

A Movement Begins

This issue was brought up in one their SHG meetings. Members were bit hesitant in the beginning but, remembering their experience during the exposure visit, they decided to give it a shot. They prepared an application with the help of a literate person of the village and each member put her thumb impression to it. This effort by an SHG of older women motivated others and soon the whole village signed up. The sarpanch (village chief) himself submitted the application to the authorities.

During a women's meeting, Benaben, the president of this group, shared her experience with others. "The district official was shocked and terrified by the confidence of our members. He requested us not to approach the block office and promised to solve our problem.

"Within two days, two water tankers arrived in our village with drinking water, and since then have been coming regularly. Our water woes are now in the past."

She says the group members never believed they would be able to take such action. "Today, we have proved that if we are united and determined, we can achieve the expected result."

In 1990s, grants from foreign donor agencies enabled the formation of new women-oriented NGOs. Self-help groups and NGOs such as Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) have played a major role in women's rights in India. Many women have emerged as leaders of local movements. For example, Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan.

The Government of India declared 2001 as the Year of Women's Empowerment (Swashakti).^[16] The National Policy For The Empowerment Of Women came was passed in 2001.^[27]

In 2006, the case of a Muslim rape victim called Imrana was highlighted in the media. Imrana was raped by her father-in-law. The pronouncement of some Muslim clerics that Imrana should marry her father-in-law led to widespread protests and finally Imrana's father-in-law was given a prison term of 10 years, The verdict was welcomed by many women's groups and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.^[28]

In 2010 March 9, one day after International Women's day, Rajyasabha passed Women's Reservation Bill, ensuring 33% reservation to women in Parliament and state legislative bodies.^[29]

In 1990s, grants from foreign donor agencies enabled the formation of new women-oriented NGOs. Self-help groups and NGOs such as Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) have played a major role in women's rights in India. Many women have emerged as leaders of local movements. For example, Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan.

The Government of India declared 2001 as the Year of Women's Empowerment (Swashakti).^[16] The National Policy For The Empowerment Of Women came was passed in 2001.^[27]

In 2006, the case of a Muslim rape victim called Imrana was highlighted in the media. Imrana was raped by her father-in-law. The pronouncement of some Muslim clerics that Imrana should marry her father-in-law led to widespread protests and finally Imrana's father-in-law was given a prison term of 10 years, The verdict was welcomed by many women's groups and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.^[28]

In 2010 March 9, one day after International Women's day, Rajyasabha passed Women's Reservation Bill, ensuring 33% reservation to women in Parliament and state legislative bodies.^[29]