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Empowering Dalit women in Uttar Pradesh |
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Thursday, 26 July 2007 |
Kanpur: There were about 170 Dalit women – 140 from the villages around Kanpur and the rest from faraway Unnao. Most of them were from non-Christian families, though a few were Christians and new believers. They all had something in common - a life of oppression and ill-treatment. | They came with great expectations. Years of oppression drove them to get empowered. And it was just this the women of OM North India, an aicc partner, had always looked forward to. The Dalit women came to be strong participants in their community, to take hold of their legal rights and to take an active part in the health and hygiene of their families and community. The meeting took off with the screening of a film highlighting legal system in India and the rights of the Indian citizen. For some of them, this was the first time they were face to face with the big screen. The film drove them into animated group discussions. | Eve’s turn! Since the meeting was basically meant for women, it was their turn first. They were made to have their food first. It was something very unusual and counter cultural. The women hesitated, knowing not what to do. Finally they went ahead to have their meal, with their men preferring to look the other way. | | While some of them failed to get the message put across, others wanted to know more. One by one posed searching questions to know more about the legal system. The discussion gave them an opportunity to know all the rights available under the Indian Law. | | Soul’s plea! No sooner had the meeting ended than several Dalit women approached the organisers with a plea to turn them Christian. It was so unexpected that the team members were at a loss to know what to do. It was because the event was for only for their empowerment. But what prompted them to turn to Christ? “When it was time to eat, you shared the food with us. During the meeting, you took care of our children. We have never met anyone who cared for us women.” | Advocate Meena Singh facilitated the discussion on the law. She answered their questions, leaving them enlightened. One of the participants, who remarried upon her first husband’s death, wanted to know how to handle the property left behind by her first husband. How could she ensure that the property went back to her son from the first marriage? Who would help her do so, without being cheated? Dr Mavish Singh spoke on health and hygiene. He explained to them how right community involvement and proper food and diet could increase the family health. Different aspects of personal hygiene were a new experience for the women. |
Place: Lucknow There were around 300 Dalit women from Lalganj and other surrounding villages. Although the meeting was basically for women, there were 70 men (husbands) and 160 children. The turnout was much more than what the organisers expected. | The meeting was to challenge the Dalit women to be strong participants in their community, to take hold of their legal rights and to take an active part in the health and hygiene of their families and their community. Separate meetings were arranged to enlighten the men and children on the same issue. It was again the women of OM North India, supported by Ram Surat, Dalit Empowerment Centre (DEC) manager at Lalganj, who took up the challenge to empower the Dalit women. The meeting took off with a discussion on the legal rights of women. A film was screened, showing the prevalence of the dowry system and various social evils it caused. | Real advocate! One of the men who attended the meeting turned up to thank the organisers. He said he was an advocate. “I am the only educated person in this village. I am touched by your concern for Dalit women. Take it from me that I will try to do whatever I can for their uplift.” It was like manna from heaven! None of the organisers ever thought that something so wonderful would emerge after a few days of toil for empowerment. | | Sr Sheeba Jose, the first woman advocate to practise before the High Court in Lucknow, facilitated the session. She spoke about their rights under the Constitution and the laws in India and how they needed to respond when pressured by others, especially those in authority. She promised to make herself available to them whenever they were in trouble. | | Extra bonus! The team discovered that they should be prepared for eventualities all the time, everywhere. A women’s empowerment meeting also brought men and children, leading to separate sessions for them. They should be able to foresee larger attendance and be equipped to meet unexpected expenses. | The meeting discussed the need for family planning. One of the participants, though had eight children, was still carrying. The women said they did not want to bear so many children. They also protested against the practice of women being confined to “cook and bear children”. “What are we to do? Who will advocate for us?” they asked. The women were made to realise the importance of educating girl children. Only education could free them from gender injustice.v | |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 July 2007 )
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