ALU - WOMEN’S STUDIES BULLETIN

VOLUME – 15, ISSUE- 15 October- 2017

Editor - in – Chief: Prof.K.MANIMEKALAI Editors : Mrs.P.Sindhuja Mrs.S.Geetha Mr.M.Paranthaman Ms.S.Karthika

Mr.B.Pon Vignesh

Editorial desk

Rural women play a critical role in the rural economies of both developed and developing countries. In most parts of the developing world they participate in crop production and livestock care, provide food, water and fuel for their families, and engage in off-farm activities to diversify their families’ livelihoods. In addition, they carry out vital reproductive functions in caring for children, older persons and the sick. In many countries, gender-based stereotypes and discrimination deny rural women equitable access to and control over land and other productive resources, opportunities for employment and income- generating activities, access to education and health care, and opportunities for participation in public life. Despite attention to rural women in international frameworks such as the Beijing Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Millennium Development Goals, which recognize their contributions, rural women continue to face serious challenges in effectively carrying out their multiple roles within their families and communities. Their rights and priorities are often insufficiently addressed by national development strategies and gender equality policies. The World Bank has pointed out, the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women is “smart economics”. Hence, it is important to monitor the changes in the rural economy from a gender equality perspective to promote the participation of rural women for social and economic development of the country.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

"To all the little girls who are watching, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams." - Hillary Clinton in her 2016 concession speech

"A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman." - Melinda Gates

"We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored." - Sheryl Sandberg

“Most companies target women as end users, but few are effectively utilizing female employees when it comes to innovating for female consumers. When women are empowered in the design and innovation process, the likelihood of success in the marketplace improves by 144%!” – Indra Nooyi “Most companies target women as end users, but few are effectively utilizing female employees when it comes to innovating for female consumers. When women are empowered in the design and innovation process, the likelihood of success in the marketplace improves by 144%!” – Indra Nooyi

Treaties and Convention on Rural Women

 The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) emphasized the need for the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes that improve the situation of women producers in rural areas, increase their incomes and provide household food security.  The outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” emphasized the need for women’s equal access to productive resources, such as land, capital, credit and technology, gainful employment, and decision-making, as well as access to education and health services. It drew attention to the large number of rural women working in the informal economy with low levels of income, little job and social security, and few land or inheritance rights, or none at all. It highlighted microcredit and other financial instruments as successful strategies for economic empowerment of women living in poverty, in particular in rural areas.  In the Millennium Declaration, adopted in September 2000, 9 Governments committed to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulate development that is truly sustainable. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were subsequently developed, provide a subset of goals, targets and indicators from the global conferences and summits of the 1990s, including the goal to halve poverty by 2015.10 The MDGs are particularly relevant for reducing poverty among rural women in developing countries. MDG 3 is specifically focused on the achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women, with targets on education, health and political participation. Women in rural areas can be actors in and beneficiaries of the achievement of other goals, such as MDG 1, on reducing poverty and hunger; MDG 2, which aims for universal primary education; and MDGs 4 and 5, which focus on children’s and maternal health. MDG 7, on environmental sustainability, is also critical for rural women as users and custodians of natural resources.  At the 2005 World Summit, world leaders reaffirmed that “food security and rural and agricultural development must be adequately and urgently addressed in the context of national development and response strategies … [and that] rural and agricultural development should be an integral part of national and international development policies”. They also reaffirmed that gender equality and the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all are essential to advance development, peace and security.  The Monterrey Consensus, from the International Conference on Financing for Development in 2002, called upon Governments to establish gender-sensitive investments in basic economic and social infrastructure that are fully inclusive of the rural sector and that ensure sustainable development. The Consensus also recognized the importance of microfinance and microcredit schemes, including for women in rural areas.  In 2007,16 the General Assembly urged Governments and the United Nations system to create an enabling environment for improving the situation of rural women, and to ensure systematic attention to their needs, priorities and contributions. Governments should create an enabling environment so that rural women fully participate in the development, implementation and monitoring of macroeconomic policies and programmes and poverty reduction strategies, based on the Millennium Development Goals, as well as in policies and activities related to emergencies, humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction.  The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is the only human rights instrument that specifically addresses the situation of rural women. Article 14 calls on States parties to eliminate discrimination against rural women and to ensure that all provisions of the Convention are applied to rural women. Urban Women

Prominent Indian Women Directors

The Indian film industry has seen the emergence of some critically and commercially appreciated female directors in last some years but the film business more or less remains dominated by their male counterparts. However, the scenario is bound to change as the indomitable spirit of female members of the film world is taking 'meaningful' strides in every direction. Today, there are women who are well versed with the technique of filmmaking and are getting involved in the process of filmmaking more than ever before. From this month, the bulletin begins to project the prominent Indian women directors.

APARNA SEN (born 25th October, 1945)

Aparna Sen is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter and actress who is known for her work in Bengali cinema. A leading actress of the late 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, she has received eight BFJA Awards (Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award), five for best actress, two for best supporting actress and one for lifetime achievement. She is the winner of three and nine international film festival awards for her direction in films. She was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, by the government of in 1987.

Awards

Year Film Awards 1981 36 Chowringhee Won, National Film Award for Best Direction and National Film Lane Award for Best Feature in English 1984 Paroma Won, National Film Awards, BFJA for Best Director 1989 Sati Released: 23 Nov 1089 1995 Won,National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali 2000 Paromitar EK DIn Won,National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali, Won, Kalakar Awards for Best Director 2001 Mr. and Mrs. Iyer Won, National Film Award for Best Direction Won, Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration,Won, National Film Award for Best Screenplay 2005 Won, National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English 2010 Released: 9 April 2010 2011 Won-Kalakar Awards-Best Director Award 2013 Nominated, East for Best Director 2015 Released: 25 December 2015 2017 Sonata Released: 21 April 2017

DEEPA MEHTA (15th September, 1950)

Deepa Mehta is a transnational artist and a screenwriter, director, and producer whose work has been called "courageous", "provocative" and "breathtaking". Her visually lush and emotionally resonating films have played at every major international film festival and received numerous awards and accolades, and have been distributed around the world. She has written, directed and produced movies and television shows since 1975. Her movies are outrageously honest, the most controversial of which were the Elements Trilogy: Fire, Water and Earth. Her biggest success so far was the romantic comedy Bollywood/Hollywood (2002), which was nominated for five Genie awards (including Best Picture), winning Best Original Screenplay. She also co- founded Hamilton-Mehta Productions, with her husband, producer David Hamilton in 1996.

Awards and Accolades

 Best Screenplay Award for Heaven on Earth.  She won various awards from the year 1990 to 2009 at Bangkok International Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Dubai International Film Festival, Genie Awards, Outfest, Mannheim- Heidelberg International Film Festival, Newport International Film Festival, Sarasota Film Festival, Toronto Female Eye Film Festival, Valladolid International Film Festival, Vancouver Film Critics Circle, Vancouver International Film Festival and Verona Love Screens Film Festival.  She is a Genie Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated Indian-born Canadian film director and screenwriter, most known for her Elements Trilogy, Fire (1996), Earth (1998), and Water (2005), which was nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.  Doctorate in Law, University of Victoria, 2009  Deepa Mehta’s movie Earth won the Prix Premiere du Public at the Festival du film asiatique de Deauville, France and the Critics' Award at Italy's Schermid'Amore International Film Festival.

Movies Directed by Deepa Mehta

S.No Movie Year 1 Sam & Me 1991

2 Camilla 1994 3 Fire 1996

4 Earth 1998

5 Bollywood/Hollywood 2002 6 The Rebulic of Love 2003 7 Water 2005 8 Let’s Talk About It 2006

9 Heaven on Earth 2008

10 Midnight’s Children 2012 11 Beeba Boys 2015 12 Anatomy of Violence 2016

KALPANA LAJMI ( Born 1954)

Kalpana Lajmi is daughter of painter Lalita Lajmi and niece of filmmaker , debuted as an assistant director under the veteran film director who was also her relative of the Padukone family. She later went on to work as an assistant costume designer in Shyam Benegal's Bhumika: The Role. She made her directorial début with the documentary film D.G. Movie Pioneer in 1978 and went on to direct more documentaries like A Work Study in Tea Plucking (1979) and Along the Brahmaputra (1981).

Filmography

Year Film Role(s)

1978 D.G. Movie Pioneer Director 1979 A Work Study in Tea Plucking Director 1981 Along the Brahmaputra Director 1986 Ek Pal Director, Producer, Writer 1988 Lohit Kinare Director 1993 Director, writer 1997 Darmiyaan: In Between Director, produce 2001 Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence Director, Writer 2003 Kyon? Director, Producer 2006 Chingaari Director, Producer, Writer

SAI PARANJPYE (19th March 1938 )

Paranjpye started her career in All India Radio (AIR) in Pune, Maharashtra, India as an announcer and soon got involved with AIR's Children's Program. Over the years, Paranjpye has written and directed plays in Marathi, Hindi, and English for adults and children. She has written many books for children, and six of them have won national or state level awards.

National Film Awards

1980: National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi (director) – Sparsh 1980: National Film Award for Best Screenplay: Sparsh 1993: National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues: Choodiyan Filmfare Awards 1985: Filmfare Best Director Award: Sparsh 1985: Filmfare Best Dialogue Award: Sparsh.

Filmography

The Little Tea Shop (TV 1972) Ados Pados (TV 1984) Jadu Ka Shankh (1974) Chote Bade (TV 1985) Begaar (1975) Angootha Chhaap (1988) Sikander (1976) Disha (1990) Dabcherry Milk Project (1976) Papeeha 1993) Captain Laxmi (1977) Chooriyan (1993) Freedom From Fear (1978) Saaz (1997) Sparsh (1980) Bhago Bhoot (2000) Chasme Buddoor (1981) Chaka Chak (2005) Books That Talk (1981) Suee (2009) Katha (1983)

MIRA NAIR (Born 15th October 1957)

Mira Nair is an internationally accomplished film director, writer and producer born in India and currently based in the U.S.A. She has directed award-winning documentaries such as So Far From India and India Cabaret. Her debut feature film, Salaam Bombay! was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1988. It won the Camera D'Or for the best first feature film and the Prix du Publique for 'most popular entry' at the Cannes Film Festival.. Her next film won three awards at the . Her most recent film, The Queen of , which got released in October, 2016 in India, is about the journey of a young Uganda woman who aspires to be a chess champion.

Awards and Recognition

1985: Best Documentary Film, Global Village Film Festival for India Cabaret

1986: Golden Athena, Athens International Film Festival for India Cabaret

1988: Audience Award, Cannes Film Festival for Salaam Bombay!

1988: Golden Camera (Best First Film), Cannes Film Festival for Salaam Bombay! 1988: National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi for Salaam Bombay!

1988: Jury Prize, Most Popular Film and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at Montreal World Film Festival for Salaam Bombay!

1988: New Generation Award, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

1991: Golden Osella (Best Original Screenplay), Venice Film Festival for Mississippi Masala

1991: Critics Special Award, São Paulo International Film Festival for Mississippi Masala

1992: Best Director (Foreign Film), Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists for Mississippi Masala

2001: (Best Film), Venice Film Festival for

2002: UNESCO Award, Venice Film Festival

2012: Padma Bhushan by Government of India

Filmography

Jama Street Masjid Journal (1979) Vanity Fair (2004) So Far From India (1982) The Namesake (2006) India Cabaret (1985) Migration.. (2007) Children of a Desired Sex (1987) New York, I Love You (Segment - Salaam Bombay! (1988) "Kosher Vegetarian") (2008) Mississippi Masala (1991) 8 (Segment - "How can it be?") (2008) The Day the Mercedes Became a Amelia (2009) Hat (1993) The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012) (1995) (2014) Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996) My Own Country (1998) (Showtime) The Bengali Detective (2015) Monsoon Wedding (2001) Queen of Katwe (2016) Hysterical Blindness (2002) 11'9"01 September 11 (Segment - "India") (2002)

Still, The Children are Here (2003)

…….Will be continued in the next month bulletin

GLIMPSES OF THE MONTH

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS - 1st October

Theme of the Year: “Stepping into the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons in Society.”

On December 14, 1990, the UN General Assembly made October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons, following up on initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the assembly. The International Day of Older Persons was observed for the first time throughout the world on October 1, 1991. In 1991 the UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons. In 2002 the second World Assembly on Ageing adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages. The United Nations' (UN) International Day of Older Persons is celebrated annually on October 1 to recognize the contributions of older persons and to examine issues that affect their lives.

The theme of the 2017 International Day of Older Persons is about enabling and expanding the contributions of older people in their families, communities and societies at large. It focuses on the pathways that support full and effective participation in old age, in accordance with old persons’ basic rights, needs and preferences. This year’s theme underscores the link between tapping the talents and contributions of older persons and achieving the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, which is currently undergoing its third review and appraisal process.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NON-VIOLENCE- 2ND OCTOBER

In January 2004, Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi had taken a proposal for an International Day of Non-Violence from a Hindi teacher in Paris teaching international students to the World Social Forum in Mumbai. The idea gradually attracted the interest of some leaders of India's Congress Party ("Ahimsa Finds Teen Voice", , Calcutta) until a Satyagraha Conference resolution in New Delhi in January 2007, initiated by Indian National Congress President and Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance Sonia Gandhi and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, called upon the United Nations to adopt the idea. On 15 June 2007 the United Nations General Assembly establish 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence. The resolution by the General Assembly asks all members of the UN system to commemorate 2 October in "an appropriate manner and disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness."

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY-10th October

Theme of the Year: Mental health in the workplace

Employers and managers who put in place workplace initiatives to promote mental health and to support employees who have mental disorders see gains not only in the health of their employees but also in their productivity at work. A negative working environment, on the other hand, may lead to physical and mental health problems, harmful use of substances or alcohol, absenteeism and lost productivity. Depression and anxiety disorders are common mental disorders that have an impact on our ability to work, and to work productively. Globally, more than 300 million people suffer from depression, the leading cause of disability. More than 260 million are living with anxiety disorders. Many of these people live with both. A recent WHO-led study estimates that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year in lost productivity.

Mental health in the workplace is the theme of World Mental Health Day 2017. World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues and mobilizing efforts in support of better mental health.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF RURAL WOMEN-15 OCTOBER

Theme of the Year: 'Challenges and opportunities in climate-resilient agriculture for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls'

The International Day of Rural Women was celebrated across the world on 15 October 2017 with the theme 'Challenges and opportunities in climate-resilient agriculture for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls'. Globally, women comprise 43 per cent of agricultural workforce and play a critical role in supporting household food security. However, due to inequitable social norms, women farmers have less access to secure land tenure, agricultural inputs, water and energy, appropriate infrastructure, etc. Such scenarios need close attention to enable women farmers to adopt climate-resilient agricultural approaches at the same rate as men for secured land tenure, greater financial inclusion and access to information. Considering this, the UN kept this year's theme to address the challenges of rural women and to spread awareness among public to bring about gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls.

WORLD FOOD DAY-16th OCTOBER

Theme of the Year: „Change the future of migration. Invest in food security and rural development‟.

World Food Day was established by FAO's Member Countries at the Organization's Twentieth General Conference in November 1979. The date chosen - 16 October - is the anniversary of FAO. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. At the FAO's 20th session in Rome, Italy, in November 1979 the conference called for the observance of World Food Day on October 16, 1981, and on the same date each year the UN General Assembly ratified this decision on December 5, 1980, and urged governments and international, national and local organizations to contribute to observe World Food Day. World Food Day has been held each year since 1981.

GLOSSARY OF WOMEN’S STUDIES

Gender Perspective: scrutinizes the problems/constraints, needs, interests and their relative significance from the standpoint of either women or men.

Gender Planning: the formulation of specific strategies, which aim to provide equal opportunities and benefits for both men and women.

Gender sensitivity: is the capacity to recognize the needs and constraints faced by women and men as well as their interests and perceptions in relation to the difference in their social status.

Gender-sensitivity indicator: refers to a figure, fact or perception aimed at indicating the degree and level to which a program or project attains its set objectives and succeeds in improving gender equity.

NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN’S STUDIES

Continuation of previous issue

Many Indian universities offer women's studies or gender studies as part of their undergraduate programme in social sciences. At the post-graduate level the scope for in- depth studies is limited to specialization in specific gender issues. Avenues for research after the Master's level tend to widen. To facilitate research, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has sponsored a number of study centers in universities - Jadavpur University, SNDT, Mumbai, and the Women's Studies Research Centres in Calcutta University . The need for the incorporation of women's studies in the university curriculum was felt by academics in the early 1980s. Following the recommendations of the First National Conference of Women's Studies, held at SNDT Women's University (Mumbai) in 1981 and the UNESCO workshop of 1982, the UGC suggested, in 1983, the start of programmes on women's studies and their incorporation in the curricula of social sciences. Centres for women's studies have since been established in several universities. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has promoted, strengthened and given direction to the Women's Studies programme in the country since the VII Plan period. Women’s Studies Centers have been established in the University System in the VIII, IX and X Plan periods. They have contributed significantly to the expansion of Women's Studies teaching, research and field action. The introduction of women’s studies in the higher education system was a major achievement for the women’s movement in India. Women’s studies centres were envisaged as playing an interventionist role by initiating the gender perspective in many domains in the generation of knowledge; in the field of policy and practice. The Centres for women’s studies were designed to act as catalysts for promoting and strengthening women’s studies through teaching, research, dissemination of knowledge and field action. In the last Plan period, the Centres for Women’s Studies have carried out their work, not only in the above areas, but also in several other directions. They have been instrumental in the incorporation of women’s studies in various courses of teaching as well as facilitated research on socially relevant areas. They have provided consultation to scholars, served as evaluators for development projects, generated resource material and documentation in the regions in which they are located, and established networking both within and outside the university system. Although much needs to be done, yet, the Centers for Women’s Studies have contributed to the visibility of women’s issues, tried to combine erudite knowledge with socially relevant theories, and have succeeded in opening a dialogue in multi-disciplinary collaborations. Will be continued in the next month bulletin…….

PROGRAMMES CARRIED OUT DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER

WORLD FOOD DAY CELEBRATION

Awareness Programme on Herbal Garden and Traditional Food Habits

On 7th October 2017, Awareness Programme on Herbal Garden and Traditional Food Habits was conducted to women sweepers and gardeners of Alagappa University, Karaikudi. M. Aishwarya, 1st year M.A. Integrated Home Science, Department of Women’s Studies briefly described the importance and significance of Herbal Garden. B.Pon vignesh and M.Paranthaman of 2nd year M.A. Integrated Home Science, Department of Women’s Studies elaborated the benefits of traditional food habits.

Awareness Programme on Kitchen Garden

On 7th October 2017 Awareness programme on Kitchen Garden was conducted at Roja Nagar, Illupaikudi. M.Bhuvaneswari, T Nivetha and N.Sabur Nisha of 1st year M.A. Integrated Home Science briefed out the uses and importance of kitchen garden. They also provided the tips for successfully growing fruits and vegetables. S.Karthiga, 2nd year M.A. Integrated Home Science discussed about the types of kitchen garden and highlighted the importance of having traditional foods. On the same day S.Tamil Selvi, 1st year M.A. Integrated Home Science conducted Awareness programme on Kitchen Garden for women workers of MNREGS at Nayakkarpatti, Aranthangai.

Sanitization Programme on 108 Emergency Ambulance Services

On 8th October S.Tamilselvi, 1st year M.A. Integrated Home Science conducted a Sanitization Programme on 108 Emergency Ambulance Services at Karaiyur, Thirupattur. She briefly elaborated various provisions available at 108 for children and pregnant women and also suggested to access the 108 Emergency Ambulance Services.

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