Rs. 15 January 15, 2011 Volume 3 Issue 1

What use Government i n s i d e Awards ... Misery continues This is a very complicated process and it is rather amazing to find and Dakhin Kosal regions of Western that the traditional weavers do not use any graphic designs on Orissa. Today the Baandha fabric is paper. popularly known by its geographical and cultural name Sambalpuri. Varieties of the Sambalpuri include Sonepuri, Saktapar, Pasapali, Women of hills: an Bomkai, Khandua, Bapta epitome of sufferings which have substantial demand. and strength Most of them have been named after the places of their origin, The socialisation process of and are popularly known as Pata. women is such that they are made The "Saktapar and Pasapalli” saree to believe ...... 3 with their distinctive black-and-white squares is a replica of the chessboard. Equally fascinating are the names— The Magnificent Mary Vichitrapuri, Chandrika, Nabagunja, Kom: ’s Golden Asman Tara and Krishnapriya. The Sports Icon earlier yarns of coarse cotton have been replaced by cotton, silks, tussar Marriage, motherhood, and and a cotton-silk mix called ‘bapta’. many gold medals later, she now Sambalpuri fabrics have their has her eyes ...... 4 original style of craft known as Baandha. The bandha or tie-and-dye technique used in Dakshin (South) Koshal is much different from that of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Here, the yarn is first tied in portions, and each section is dyed in a different colour according to the design. Traditionally, craftsmen created Baandhas with images of flora or fauna or with geometrical patterns. Kungi Kitta the Alien in More recently, new types of Baandha her Native!!!! Bichitra Meher weaving Sambalpuri saree. depicting portrait, landscape and Kungi at the age of 67 years flower are being designed. Baandha learns two new languages, the Pradip Kumar Nath & Hemprabha Chauhan fabric is created using a tie-dye skills for survival ...... 5 technique. The yarns are tied according Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh to the desired patterns to prevent absorption of dyes, and then dyed. Music for social Sambalpuri Sarees of India. In sharp contrast to the in our family for generations together The yarns or set of yarns so produced transformation ...... 6 t was late Prime Minister Indira unskilled manual nature of work and to keep this art and tradition is called 'Baandha'. The unique Gandhi, who became the first involved in MGNREGS, weaving of alive I am also doing the weaving feature of this form of designing is Ensuring protection of Ibrand ambassador of Sambalpuri Sambalpri saree demands meticulous despite no profit and hard labour that the designs get reflected almost Human Rights ...... 6 sareee by flaunting it at public craftsmanship with lot of physical involved in it”. Orissa government identically on both side of the fabric. functions and during electoral efforts of both hand and leg combined has helped Bichitra Meher in getting This is a very complicated process Domestic Care Givers campaigns all through her life. Soon with a high level of concentration. the ”National Award for Master and it is rather amazing to find followed the women newscasters of Government has never recognized Craftpersons and Weavers 2005, that the traditional weavers do not Domestic workers, who do the Doordarshan. And now the president the highly skilled labour and material 2006” and “Shilpguru Award 2006”, use any graphic designs on paper. cleaning chores, are at the of India, Mrs Pratibha Patil adorns it inputs involved for weaving these under which a citation, Memento and This versatile technique enables lowest end of the spectrum ...... 7 beautifully every now and than. But, sarees. Orissa state government Rs. 50,000/- were given to him, but a craftsman to weave colourful the artisans who weaved these sarees has helped them to get the National nothing has changed for him. He is designs, patterns and images into a for high profiled persons live in dingy Awards, but has done nothing to still struggling to get the market and fabric capable of inspiring a thought rooms in remote interior villages of improve the financial conditions of material support for his products. or convey a message. Thus Baandha Western Orissa struggling to make weavers by providing the input material The Sambalpuri sari is made from can be defined as “A length of both their ends meet. Very few of and marketing support. Middleman fabric woven on a hand-loom, and is systematically arranged yarn, dyed the intellectual and elite personalities is exploiting these innocent and very popular throughout India. The according to a preconceived design who dress with pride Sambalpuri illiterate weavers by exchanging the centre piece of this cottage industry in such a manner so as to enable a saree, have ever tried to know how finished products (sarees) with yarns. unit is called a monga, which is actually weaver to portray the design when these artisans struggle untiringly for Bichitra Meher, a B.A. dropout, a hand-made wooden handloom. the yarn is converted into a fabric Women’s effective role months together to weave a single son of Murali Meher of Jhilminda Sambalpuri sari is a traditional through the process of weaving". in Gram Panchayats saree, and how they are at present. village of Bajrangbali colony hand-woven Ikkat sari or saree The common motifs are borrowed Our women representatives in These artisans earn much less than (Kapabari) of district in (locally called shari) wherein the from nature. Flowers, creepers, birds, the Panchayats are no less than the daily wage of a MGNREGS Western Orissa says, “Sambalpuri warp and the weft are tie-dyed before animals are abundantly woven in Sonia Gandhi ...... 8 worker as fixed by Government saree weaving has been continuing weaving, produced in the myriad colours, all lending a distinct 2 January 15, 2011

continued from page 1 sarees for them only on demands. poverty I want to keep alive the art town/market: Weavers are living of Sambalpuri saree making, which in remote villages with no or very Sambalpuri Bastralaya’s Negitive my forefathers have nurtured.” He minimum transport facilities; they Attitude: is not concerned with the profit or remain cut off from the mainstream Sambalpuri Bastralaya Handloom loss.With his bonny structure he and do not know what price their Cooperative Society Ltd., Bargarh weaves the saree for hours together. products can fetch. Most of them sell the pioneer Handloom Institution Prahalad, his mother, father and their products in the weekly market of the state was established at sister Devaki all work together for like vegetables to the middleman. Bargarh during the year 1930 by eight to nine hours daily and produce late Padmashree Krutharth Acharya. four to five sarees in a month. No Financial Support from Bank/ Subsequently it was recognized Girls are now engaged in weaving Govt. Agencies: by Orissa government in the year and this is an asset for them for Lack of education and 1954. It was the largest Primary finding good grooms. Increasing ignorance are depriving them to Handloom Cooperative Society in number of girls have taken active get the advantage of loan facilities the state and country as well. Since part in the family tradition where provided by the banks to increase its inception, it worked as production a lot of physical labour and mental their units. Moreover, government and marketing society by providing concentration are demanded to officials concerned with textiles and inputs and marketing support weave the sarees. It is a fact that the handlooms never help or guide them regularly to its weaver members women were active participants in the to avail the loan facilities. Most of under the Co-operative framework. process of Sambapuri saree weaving the weavers said that banks refused

Photos: Pradip Kumar Nath & Hemaprabha C hauhan The Sambalpuri sareee is still all through, but their participation them to give loans on individual caught in a time warp, as weaver- basis and for them formation of Weaving in provress. was confined to less complex and membrs of co-operatives have gone intricate things like setting the groups is not possible to avail bank back to work for the middleman, thread on different instruments. loans as every weaver has different feature to the nine yards of woven put in it. To-day monga have been who markets these sarees. Earlier, Devaki, 18 years old girl, capacities to work on the looms. wonder. The rich bio-diversity of idle for some time. Many traditional they got the thread and dye from was a brilliant student, but after Sambalpuri Bastralaya has really this region has a significant impact weavers have been forced to join the the Co-operatives, which then matriculation looking at the financial spoiled the glory of Sambalpuri Saree. on the creative pursuit of the bandha increasing number of urban poor as marketed their finished products. condition in the family dropped out Instead of guiding the weavers the designer belonging to the Bhulia rickshaw pullers or are forced to be But the co-operatives collapsed due and started learning the art of weaving Govt agencies have been misguiding community of Dakshin Koshal. MGNREGS wage seekers if they are to financial irregularities after the by sitting over the loom. Her education the traditional weavers of Saree to It is believed that this art migrated forced to remain in the rural areas. entry of politicians and bureaucrats. helped her to master the art quickly. diversify to dress materials, furnishing to Western Orissa along with the In a month only six to eight sarees And by mid 1990, the vacuum bed cover and towels to cater to the Bhulia community who fled Northern can be produced for which the whole was quickly filled by middlemen. What are the causes of Sambalpuri needs of customers across the country. India in the year 1192 AD after the family, i.e. five to six members are Lack of market support due to high Sarees’ slow death: It is the Katkia government servants fall of Chouhan Empire at the hands involved simultaneously for carrying costs and the negative approach of Raw material problem: Because who brought about the downfall in of the Mughals. Since then up to the out various processes like warping the government agency (Sambalpuri of non availability of raw materials the largest handloom cooperative year 1925 it flourished in Western the thread, setting the design, making Bastralaya Handloom Cooperative through the government/government in the country. It is the high salary Orissa in a limited number of designs the colour, tying and dying the yarn, Society Limited) have forced the agencies, middleman is reaping the coupled with corruption that leads to and in vegetable colours and consisted setting the thread for weaving the artisans to lead a miserable life. benefits by selling the materials loss making. The Orissa government mostly of saris used by the womenfolk saree etc. and in the end of the month Instead of providing them market at very high cost or bartering the claims to have taken a few steps to of the Dakshin Kosal (South Koshal) only Rs.4000 to Rs.5000/- comes as support and raw materials needed sarees with yarn supplied to weavers. revive the trade, but they seem to be region. These saris were known as a net income for the whole family i.e. for the vegetable and natural dyes, Market Problem: Having no completely inadequate. It is shocking 'Bhulia-Kapta'. The demand was Rs. 800/- to Rs. 1000/- per person in state government has supported for support from state government to find that the Government’s attempt limited, distress sale was common a month. In this way a MGNREGS chemical colours and use of drums weavers have to sell their products is to reduce Bastralaya’s dependence and the craftsmen lived in penury. worker is even better paid than these for setting the threads for weaving to middleman with very low on sambalpuri saree which is the The unique feature of the highly skilled weavers whose entire the sarees. Weaving on threads set on or even zero margin of profit. mainstay of Sambalpuri Handloom. Sambalpuri saree is that yarn is dyed family toils for nine to ten hours daily. drums reduces the stiffness of the yarn Lack of education/illiteracy: The bottom line however is clear. before weaving and its glaze lasts for On the other hand the labour and the quality of saree decreases. Average education of the weavers is The rescue strategy has reduced ever even though the saree gets torn and material cost for arranging the Though, one of the advantages of the matriculation pass or drop out; they focus on the Sambalpuri saree, after decades of use. Natural dye raw materials is also tedious and drum is that about sixty sarees’ yarn are unable to calculate the labour cost, although the demand is still high. and vegetable colours which were expensive. One munda (Bundle) of can be set at a single time, and time material (input) cost etc and sell their To sum up the weavers’ misery is synonymous with the Sambalpuri cotton yarn for weaving (length wise) consumption and labour are reduced. products at un-remunerative prices. another instance of poor governance sarees and its reputation, are no longer costs for Rs. 500/- and it caters to Prahlad Meher, a young boy of With abysmal poverty they lead the life in Orissa. It is a pity that most of feasible to be maintained as the raw the need of two saree ( length wise). sixteen years of age in a village in of a wage-earner and are forced into the state government employees are materials needed for the colours are For weaving and making the design, Bijepur of , dropped distress sale to meet both their ends. from the coastal districts of Orissa. not readily available and the processes another munda of cotton yarn costing out after metric says, “despite Weaver living away from They have neither any understanding for making the colours with vegetable Rs. 500/ is required for each saree about socio-cultural milieus of and natural material are very time (used in the width portion of the saree). Dakshin Koshal nor have any soft consuming and labour intensive in It means for making one cotton saree corner for the poverty-ridden people comparison to the price we get in Rs. 750/-(Rs.250/+Rs.500/) of yarn is of that area. Orissa for them means return for our products-- laments needed and the cost of chemical colour a few coastal districts comprising Bichitra. As the ready-made chemical for one saree comes out to be Rs. 200. the undivided districts of , dyes and colours have been widely If the saree is made using thread , and divided Ganjam used now and they are cheaper also, dyed in natural or vegetable colour, district only. It is revealed that people the market for natural and vegetable then making and dying each colour of this area constituting present day dyed product have diminished over takes seven to eight days. Taking into nine districts have 82.76% share in the period of time, Bichitra agrees. account the labour and material cost, total government jobs in the state. Being settled in the remote villages weavers are left with only a meagre They are much popularly known of Bargarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur margin to survive. As the natural and as Katkias—the colonial exploiter and districts of Dakshina vegetable dyed sarees become very class in Orissa. To make the matter Koshal, lack of formal education, expensive, artisans are now switching worse these people do not even high incidence of illiteracy, over to chemical colours which are understand the language of the people ignorance, lack of exposure coupled cheap and take less time to dye the yarn. of South Koshal - the Sambalpuri- with the twin problems of viable Sambalpuri sarees which were Koshali language having affinity marketing access and transportation adorned for their shine owing to the to Chattisgarhi or Hindi Language. facilities have handicapped these natural and vegetable colours since If right strategies are evolved weavers that have remained busy time immemorial now find difficult to to ameliorate the life of Bhulia and churned out those 6 yards (18 survive against the chemical colours. community and plans are made feet) of wonder for generation after Owing to high costs, natural/vegetable around Sambalpuri handloom Sarees generation. They do not even receive dyed sarees are no more in demand. keeping its original characteristics in the minimum remunerative price to Only a selected few who know the tact, this will be one of the solutions have a decent living. Middleman, quality of original Sambalpuri sarees to solve the poverty issues of at least who supplies them the yarn, takes the that their shining glaze increases a few thousand people sitting with the finished product from them and very with each wash are going in for loom in western Orissa directly and a little margin is left for the weavers, the original one and they are very few lakh families in its forward and even to get back the cost of labour few in numbers. Weavers make A girl enganged in weaving. backward linkage effect. < January 15, 2011 3

Women of hills: an epitome of sufferings and strength The socialisation process of women is such that they are made to believe that their roles are restricted and they do not have the potential to think for themselves and participate equally as their male counterparts and exercise their rights. This has resulted in making the women dependent on males for financial as well as social security. Archana Chandola, Anand, Gujarat

power over women in terms of the division of work and the freedom of expression enjoyed. Women constitute as the major work force in the village where almost every activity is performed by them. Their day starts with the household work, progresses with taking care of the livestock, fuel and fodder gathering from the forests and ends again with the household chores. This cycle is followed by every woman in every season and in every condition, even if their health is at stake. The villages generally lack the basic health care facilities and its distance from some nearby town determines its degree of development. The vulnerability of women increases by many folds when the work demands a good amount of physical labour and health care is not maintained. Women tend to be careless of their own health. The reason for this behaviour can be accounted to their socialization Photos: Archana C handola process where the family good is the A beautiful scene of a village in Uttarakhand. Kids working. first priority than the well-being of the self. ur society is patriarchal in from the domain of the household opportunity to see women’s life and society where the SC households But in spite of all these factors, the nature and there have been and be an active part of the society. their daily struggles more closely do not participate equally in any women of hills possess a tremendous Ono significant changes in The socialisation process of women wearing the lenses of reality. The social activity and the occupations amount of strength which keeps them the structure of the society with the is such that they are made to believe village had a small population and a they follow are not considered at par going in all seasons of life. The women advancement of humans. The evolution that their roles are restricted and they strict caste based differentiation being with the Upper caste people. The generally have lean body structure of human beings took place without do not have the potential to think for p r a c t i c e d in the living conditions in a hilly region are therefore the strength is not purely any discrimination based on gender themselves and participate equally as difficult and the effort required for physical but also covers their mental but the foundation of society was laid their male counterparts and exercise meeting the daily requirements of the toughness. The head of household are on this differentiation and it has been their rights. This has resulted in household increases when the terrain men but the household runs with their a major factor in the evolution process making the women dependent on is rough and the agricultural produce efforts and hard work. The routine of society. This resulted in creating males for financial as well as social is dependent on the amount of rainfall drudgery does not stop them from a gap between male and female by security. received. The land holdings are engaging themselves with some extra making a clear demarcation between History has many golden chapters fragmented which make the farming activities in the village like the SHG’s. their roles in the society, customs and filled with the saga of many courageous more difficult in terms of taking care The well being of their children is all traditions to be practised and rules women from these hills of Uttarakhand of the fields which spread across the that they aspire for and sacrifice their and regulations to be followed for who by their sheer strength changed village. well being for the sake of family. Yet living in the society. With the passing the course of events and left a glorious The social fabric of the village is women are considered as the weaker decades and changing time this gap path behind them. Be it “Gaura Devi” woven in a manner to recognise sex, if only someone can realise the instead of shrinking has only widened. of the “Chipko Movement”, who the dominant role of men and strength required to sacrifice. The phenomenons of globalization, along with other women hugged the further accentuates their The empowerment of women of liberalisation and privatization have trees as a protest against their cutting rural hilly areas is the need of the made an impact on the rural society but or “Bhachendri Pal”, who became the hour as the potential is tremendous to what extent is still an unanswered first woman to conquer Mount Everest in terms of resources and people question. The rural-urban divide or women who have and are still and will be a facilitator in the can also be noticed in the context of fighting against alcoholism in their developmental process. To development where the urban society villages by shutting down the shops. empower women it is has been deeply impacted by these These women rose from the ground required to provide them developmental phenomenons but the and made their mark in the society. with the income source, rural society is still untouched and Some became famous and many were making them financially waiting for these things to spread their left as the unsung heroines of their independent and in turn roots and branches. world, making differences in their as giving them a say in the When we talk about women and well as in the lives of many others like society. The sufferings their role in society we not only focus them. will be transformed on their social role but also on their A question which arises is that into strengths by a long role in the economic and political what differentiates these women process of development spheres. From time immemorial from those women who are still being reaching them, changing their women have been associated only subjugated and discriminated in the conditions but not at the surface with the household work. Their villages, are denied their basic rights level. reproductive and caretaker role have and are struggling for equality in the It is a long way to go but cannot been considered as the only function society? be ignored as a nation cannot develop they are able to perform rather than The two month stay in a remote without developing its more than 50% giving them the freedom to step out village of Uttarakhand gave an population i.e. women. < 4 January 15, 2011 The Magnificent Mary Kom: India’s Golden Sports Icon Marriage, motherhood, and many gold medals later, she now has her eyes set on an Olympic medal at the London Olympics.

Anjulika Thingnam, WFS

habungbam Pushpa's mission home in Kangathei Kom village in a broken face and that would end in life is to become like world Churachandpur district, to Imphal, the my marriage prospects," she smiles. Cboxing champion Mangte capital of Manipur, where the coaching The first tournament Mary took Chungneijang Mary Kom, who has facilities were located. Her parents part in was the First State Level been crowned world women's boxing were initially reluctant to allow this. Boxing Championship organised by champion five years in a row and whom "But I persisted and persuaded them the Imphal District Amateur Boxing she reverentially refers to as "Madam." that sports is also a field where I can do Association and Manipur Amateur Pushpa, 18, a farmer's daughter, well. Finally, they gave in," she says. Boxing Association in May 2000. has come all the way from Wangjing At that point Mary Kom was She won a gold medal there in the Awang Leikai, in Manipur's Thoubal getting training in athletics - the 400 Light Flyweight Category, as well as district, to stay at the MC Mary Kom metres race being her forte. She also the Best Boxer title. Mary describes Boxing Academy in the picturesque did pole vault and javelin throw. The what happened next, "Father saw my Langol foothills in Imphal West victory of boxer Dingko Singh at the picture in the papers and asked me if Mary Kom shows her medals. district. She is one of nine girls 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, and it was true that I am a boxer. When I among the 27 youth currently enroled the Fifth National Games, held in said yes, he told me to give it up and Kom and Khupneivar Kom - were in the academy - all eager to learn Imphal in 1999, proved to be turning take up some other sport. It took me born, she was back on her feet. Her It has been the finer nuances of boxing from points. "There were demonstration some time to get him to relent and let comeback at the ring was in the Fourth the world renowned boxing legend matches in women's boxing during me continue. Later, he told me that he Asian Women Boxing Championship raining awards dubbed "Magnificent Mary" by the the National Games. I was inspired came to believe that it was God who held in Guwahati, where she won International Boxing Association to take up boxing," she says. was urging me to take up this sport." a silver medal. She followed this for Mary... (AIBA). "I want to follow in Madam's Seeing Mary's potential and For Mary, there was no looking up with a fourth successive world footsteps and become a world class determination, Manipur state back after her first victory. She went title in 2008 in Ningbo City, China. Mary Kom has received many champion like her," says Pushpa. coaches Narjit Singh and Laishram on a gold-chase, punching her way And now she has won the world awards for her achievements Like Pushpa, scores of young girls Kishan Singh took her under their to the first place at both national championship gold for a record fifth and contributions to women’s are increasingly entering the boxing wing. "Mary was quick to pick and international events. So far time at Bridgetown, Barbados. She boxing, the most prominent ring in this frontier northeastern state, up. She was also innovative and she has won seven Indian National defeated Steluta Duta of Romania being the Arjuna Award (2003), inspired by the fairy tale story of Mary would put in certain moves of her Championships, three golds and 16-6 in the 48kg weight category final. the Padma Shri (2005) and the Kom - a farmer's daughter who dared own, going beyond what we taught. one silver at Asian Women Boxing In the nine years since she won Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to punch her way into international She had no fear and had great will Championship; and five golds and the first medal, albeit a silver, (2009). Other awards include the limelight and remain there as the power," Laishram Kishan recalls. a silver at World Women Boxing for India at the Women's World People of the Year (2007) by the undisputed Mistress of the Ring. A little later, Mary joined the Championships, all within a span of Boxing Championship, MC Limca Book of Records; India’s The reason why Mary Kom's Sports Authority of India (SAI) at a decade - between 2000 and 2010. Mary Kom, 27, has come a long Real Heroes Awards (2007) story is particularly compelling Khuman Lampak and underwent Says Mary's husband, Onkholer way. Marriage, motherhood, and given by CNN-IBN and Reliance for young admirers like Pushpa is an intensive period of training Kom, himself a retired footballer, many gold medals later, she now Industries Limited, Mumbai; the that she too, like them, started her under her coach and mentor, "It was her perseverance, sympathy has her eyes set on an Olympic Pepsi MTV Youth Icon (2008); sports career with just a dream. Leishangthem Ibomcha Singh. for all and her innocence that struck medal at the London Olympics. the Param Poojaniya Shri Guruji Recalls Mary Kom, "I really liked Despite her hard work in the ring, me." They got married on March Mary is being helped by the Puruskar (2009) given by the the sports activities in school, and there was trouble at home. Mary had 12, 2005, at Imphal's MBC church, Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) RSS Jankalyan of Maharastra often won prizes, especially in the to handle differences with her father and ever since Onkholer has been programme of the Foundation for Prant; the North East Excellence athletics events. I was 13 when I Mangte Tonpa Kom. "My father was both guide and support for Mary. Promotion of Sports and Games, Award (2009); the Sports confided my dream to my mother." okay with athletics. When he came to Pregnancy and motherhood meant an Ahmedabad-based not-for-profit Woman of the Year (2008- But such an ambition meant that know that I box, he wasn't too happy. a two-year break. But around a year company. The programme, the 2009) given by Sahara India she would have to move from her He thought that I would end up with after their twin sons - Rechunguar brainchild of Indian sporting legends Parivar, and the YFLO Women Geet Sethi and Prakash Padukone, Achiever (2009-2010) given by seeks to identify and assist Indian the FCCI Ladies Organization. athletes with a proven track record and who have the potential to win Olympic receiving the Queen's Baton from gold medals in the six disciplines of Pakistan at the Wagah border. She is shooting, athletics, boxing, wrestling, very enthusiastic about India hosting archery and badminton. Mary says the Games: "It is a wonderful boost to she is greatly encouraged by the sports in the country. But it would have support she is receiving from OGO. been still greater if the Games also While her golden run may included women boxing," she says. appear a breeze, Mary Kom has In fact, Mary was actively involved had her share of struggle. It took in the campaign to include women's applications made over three years boxing in the Olympic Games. for New Delhi to recognise her Despite her many achievements, contributions and give her the Rajiv Mary Kom remains grounded. "She Gandhi Khel Ratna award. "It was treats us like family - eats with us, getting a little frustrating. Even after laughs with us," says her student, winning four world championship Pushpa. Mary herself puts it this way, Golds, I was being ignored. I was "Most of the students in my academy not even nominated. Then I decided come from poor families and from the best way to deal with this was to remote parts of Manipur. They are go on playing well," she explains. keen, but without proper guidance Mary Kom is a brand ambassador their talents will be wasted. God has for the XIX Delhi Commonwealth helped me. In return, I wanted to groom Games, which she regards as a as many aspiring boxers as I can." high honour and a mark of national Mary Kom has tried to be true to recognition. She - along with Olympic the motto she set for her academy, Photos: Anjulika Thingnam, WFS bronze medalist Vijender Singh - were taken from the Bible: "Train a child Students at MC Mary Kom’s boxing academy. From left: Shila, Neijangchon and Pushpa (in red). the first baton bearers of the Games, in the way he should go". < Native!!!! Kungi KittatheAlieninher struggle asabeginnerforlife. new labourskills.Fornofaultofherssheisforcedtocomeoutretirementand Kungi attheageof67yearslearnstwonewlanguages,skillsforsurvivaland January 15,2011 l ae oig u bcue f their of because out losing are all her brother, brother-in-law her and sister her her son, finds daily on She jobs wages. are nearby. there learns villages the She the by living acceptable people her make will Malayalam little and Tamil learning realizes She shop. ration a at buy you hear alien. so feel They and languages different at? skilled are they that they require jobs. But that what is realize the to work forced are They earn. at prices that are more than what they be earned and food has to be procured money to buy the same. 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Chennai,TamilNadu kali oet hc wr ter medicines. their were the of which shrubs forest and herbs the eligible use longer to no are They forest. the into uphill fields own their from fruits and vegetables rice, the get to eligible longer no are They System. Distribution Public the by distributed card Ration the cosmetics possess you basic only if and grams sugar, buy subsidized consumables like rice, to privileged be its could You and identity. grave every know to ought you mean also could which years 75 of ancestry almost which prove to rules you ask are There tribe. the to belonging the identifying for need a out of purchase on allotment. There is comes Ownership owned. when only lands on dwell could one that life of lenders. money of clutches the from safe be to region the in tribals of set first the became They history. set had the she and did supports interventional right NGO local The replanted. properly not but uprooted been have she mobilizes 23 women like her who loans and within the next three months of concept the and Groups Help Self have the of learns She to. people shifted currently these where hills the foot at lives Malayalam who neighbor the and from Tamil learns also She food. proper of lack to due order all found to suffer anemia of the worst all her sick family members. They are for cost of free treatment find to help their takes and study research some befriends a local NGO who comes for She System. from Distribution Public food the the for card ration a for She finds out that there is a procedure the on lives. six than more for earn to works labour power to will neighboring fields goes for daily wages and all daily with she so and were both high strength mental her and environment. new they the to adapting try as them supporting not health Kungi is educated by the realities the by educated is Kungi immunity of level her Thankfully are all her daily fights for survival. for fights daily her all are anda age proper proof of address of a residence birth their proper prove to a certificate tribal, a The of schools. identity government the join may they that so language, local the speak to kid sister’s her and children certificate. the get and they until Scheduled concessions Tribes the to the eligible subsidies of any cannot They get land. the owning be eligible for to certificate caste a for They need the of problem big very a have catchers. snake and quarry and miners leaves tea plucking for labourers as fields others on work to hollow means of it what know meaning They promises. the know well They very democracy. large this of weaknesses the learning now by are people These votes. people these Years 2006–2009 locations. this these in in buried ancestors living and their have actually they and hillock Tribes particular are Schedule they to actually belong they that to one any had to never prove in have lives They identity. their land. this all an lived need have They they is realize members. family the of wage daily pooled the from buy to manage can minimum of six of her family for members. necessity basic provide would job such odd jobs. Seasonally each of this the and nearby gardens vegetable farm and tea a few more the learns in work Kungi to So provides. system distribution afford public the to that position food the a in be not will they to Else livelihood. daily potential their earn their and possess they skills the do, could they work of kind the of idea an have not do they that ug mngs o ec her teach to manages Kungi Every year people come for asking suddenly they that worst the But They share and eat what little they fact the over lament cannot One

Photos: Ganga Vidya rm hs lc also. Nilgiris the place downhill village a in settlement small very a in this lives She move time from any out to asked be all may his They ownership. for government piece from the that purchased farm owner has rich to a as them allotted cannot be residing are they where land meetings one informs them their that the on e of v i t a r t Officer s i n i m d A Year 2010 exam. the is for eligible certificate compulsory must to the be the as caste for Exam sit Public cannot standard it child 10th a reaches if still Worse n bc fr h hly tec of stretch hilly the for back and have a bus to daily get them to school to kids tribal these help to funds for He is one such organization searching 9443900724. at contacted be may He this tribals. in Paniya with works and region Koodu called NGO an runs who person such one is gmail.com) identity and the other basic eligibility. somehow community their children of certificate the get the from till system schools support garner They They work to identity. improve the health conditions. for documentations various their register them help and house and each to employees walk personally five they than less which has level small very a who at NGOs operate many are There NREGA cards. the for eligible yet not all are They health. their for support and manage to have assured regular wages dream. distant a now is forest the their to with mindset needs a change as going back healthy This shrubs. and herbs of knowledge keeping and themselves forest of the kind from their foods eating and to uphill allowed go being of hope the have despair only They and divide. of forms all doubt suffer in live hills the of side Nadu Tamil the on families to various levels of anemic condition. due brother-in-law and sister sick her and standard 10th nearing grandson growing her of worries the has panchayat. She Kollapally the adjacent Kungi in our narration is a live story. Village The r KJ Sny (koodutrust@ Sunny K.J. Mr. they if only possible be would It tribal million 2.3 the of Most Virtual Academy. Academy Virtual Fellow of the Jamshedji National Tata National this to support of hand a holding simply by single cellanemia. working to get them all Heis treated for the direction. one kilometers five And sandsoftimeshallmarkme. to lastforeternity. and soonbloomnottowitherbut leaves shallbearfruitsandflowers This Nutshallcrackandwithnew me. Till thepromiseofSpringholds missing. And thewarmthwascompletely The Winterhadsetin. chattering: and wokeupshiveringteeth And thenHis(God's)shoulders; his (husband's)shoulders I burriedmytressesandfacein everything Ithoughtwasmine. The Autumnleftmebereftof, But peltedhardonmyface. The rainscameonjustinshowers, away. Care andcaution,Ididthrow did doubtmycapacities. Of commonsenseandknowledge,I Hope isallIstillhave. And drainedmeofmytears. tempests The Summersshowedupall worth orotherwise. It sawsomanyseasonssurelyof journey onearth... Seven andSixtyyearsofmy hr i a o mr yu a do can you more lot a is There An OdetoKungi 5 < 6 January 15, 2011 Music for social Ensuring transformation protection of Under the PNDT (Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques) Act passed a Human Rights decade and a half ago it is illegal to reveal the sex of the unborn child. College students interacted with the Sakuntala Narasimhan, Bangalore, Karnataka villagers and performed a street theatre on capitalise on the emotive dimensions stigma and discrimination. of the word Laadli (used to address little girls with affection). If the baby Daniel, CFAR, Chennai, Tamilnadu girl is Laadli, how can one even think of snuffing her life even before she he International Human to pass a resolution that we will not gets born, the project asks. And that rights day is observed by the discriminate people living with HIV makes the target communities think. TInternational Community and the transgender community.” “I enjoyed the songs,” says every year on the 10th of December. During these visits to the villages Parvathibai, mother of two daughters, It commemorates the day in 1948 the college students interacted “but the spoken words preceding each when the United Nations General with the villagers and performed song made me think, too, about how Assembly adopted the Universal a street theatre on stigma and we discriminate against the girl child Declaration of Human rights. The discrimination. An oath with then in spite of our tradition of offering theme of this year’s human rights taken along with panchayat leaders prayers to female goddesses.” Her day is “Human rights Defenders and villagers to protect the human neighbour in the slum, Sangeetabai, who act to end discrimination”. rights of such communities. The On the occasion of International students also reached out to every Photo: Sakuntala Narasimhan adds, “ Barobar aahey, (You’re right), Mulga or mulgi (son or daughter), Human Rights Day it is once again single house in the village and “Laad li Bhajan Sandhya”. necessary to reaffirm the fact that after speaking to the residents they and the music is tailor-made for they are both our progeny, and it is t is Ganeshotsav time, the annual only right that we should treat them the protection of the basic rights and pasted a sticker against stigma festival in honour of the elephant- their tastes, with a touch of filmy the mainstreaming of communities and discrimination on each house. accompaniments on drums and string both the same.” Newly married Iheaded son of Shiva, especially Ashok, overhearing these comments, most at risk of HIV/AIDS is perhaps Speaking about their involvement beloved among Maharashtrians instruments. Many of the men and the most critical mechanism for for the cause, Mr. Alagarsamy, HOD, women sway to the beat, even as they intervenes to say, “Sahi baath hai (it who celebrate the festival with is true), I see so many women being preventing HIV/AIDS. Because Dept. of Social Work, Shri. Krishna great aplomb, with hundred of imbibe the message of “females too, these communities including people Arts and Science College said “Our are precious, and to be cherished”. beaten up by their husbands in our images, large and small taken in colony, how can we tolerate violence living with HIV, transgender, men College has been taking this issue of procession for immersion in the The song that follows is on another who have sex with men, women in stigma and discrimination seriously. popular theme from mythology – against females when we pray to sea. For a week before immersion, Parvathi and call her ardhangini (half sex work and injecting drug users, We have also been involved the colourful idols are installed in Radha, Lord Krishna’s beloved. “Jai, continue to be marginalized, socially in organising SMS campaigns jai O Radha” the song goes, and some of the body of her consort Shiva)?” specially erected community pandals, The message has, obviously gone ostracized and discriminated against. through students and a dedicated and devotional music blares from of the audience joins in. Songs on This year, in an attempt to break team of students will regularly Goddess Durga, another female deity home. And by making people think loudspeakers at every street corner. about the varieties of violence that the existing stigma against these organise street theatre performances In the slum known as Geetanagar of the Hindu pantheon, and Goddess communities and promote the social at various places in the city.” Parvathi, Lord Shiva’s consort, females are subject to, from feticide in south Mumbai, the music on a to wife battering to bride burning, acceptance and mainstreaming of In addition to this, the transgender Friday evening during the festivities, follow, with each song preceded by people living with HIV and these community and people living with comments pointing out how, even the Population First initiative helps is from a CD known as “Laadli to change social perspectives, using communities, over 200 people HIV interacted with Self Help Groups Bhajan sandhya” put together by a while our cultural heritage accords including panchayat leaders, human that are functioning in the village importance to female divinities, we music as a vehicle for delivering team associated with an NGO known its message. The album of “gender rights activists, youth, members and spoke to them about the need for as Population First which has a Laadli as a society discriminate against of the transgender community women to become aware of various the girl child, bemoan the birth of a sensitisation songs” developed as a project for protecting the girl child ward level initiative, has had support and people living with HIV took health issues so that they can prevent from discrimination. The first song is, daughter and resort to sex selective on the role of Human Rights and protect their families from them. abortions or feticide, because sons from the ministry of health and family appropriately enough, on Ganesha, but welfare, and is played not only during defenders and demonstrated This initiative has been with an introductory announcement are desired, not daughters. Among how they could fight stigma and undertaken by a citizen’s group the slum communities like the one Ganesh festival celebrations but also that points out that Ganesha showed during Dasara (another popular ten- put an end to the discrimination that has been formed to fight stigma great respect for his mother Parvathi, at Geetanagar, daughters are called faced by such communities. and discrimination and voice their “Paraaya dhan” (someone else’s day festival celebrated with much and in fact lost his head for protecting musical gusto all over the country). Ms. Gayathri, Secretary TAI support for these communities. her (the mythological story is that property, because daughters are Vizhudhugal CBO said, “The Professional experts from various ‘given away’ in marriage and do Using music and mythology to she had asked Ganesha to guard deliver social messages turns out to transgender community have come field of expertise have come together the entrance and not let anyone in, not thereafter belong to their natal a long way today, thanks to Dr. including: Medical doctors, legal families).The availability of mobile be far more effective than activists and so Ganesha obediently stopped ‘lecturing’ to slum dwellers to “teach Lakshmi Bai, Project Director TAI. advisors, human rights activists, his father Shiva from entering. An ultrasound facilities makes it possible She motivated us to rediscover our them”. While this CD album uses hoteliers, teachers, young people, enraged Shiva cut off Ganesha’s to have sex determination tests, even inner talents and skills. And once we representatives of Community the bhajan format, other NGOs have head as punishment for daring to though under the PNDT (Prenatal realized what we wanted to do, a lot Based Organisations, the District restrain his father; an elephant’s head Diagnostic Techniques) Act passed turned to other musical forms (folk of trainings in diverse skills such as AIDS Prevention and Control Unit, was later attached, in place of the a decade and a half ago it is illegal tunes, or tribal cultural traditions photography, catering, beautician NGO etc. Everyone who is part of human head that was chopped off). to reveal the sex of the unborn like katha-jatha among communities and hotel management were this citizen’s group is doing their bit If Ganesha was so devoted to his child. In many part of the country, in the Gujarat-Rajasthan border, provided to community members to address this issue at an individual mother, a woman, the announcement including Maharashtra, pregnancies for instance) to empower women and this has enabled us to master as well as a professional level so as says, should not we ordinary mortals, known to be carrying a female and enable them to become equal many skills and even exhibit our to reach more people. < treat our womenfolk with respect too? child are terminated clandestinely, partners in community development. talents. However, despite wanting The next song on the CD is about often with the connivance of As the music session comes to an to get integrated into the society, Vaishno Devi, a divine child born to unethical medical professionals. end at 10:00 p.m, the loudspeakers most of the community members an indigent couple in mythological The national sex ratio has fallen are switched off and the crowds face a lot of social ostracism. ” Chitrakoot. Recognising her as a steadily, at each successive Census, disperse. I overhear a group of Speaking about his experience, special child, the couple nurtured her and now stands at 937 females per women saying, as they head towards Mr. Parameswaran, President, with great affection. “Daughters are 1,000 males, whereas it should be their homes, “I will never be able to Human Rights Association said, divine gifts,” the message says, just like more than 1,000 females per 1,000 use the word Laadli again, without “Recently during a Grama Sabha the mythological deity Vaishno Devi boys based on the female’s biological remembering what was said today, Meeting in our panchayat in Perur, who draws huge crowds of devotees. superiority in terms of survival. at the beginning of each song.” while there was an interaction arranged The music is tuneful and catchy, Realising that merely passing laws another adds, “My daughter-in-law is between villagers and members of and rendered in the style of popular forbidding sex determination tests seven months pregnant -- and I hope the transgender community during professional bhajan singers, so the will not change social perspectives she will deliver a mulgi, a Laadli. I which the community spoke of audience relishes it – and the short, and preferences unless mindsets based am going to dress her in silk clothes how they were being discriminated chatty messages that precede each on deep-seated cultural perceptions and buy pretty bangles for her....” against and the challenges of even song get absorbed subconsciously. are addressed, Population First, That is what social transformation getting a house on rent. We were the Photo: Daniel, C FAR These are urban communities, headquartered in Mumbai, has an is about, I tell myself as I too head first panchayat in the entire country Student pastes a sticker including literate men and women, ongoing Laadli project that seeks to homewards.... < January 15, 2011 7

Advertisement Tariff Full Page: Domestic Care B&W Rs. 5,000 Colour Rs. 10,000 Givers Half Page: B&W Rs. 3,000 Domestic workers, who do the cleaning chores, are at the lowest Colour Rs. 5,000 end of the spectrum of home care workers; those who cook are placed a little higher while the patient or baby care Mechanical Details Bleed : 275 mm x 350 mm workers at the top. Material can be sent to Geeta Seshu, WFS [email protected] or by CD to our address implement the Act!" says Mane, institutes," Geeta says, adding that adding that the MMGS has also been while the 'nurses' work under the working on a campaign to ensure guidance of the doctors their patients domestic workers get rations through consult, the 'ayahs' are given tasks the public distribution system. like cleaning or changing the patient.

"Earlier, when we went to the "But this is not easy work and it R s . 1 5 January 15, 2011 Volume 3 Issue 1

ration shop we would be told that is difficult to find people with the What use Government I N S I D E Awards ... Misery continues there was no rice or kerosene. Now disposition for it," says Harkishan This is a very complicated process and it is rather amazing to find and Dakhin Kosal regions of Western that the traditional weavers do not use any graphic designs on Orissa. Today the Baandha fabric is paper. popularly known by its geographical and cultural name Sambalpuri. Varieties of the Sambalpuri sari if the shop-owner says he does not Bhambhani, who runs Bina Ayah's include Sonepuri, Saktapar, Pasapali, Women of hills: an Bomkai, Khandua, Bapta saris epitome of sufferings which have substantial demand. and strength Most of them have been named after the places of their origin, The socialisation process of and are popularly known as Pata. women is such that they are The "Saktapar and Pasapalli” saree made to believe ...... 3 have any grain or kerosene, we Section, a successful agency for with their distinctive black-and-white squares is a replica of the chessboard. Equally fascinating are the names— The Magnificent Mary Vichitrapuri, Chandrika, Nabagunja, Kom: India’s Golden Asman Tara and Krishnapriya. The Sports Icon earlier yarns of coarse cotton have been replaced by cotton, silks, tussar Marriage, motherhood, and Gopi Bhambhani, a private nurse who started Bina Nurses file a complaint. We have 'himmat' the placement of attendants. The many gold medals later, she now and a cotton-silk mix called ‘bapta’. Sambalpuri fabrics have their has her eyes ...... 4 original style of craft known as Baandha. The bandha or tie-and-dye technique used in Dakshin (South) Koshal is much different from that Bureau, a successful placement agency for nurses and ‘ayahs’. (confidence) and have learnt to fight," Ayah Section is an offshoot of of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Here, the yarn is first tied in portions, and each section is dyed in a different colour according to the design. Traditionally, craftsmen created Baandhas with images of flora or says Mangala Chavan, 28. Thanks to fauna or with geometrical patterns. Kungi Kitta the Alien in Bina Nurses Bureau, started by his More recently, new types of Baandha Bichitra Meher weaving Sambalpuri saree. her Native!!!! depicting portrait, landscape and Kungi at the age of 67 years flower are being designed. Baandha learns two new languages, the PRADIP KUMAR NATH & MRS HEMPRABHA CHAUHAN fabric is created using a tie-dye skills for survival ...... 5 technique. The yarns are tied according Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh to the desired patterns to prevent M u s i c f o r s o c i a l the Sanghatana, the women have also mother Gopi Bhambhani in 1963. absorption of dyes, and then dyed. transformation ...... 6 Sambalpuri Sarees of India. In sharp contrast to the in our family for generations together The yarns or set of yarns so produced t was late Prime Minister Indira unskilled manual nature of work and to keep this art and tradition is called 'Baandha'. The unique Gandhi, who became the first involved in MGNREGS, weaving of alive I am also doing the weaving feature of this form of designing is Ensuring protection of Ibrand ambassador of Sambalpuri Sambalpri saree demands meticulous despite no profit and hard labour that the designs get reflected almost Human Rights ...... 6 sareee by flaunting it at public craftsmanship with lot of physical involved in it”. Orissa government identically on both side of the fabric. functions and during electoral efforts of both hand and leg combined has helped Bichitra Meher in getting This is a very complicated process Domestic Care Givers got Jeevan Madhur and Jeevan Mangal Around 500 'ayahs' are registered campaigns all through her life. Soon with a high level of concentration. the ”National Award for Master and it is rather amazing to find omeone must think of us without a washing machine). There is followed the women newscasters of Government has never recognized Craftpersons and Weavers 2005, that the traditional weavers do not Domestic workers, who do the Doordarshan. And now the president the highly skilled labour and material 2006” and “Shilpguru Award 2006”, use any graphic designs on paper. cleaning chores, are at the of India, Mrs Pratibha Patil adorns it inputs involved for weaving these under which a citation, Memento and This versatile technique enables lowest end of the spectrum ...... 7 beautifully every now and than. But, sarees. Orissa state government Rs. 50,000/- were given to him, but a craftsman to weave colourful the artisans who weaved these sarees has helped them to get the National nothing has changed for him. He is designs, patterns and images into a insurance policies through the Life with the Bureau and a 12-hour shift for high profiled persons live in dingy Awards, but has done nothing to still struggling to get the market and fabric capable of inspiring a thought and our plight. After all, no question of security of tenure: A rooms in remote interior villages of improve the financial conditions of material support for his products. or convey a message. Thus Baandha Western Orissa struggling to make weavers by providing the input material The Sambalpuri sari is made from can be defined as “A length of both their ends meet. Very few of and marketing support. Middleman fabric woven on a hand-loom, and is systematically arranged yarn, dyed the intellectual and elite personalities is exploiting these innocent and very popular throughout India. The according to a preconceived design who dress with pride Sambalpuri illiterate weavers by exchanging the centre piece of this cottage industry in such a manner so as to enable a saree, have ever tried to know how finished products (sarees) with yarns. unit is called a monga, which is actually weaver to portray the design when Insurance Corporation. "Every month, gets them Rs 250 per day, while an these artisans struggle untiringly for Bichitra Meher, a B.A. dropout, a hand-made wooden handloom. the yarn is converted into a fabric Women’s effective role we leave our homes and worker can quit or get fired or replaced months together to weave a single son of Murali Meher of Jhilminda Sambalpuri sari is a traditional through the process of weaving". in Gram Panchayats saree, and how they are at present. village of Bajrangbali colony hand-woven Ikkat sari or saree The common motifs are borrowed Our women representative in These artisans earn much less than (Kapabari) of Bargarh district in (locally called shari) wherein the from nature. Flowers, creepers, birds, the Panchayats are no less than the daily wage of a MGNREGS Western Orissa says, “Sambalpuri warp and the weft are tie-dyed before animals are abundantly woven in Sonia Gandhi ...... 8 "S agents come to our office and collect eight-hour shift is for Rs 210, with worker as fixed by Government saree weaving has been continuing weaving, produced in the Sambalpur myriad colours, all lending a distinct our children to look after your home if she falls sick and does not turn up and your children. Yet, we get no for work for more than three days. the money. Besides, we have even an extra Rs 20 for travel from the respect, we are thrown out if we fall The task of computing a fixed managed to obtain bank accounts," railway station to the place of work. sick and, after working continuously wage for such variable standards of says Sangita Pandale, 35. This was While no training is given, an Annual Subscription all week, we get a pittance," says work is onerous. Sukumar Damle, a big step in giving legitimacy to orientation in terms of the kind of Inland: Rs. 180 a wizened Vimal Hirwai, who Maharashtra State Secretary, AITUC their existence, as opening a bank work, hygiene, safety and the subtle (12 Issues) has been working as a domestic says, "We have decided not to get account was denied to them since distinction between 'ayah' work and Special offer : worker for more than 30 years. into individual negotiations on wages they lived in rented accommodation that of a domestic worker is explained for 3 years Rs. 500 A proud member of the Maharashtra because we cannot possibly get into and did not even possess ration cards. to the recruits. "We fix the rates and (36 Issues) Moulkarin Gharkamgar Sanghatana the bargaining and fights between Domestic health care workers, take Rs 200 per month from the ayahs (MMGS), an organisation affiliated to the madams and their maids." on the other hand, get a higher daily as our service charges. They are the All India Trade Union Congress The MMGS does take up disputes wage - Rs 200-250 for 'ayahs' (helpers assured of placement,” says Harkishan. V. Murali (AITUC), Hirwai recalls a time when regarding non-payment of wages or attendants) and Rs 700-750 per day The Bina Bureau mainly provides Director she did all the housework for barely and harassment. But Damle says, for private nurses. While regulation is private nursing care, both for Mobile: 98400 93131 Rs 70. "The times must change, how the world over, there are discussions non-existent, unrecognised nursing hospitals and home care. "There is Tel: 044 -2254 2344 training institutes and placement long can we work like this without on working out comprehensive also a growing demand for male Fax: 044-2254 2323 even being recognised?" she asks. standards for domestic work. bureaus have mushroomed, fuelled attendants but we are simply not able Hirwai's daughter, Laxmi, The Maharashtra government by the increasing demand for geriatric to organise care for them," adds Gopi. [email protected] and granddaughter, Geeta, are enacted the Maharashtra Domestic care or the need for an extra hand in Both Gopi and Harkishan are [email protected] also members of the union but Workers Welfare Board Act in nuclear families to assist people with keen on more regulation to weed out www.pressinstitute.in while Laxmi also works as a 2008 but rules are yet to be framed. post-operative care or disabilities. fly-by-night operators, especially domestic, Geeta is a private 'nurse'. Although the Act does not address the Patient care work is preferred over from the Maharashtra Nurses Associate Editor The story of these three women - fixation of wages, it does lay down cleaning, as it is better paid and has Council for nursing institutes. Ambujam Anantharaman from different generations - provides important provisions like ensuring fixed 12-hour shifts. The government Regulation is much more difficult a fascinating insight into the world ration cards for domestic workers, recognised nursing institutes have for the 'ayah' service, where the of domestic workers, encapsulating and making available medical a rigorous three-year course but demand is high and employment Editorial Assistant changes in working conditions and benefits under the Employees' State institutes, like the Sumit Academy, depends on location or networks. R Surya salaries, even as it underlines the Insurance Corporation (ESIC). which Hirwai's granddaughter Geeta Gopi also began a hostel for fact that the recognition that eluded "We have been agitating enrolled in, charge Rs 4,000 for a nurses. According to Fatima John Design and Layout Hirwai's work continues to elude both for several months now for three-month course and ostensibly Dantas, 43, nurse, who takes care of Seetha Ramesh her daughter and grand-daughter. the implementation of the Act. trains for total patient care. "Not a disabled patient in Cuffe Parade Domestic workers, who do the We even stormed the residence everyone can go for a government in South Mumbai, this is a boon. cleaning chores, are at the lowest of the state labour minister course, where you need to have a "I earn Rs 700 for a day shift and Articles up to 1500 words on end of the spectrum of home care Hasan Mushrif but he said that Class 10 pass certificate. So we do Rs 750 for night shift with a 10 per women empowerment, illiteracy, workers; those who cook are placed the government had no money not have a choice but cent commission to the Bureau. With tribal issues, gender inequalities, a little higher while the patient or to set up a board and to go to the private food and travel expenses, I manage child welfare and individual baby care workers at the top. The to save Rs 10-12,000 a month. Yes, achievements, with one or two corresponding wages and status of the work is tough and we do not get photographs in jpg format of high the three also varies depending on the weekly offs unless we are ourselves resolution, to run over a full page type of work, geographical location of sick. But I am a single woman and in Grassroots are welcome. employment, and experience, or are this work is best for me," she says. simply driven by market necessities. The agencies do get complaints Every effort have been taken to assure that "It has been next to impossible of harassment and, sometimes, the accuracy of information contained in this publication are supplied and complied from to organise these workers," says ill-treatment. There are payment reliable sources. All trademark and trade Eknath Mane, President, MMGS. issues and some clients have to be names mentioned in this magazine belong to their respective owners. In case of error Editor In some areas, the cleaning job blacklisted. "People have to realise / Publisher shall not be liable for any loss or prejudice caused to the reader. Publisher (dusting, sweeping and mopping) gets that these workers provide a very reserves the copyright of the materials around Rs 200 per month; in others important service. This work is both published in the magazine. No part of the articles or photographs can be reproduced the same work will fetch Rs 500 per Photo: Geeta Seshu, WFS a necessity and a luxury. And there without the prior permission of the Publisher. month. Then there are other jobs like Three generations in domestic work - Geeta, a private is a growing demand for it," says All disputes will be subjected to the jurisdiction washing dishes or clothes (with or nurse, flanked by her grandmother Vimal Hirwai and mother, Laxmi. Harkishan. < of Chennai only.

Printed by V.B.S. Moni and published by V.Murali on behalf of The Press Institute of India - Research Institute for Newspaper Development, from RIND premises, Second Main Road, Taramani CPT Campus, Chennai 600 113 and printed at Print Shop Private Limited, 4/310 Gandhi Street, Kottivakkam, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai 600 096. Editor V Murali Registered with The Registrar of Newspapers for India under TNENG/2009/27557 Women’s effective role in Gram Panchayats Our women representatives in the Panchayats are no less than Sonia Gandhi, Sheila Dixit or Mayawati in terms of performance and leadership.

PRADEEP BAISAKH, ,

check Dam in Laxmipur has helped us to spend more on village of R Udayagir GP in education of our children, invest in A of Odisha agriculture, spend on reaching out irrigates to about 40 acres of land to our relatives in other villages, and belonging to 70 small and marginal spend in community functions which farmers and this is due to Premlata has increased socialization in the Raita, 48, the woman Sarpanch of villages.” Good implementation of R Udayagiri gram panchayat. She MGNREGS has checked distressed has undertaken several projects like migration in the Panchayat. Hari check dams, toy wall, ponds, road Paika and Mangala Raita like people, works under the scheme and created who are seasoned migrant workers durable assets in the Panchayat from the village, no more go out to under Mahatma Gandhi National work as a result of MGNREGA. Rural Employment Guarantee Act Premlata has a long performance (MGNREGA) which are enriching list in the schemes implemented the life and livelihood of people in in the Panchayat level in last three several ways. In last financial year years of her office. She has provided she has spent a record amount of pucca houses to 400 families under 80 lakh rupees in the GP under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) and scheme and as a result has begged ‘Mo Kudia’ scheme, revived the an award from the Panchayati Raj Gaon Kalian Samiti (village health department of the state government. committee) and undertaken sanitation 139 families have completed 100 activities under National Rural health days of work under MGNREGA. Mission (NRHM). Some people have A irrigation work undertaken by Premalata Raita under MGNREGA. In this heavily tribal dominated benefited under ASHA scheme and Panchayat , which is categorized as mid day meal scheme is functioning schedule area under the 5th schedule better in the schools due to her every official meeting as people trust district, some women Sarpanches of the dam has been stopped. of Indian Constitution due to the intervention. She approaches the BDO and depend on me. The faith and in Boden block wanted to convene In an occasion, Sangeeta Nayak, overwhelming tribal population, the and Tahsildar for any work of people confidence of people in me provides Gram Sabha on October 2, but the Sarpanch of Borda GP in Kalahandi enhanced income directly from the and articulates their problem clearly. me the courage”. Premlata belongs BDO was not convinced on the same. district mobilized about 3000 people wages accrued from MGNREGS How a 9th passed women musters to Scheduled Tribe and is a Christian The ladies then showed him the and blocked the way of the Collector scheme and indirectly by the irrigation so much courage to face the senior lady. Her husband Manika Raita Odisha panchayati raj manual that and got a doctor appointed in her facilities, land development, roads etc officials like BDOs and Tahsildars? works in a church and they have a narrates the mandatory holding of interior village PHC, which did infrastructures created in the villages She narrates “initially I feared to face son. There was however, no visibility Gram Sabha for at least 4 times a year. not see a doctor for several years. has enriched the consumption pattern these senior officials; but eventually of ‘proxy’ power enjoyed by any In due course the objective of Similarly, Nayana Patra, a lady of the village. Says Manjuri Paika, the fear has gone as I am here as a male members of Premlata’s family. the 73rd amendment seems to be ward member in Baruan GP of a woman activist of the village people’s representative and have Last she was in politics in 1992 gradually fulfilled. The involvement district has set examples and a Governor’s award winner, to work for people. It is my duty to when she was elected as a ward of NGOs in guiding and generating in improving the education system “the income from MGNREGA articulate the village situation in member. This time she was elected awareness among the women in the village where the school drop as the Sarpanch in 2007. A long gap representatives has yielded result. out rate has come down substantially in political career has not dampened They are able to participate in and in protecting forest in her area. her spirit. She has ensured that the discussion and decision making in Purnavasi Nayak of Damala GP of Panchayat office opens on all the the three tier Panchayat system. The Gajapati district has successfully working days. Peon Rama Goud first visible gain is of course the made market linkage of the farmer says “even if madam has fever, increased participation of women in produces like pine apples in her area she still would come to the office” general in the village meets, not only and brought about huge profit to the Premalata is one among several in numbers but in a way of qualitative hands of people. In Bingharpur GP successful women representatives involvement in the deliberations. of Khurda district, the women under of Panchayati Raj Institution Apart from becoming the the leadership of Ruma Sahu, a lady (PRIs) Odisha has produced. administrators in the Panchayats, ward member, were struggling to After the 73rd amendment the women representatives have close a liquor shop in the Panchayat in 1993, where reservation was emerged as people’s leaders to take and have drawn the attention of provided to the women in the the local issues to higher levels. the Chief Minister of the state. grassroots democratic institutions in In an instance, a dam was being Minati Padhi of Institute for India, the country has gone a long constructed by the Andhra Pradesh Women’s Development (IWD), way in empowerment of women. government in the border area of who has been guiding the women Observations from Odisha suggest Gajapati district of Odisha, which representatives like Premalata Raita, the journey of the new incarnation of would have submerged three villages says “our women representative in PRIs has gone through several phases in Gangabada GP of the district. the Panchayats are no less than Sonia beginning from awe and fear of the The area was too inaccessible for Gandhi, Sheila Dixit or Mayawati in inclusion of women in party politics; the officials to take note of the same. terms of performance and leadership. proxy rule by the male members The lady Sarpanch Sumitra Sabar The experiences on the ground of the female representatives, galvanized and led her community provide enough of evidence about dominance of the male members in launching a successful agitation the efficiency of women in politics. and senior officials in decision and made it an inter-state issue. The members of parliament therefore making and so on. Litali Das, social It was due to her initiative that should now pass the women reservation activist who works on women’s an issue of such magnitude could bill in the Parliament providing one Photos:Pradeep Baisakh issue cites several such instances. catch the attention of the powers third reservation to women in central Purnavasi nayak, Sarpanch of Damala GP in Gajpati district at work. “In an instance in 2009 in Nuapada that be and now the construction and state legislatures.” <