REPORT ON WOMEN & DEMOCRACY MEETING

REPORT ON WOMEN & DEMOCRACY MEETING
17 February 2009



I. Introduction

The moderator, Rekha Pappu, opened The Women & Democracy meeting by asking participants to introduce themselves and give brief statements on what they hoped to accomplish at the meeting and suggest what the.

Mrudula, Dr. Reddy’s Foundation (DRF), gave an overview of the meeting, talking about women’s historical exclusion from development process and political participation, she requested participants to come together to strategise and bargain in the upcoming elections for a meaningful role to decide on our futures .

and Joe Christopher of OpenSpace, explained the OpenSpace’s goals and activities across India.

II. Issue Discussion

A. Education [Sumithra - Ankuram, Sarat babu – DRF]

Sumithra spoke about the rights of the girl child, survival rights from infancy, the rights to protection from violence, as well as the right to participation in various life activities.

Sarat Babu Vasireddy presented his paper on the status of women’s education in Andhra Pradesh (AP). He highlighted that women’s education is justified by arguing that the “educated woman” will be a “good wife and mother” rather than education leading to independence and the ability assert one’s identity.

B. Women, Identity & Rights [K. Anuradha- Safai Karmachari (SKA) Andolan, Vyjayanthi- Dalit Sthree Shakti (DSS), Gogu Syamala- Anveshi]

Anuradha spoke about SKA’s successes in liberating women from the work of cleaning dry toilets by enabling them create alternative livelihoods.

Vyjayanthi explained DSS’s demands of including Dalit women in all government positions as well as in work and education schemes.

Gogu Syamala spoke about the exclusion of Dalit women in various government schemes targeting women, such as SHG and NREG. She emphasised the need to programmatically include Dalit women in government projects.

c. Livelihoods [Usha Seethalakshmi, Lathamani - DRF, Kalyani, Nirmala Tammineni-Akshara Network, Gayatri, NREGS

Usha spoke about the effects of infrastructure and mining projects in displacing rural, poor populations, specifically the effects on women who were either left behind to take care of families and farms, or were pushed into urban settings without support and protection.

Lathamani presented the work that DRF LABS does in training women to gain livelihood skills, and pointed out that further work needs to create support systems for women who have to move to urban centres to work.

Kalyani presented her paper on the effects of environmental degradation on women’s lives such hardships of water collection, lack of sanitation and the prevalence of toxic contamination, and the dangers of biomass fuels. Nirmala presented a list of 18 demands that would ensure livelihoods for women.

Gayatri spoke about the effects of the NREG schemes, and implementation of the provisions of the act, women’s share in the works done under NREG.

d. Displacement [Rajasekhar- Action Aid Hyderabad office & Chattisgarh Group]

The group spoke about forced displacement due to violence, and the lack of support given to those displaced when they arrived in AP. Despite being here for three years, there are no job permits. Supply of ration through PDS is given.

e. Women, Crime, Laws [Teja]

Ravi Teja presented his paper on the statistics of reported crimes perpetrated against women, such as rape, harassment, dowry, and trafficking; while pointing out the shortfalls of the legal system in addressing these crimes and bringing justice to the victims.

f. Gender Budgeting

A paper reviewing the government’s gender budgeting was distributed, though there was not sufficient time for discussion.

g. Self-Help Group Charter

Copies of the SHG Charter as well as a paper on challenges and possibilities for improvement were distributed, and participants were encouraged to express their support of the SHG Charter online, though there was not sufficient time for discussion.

h. Nutrition [Sunitha – Akkshaya Foundation]

Sunitha spoke about the fact that despite nutritional supplement programs spearheaded by the government, there is widespread malnutrition amongst mothers and children. She pointed out that the prevalence of fluoride needs to be further examined because it accumulates in the body and causes bone deformity.

J. Women Participation in Panchayat Raj Institutions [Shyamala]

Shyamala spoke about the various programs put forth by the Panchayat Raj Institutes to empower women at the local level and some of the challenges that women leaders face within their communities.

III Strategy Discussion

A survey of participants resulted in a majority decision to draft a manifesto based on the afternoon’s discussion, with possibilities for revision at a later date. The majority agreed that the manifesto would endorse a small number of demands (five to ten), which would be popularly acceptable and politically viable. It was also agreed that the demands should be inclusive enough that any woman in that state could identify with and “own” at least one of the demands.

Questions of dissemination and expansion/organization of a supportive constituency would be addressed in later meetings.


Preliminary list of recommendations to be included in the manifesto—(please email additional recommendations that you wish to be considered for inclusion in the manifesto):

1. Secure and sustainable livelihoods for all women in rural areas through the provision of job cards to all women and 150 guaranteed workdays per woman.

2. Clear policy on providing basic amenities (ration cards, water, electricity, access to primary healthcare and primary education) at receiving sites to all displaced people and migrants.
3. Thirty-three percent reservations for women in all elected bodies from the panchayat level to the legislative assembly and ministerial positions. Capacity building to women aspirants and incumbants to panchayats should be an ongoing thing.
4. Implement the new education bill to the fullest extent and make education compulsory up to the age of eighteen. 100% government subsidised compulsory education for all girls through intermediate level in a school of girl’s choice. All the girls irrespective of caste and economic status should be covered under this policy.
5. Ensure implementation of Domestic Violence Act by Providing dedicated police control rooms to address cases of violence against women; provide protection and financial support to women victims; reduce delays in investigation and prosecution
6. Provide universal health care services to all; bring all health services, including Rreproductive health and child vaccination, under Arogya Sri; Upgrade PHCs to include inpatient and emergency care in rural areas and provide better incentives for doctors to work in rural areas.


- Mrudula Vemulapati & Joe Christopher