Tag:

women empowerment

Three Woman Judges Elevated to the Supreme Court!

by Guest Author 08/12/2024

written by Guest Author

By Neha Bhupathiraju

President Ram Nath Kovind has cleared nine names for alleviation to the Supreme Court recommended by the collegium, including three women judges:

Justice Hima Kohli, Chief Justice of Telangana High Court
Justice B.V Nagarathna, Judge, Karnataka High Court
Justice Bela Trivedi, Judge, Gujarat High Court

This is refreshing, because the judiciary has long been criticized for lack of representation. At present, Justice Indira Banerjee is the lone serving woman judge at the Apex Court set to retire in 2022, and she is among the 8 women judges who have served there since 1989. It is also for the first time in history that we’re witnessing three woman judges appointed at the sametime. India has never seen a woman chair the Chief Justice of India.

Justice Hima Kohli is the first woman Chief Justice of the Telangana HC. She was a Delhi HC judge before her appointment to Telangana. She began her practice at Delhi in 1984. She has made stellar progress in her 7 month office at Telangana HC.

Justice B.V Nagarathna began her practice in 1987. She was appointed as an Additional Judge at Karnataka HC in 2008 and as a permanent judge in 2010. Justice Nagarathna might also become the first Chief Justice of India in 2027.

Justice Bela Trivedi was elevated as an Additional Judge at the Gujarat HC in 2011. She was also transferred to Rajasthan HC and received a permanent Judge status at Gujarat HC in 2016.

Why does it matter?

The world has long been androcentric, and it has not left any stone untouched – whether it is how we understand rights and morality or issues of policy, an androcentric worldview can only be challenged by someone who does not belong to it. Women and queer persons have a hard time navigating the justice system, whether they’re a complainant or a practicing advocate. Minority representation at an office like judiciary opens several avenues for those who need judicial intervention to live a safe and secure life. They bring fresh and crucial perspectives to the table that would’ve otherwise been ignored if it weren’t for their seat at the table. It is not unknown that several laws, including language of the law, are based on incorrect notions of gender and/or sexuality. Appointments like these challenge just that. A seat at the table is the fuel for a better tomorrow. But we have a long way to go.

Out of 1079 judges at the HCs, only 82 are women. The Collegium is also known to prioritize geographical diversity over ethnic/gender/caste/other minorities and it doesn’t bode well for future appointments either. The situation at lower judiciary is however slightly better, with a 36% women representation between 2007- 2017 in 17 states.

08/12/2024 0 comments 23 views

Meet The Real Sherni : In Conversation With Rachna Pradhan, Forest officer at Senchal, Darjeeling

by Avani Bansal 08/12/2024

written by Avani Bansal

The Womb team met Ms. Rachna Pradhan, Deputy Ranger, posted in Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, Darjeeling, West Bengal. She spoke to us about her work, what does it look like on a day to day basis, and why should young people, especially women consider joining this profession. Ms. Rachna is an inspiring young woman, breaking stereotypes in more ways than one and doing so in style. Do watch and subscribe to the womb channel for similar videos.

08/12/2024 0 comments 79 views

Ambedkar’s Quest For Gender Equality

by Guest Author 08/12/2024

written by Guest Author

By Dheeraj Diwakar

“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which the women have achieved.”

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Introduction

In 2004, Columbia University released a list of the world’s best top 100 scholars, and the list was topped by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. He made enormous efforts to make sure that society follows a path of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. The same can be witnessed from his various writings and speeches.

The concept of caste is so deep-rooted in Indian society that whenever the name of Dr. Ambedkar comes up, the first image of him is that of a messiah of Dalits. But what a lot of people don’t know about Dr. Ambedkar is his fight for women’s empowerment and his pursuit of gender equality in all dimensions of national and private life. This short piece aims to highlight some of the main achievements and endeavours of Dr. Ambedkar for women’s equality in India

Ambedkar And Women’s Rights In Pre-Independence Era

Dr. Ambedkar was aware of the miserable conditions of women. He believed that women are the worst sufferers of the oppressive, caste-based, and rigid hierarchical social system. His main effort was to liberate Indian women from various social and religious ties and provide access to necessities which they were deprived of i.e., Education and Inheritance rights. He regarded education as the only tool for the emancipation of women. On 20 July 1942, while addressing the second All India Depressed classes women’s conference he said, “I shall tell you a few things which I think you should bear in mind. Learn to be clean; keep free from all vices. Give education to your children. Instill ambition in them. Inculcate in their minds that they are destined to be great. Remove from them all inferiority complexes.”

Ambedkar’s approach towards women was completely different from other social reformers i.e. Mahatma Gandhi, Jyotiba Phule, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar who tried to reform without questioning the social hierarchical order.

In the early days of 1928, a women’s conference was established in Bombay with Ramabai (Ambedkar’s Wife) as its President. About 500 women participated in Kalram Temple’s entry Satyagraha at Nasik in 1930. The number swelled up to 3000 women participating in the historic Mahad Satyagraha. He believed that family planning measures for women should be taken. In 1942, while serving as a labor minister of the executive council of governor-general he introduced a Maternity Benefit Bill. The bill aimed to provide maternity leave to women workers. In his journals i.e. Mooknayak and Bahiskrit Bharat, he made sure that the issues related to women get an equal place in it.

Hindu Code Bill

Hindu Code Bill is one of the most important initiatives made by Dr. Ambedkar to improve the miserable condition of women. Being the first Law Minister of independent India on February 24^th, 1949, he took an initiative and introduced the draft of the Hindu Code Bill in the Constituent Assembly. The bill aimed to release women from various social bondages created by the Hindu social order. The proposed legislation seeks to provide women with the Right to property and other legal rights which were prohibited by the Manu law. The Bill aimed to put men and women in equal places in terms of legal status. He argued that the ideals enshrined in the Bill have their origins in the Indian Constitution which promotes equality. The Bill was first delayed by the parliamentarians and was later rejected leading to Ambedkar giving his resignation from the post of Law Minister.

He introduced four Acts that were also incorporated in the Hindu Code Bill. The acts improved the conditions of women and strengthened their position. The list of Acts along with important provisions for women are as follows:

Hindu Marriage Act 1955: Section 5 of the Act increases the legal age of marriage for girls to 18 years. Section 17 of the Act provides punishment for bigamy. Provisions related to alimony and permanent maintenance have been provided in Section 25 of the act.

Hindu Succession Act 1956: Section 8 of the Act empowers the widow to adopt Son or Daughter. Section 14 ensures that the property of women will be her absolute property. Further, section 15 of the act makes sure that there would be a uniform succession to the property of a Hindu Female who dies intestate.

The Adoption and Maintenance Act 1956: Under Section 8 of this act, widows are empowered to adopt children. Earlier under Hindu law, they were not entitled to do so. Before this act came into force, daughters could not be adopted. Section 9 of the act makes it compulsory that the wife shall be consulted while carrying on any adoption.

The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act 1956: Section 6(a) ensures that in case of custody if the child has not completed the age of five then the custody lies with the mother. Under 6(b), if the child has been born out of an illegitimate relationship, then the first natural guardian would be mother and then father. The act also empowers the mother to change a guardian of a child who has been appointed by the father.

Constitutional Provisions

Dr. Ambedkar worked as a Chairman of the Drafting Committee and is regarded as the Father of the Indian Constitution. In many of his speeches in the Constituent assembly, he debated for equal rights for women. His approach towards women’s rights played a significant role in ensuring that Women’s rights find a special place in the Indian Constitution. Some of the important constitutional provisions protecting women’s rights are,

Article 14: This article ensures equality for all citizens irrespective of Gender, Caste, Creed, Religion, and race.

Article 15: This article prohibits discrimination on the grounds of Religion, Gender, Caste, Creed, and Race.

Article 16: This article says that there shall be an equality of opportunity in Public Employment.

Article 23: This article prohibits Human Trafficking and Bonded Labour.

These were some important provisions related to women. Apart from them, many other articles protect the rights of women i.e. Article 39(a) and (d), Article 42, Article 51A(e), Article 243D(3), Article 243T(3), and Article 243T(4).

Conclusion

Even in the 21^st Century, the issue of gender inequality still finds its deep roots in Indian society. The condition was more critical in the pre-independence era and the early parts of post-independence. It was Dr. Ambedkar and some other handful of social reformers who came forward to lessen the plight of age-old sufferers i.e., Women. Interestingly, when the Hindu Code Bill was to be introduced by Ambedkar, numerous women opposed the Bill. The efforts made by Ambedkar with regards to Women’s equality haven’t been much recognized or if recognized get faded because of the title he carries i.e., Liberator of Dalits.

Author: Dheeraj Diwakar

08/12/2024 0 comments 23 views

SC allows Women candidates to appear before the NDA exam

by Guest Author 08/12/2024

written by Guest Author

By Neha Bhupathiraju

Case: Kush Kalra v. Union of India

Bench: Justice Kishan Kaul and Justice Hrishikesh Roy

The Supreme Court removed the bar for women to appear before the NDA exam scheduled on September 5. The Court passed an interim order in Kush Kalra v. Union of India pending before the Court since earlier this year, and pointed out that the admission into the Army would however be subject to the decision in the petition.

This petition was filed on the grounds of violation of fundamental rights protected by Articles 14, 15 and 16 by denying women an opportunity to be eligible for the National Defence Academy. The only ground for the ineligibility is the sex of the applicant without any reasonable justification.

Justices Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy slammed the Army for its decision to exclude women from the exam, despite the Court’s ruling in Babita Puniya last year, which allowed women to be eligible for Permanent Commission just like their male counterparts. Justice Kaul pointed out “Why are you continuing in this direction? Even after Justice Chandrachud’s judgment expanding the horizons and extending Permanent Commission in the Army to women? This is unfounded now! We are finding it absurd!….Will the Army only act when a judicial order is passed? Not otherwise? We will do that if that is what you want! This has been my impression right from the High Court that till a judgment is passed, the Army doesn’t believe in doing anything voluntarily!’

When ASG Aishwarya Bhati appearing for the Government submitted that it is a policy decision, the Court said “The policy decision is based on gender discrimination. We direct the Respondents to take a constructive view of the matter in view of judgment of this court (Babita Puniya)”. The Court also expressed discontentment for compelling judicial intervention time and again.

Babita Puniya i.e The Permanent Commission Case

In 2008, the Ministry of Defence authorized Permanent Commissions (PCs) for women but only in selective and prospective cases, which was not the case for their male colleagues. In a verdict dated 2010, the Delhi High Court allowed PCs to women on par with men, which was challenged in the Supreme Court. The submissions made by the Government at the Apex Court were based on deeply sexist notions. It argued “…to take into account the inherent dangers involved in serving in the Army, adverse conditions of service which include an absence of privacy in field and insurgency areas, maternity issues and child care.”

Justice Chandrachud noted that, “Underlying the statement that it is a “greater challenge” for women officers to meet the hazards of service “owing to their prolonged absence during pregnancy, motherhood and domestic obligations towards their children and families” is a strong stereotype which assumes that domestic obligations rest solely on women. Reliance on the “inherent physiological differences between men and women” rests in a deeply entrenched stereotypical and constitutionally flawed notion that women are the “weaker‟ sex and may not undertake tasks that are too arduous‟ for them. Arguments founded on the physical strengths and weaknesses of men and women and on assumptions about women in the social context of marriage and family do not constitute a constitutionally valid basis for denying equal opportunity to women officers. To deny the grant of PCs to women officers on the ground that this would upset the “peculiar dynamics” in a unit casts an undue burden on women officers which has been claimed as a ground for excluding women. The written note also relies on the “minimal facilities for habitat and hygiene” as a ground for suggesting that women officers in the services must not be deployed in conflict zones. The respondents have placed on record that 30% of the total women officers are in fact deputed to conflict areas”.

While the judgement allowed women to be equally eligible for PCs, financial incentives, pension etc, the reality post the verdict is disappointing. Data revealed that only 45% were commissioned out of eligible 75% – whereas 90% male officers were commissioned. Further, women are subjected to blanket policies unlike their male counterparts. Women, including those above 40, must pass the The SHAPE-1 category demand, passing the Battle Physical Efficiency Test (BPET), and undertaking an AE (Adequately Exercised) tenure for a minimum of two years. When Challenged before the Supreme Court, the Army contended that women are seeking special treatment and it will threaten the nation’s security. ‘This raises pertinent questions — are all men who have PCs but are not currently in SHAPE-1 category undermining the nation’s security? It is worth debating how or to what extent women would undermine national security, considering they are still not allowed to take up combat roles.’

All hope however is not lost. There is a massive shift in the way these institutions perceive women. Women’s entry into the armed forces began in 1992, and it has evolved since. The judiciary appears to be a beacon of hope in this case.

08/12/2024 0 comments 21 views

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on women empowerment

by Ashmi Sheth 08/12/2024

written by Ashmi Sheth

Ashmi Sheth

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was one of the rare personalities held in high regard, respected, loved and prided by people across religion, political parties and differing ideologies. After the “People’s President” returned to civilian life, he continued inspiring thousands through his writing, public service and lectures at several Universities. Many of his speeches stressed on the role of women in nation building and advised young girls to try to become good leaders. Today, on our loving former President’s sixth death anniversary, let’s review excerpts from his speeches and writings, and try to honour his ideas on the need for an inclusive nation of empowered women.

My Visions for India, Hyderabad, on October 18,1998:

“When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? ‘It’s the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons’ rights to a dowry.’ So who’s going to change the system?”

In his first speech as President in Central Hall of Parliament, July 25, 2002:

“When the women are empowered, society with stability gets assured”

Address at the Inaugural function of the elected women Sarpanches, New Delhi, August 27, 2003:

“The responsible citizens, particularly women are all the more important for the nation as their thoughts, the way of working and value system will lead to fast development of a good family, good society and ultimately a good nation.”

“…a woman with her inherent characteristics such as compassion, patience, perseverance, honesty, sensitivity to social issues, constructive approach towards problem solving and hard work, will be able to play a vital role in realising this mission. Such women, when empowered through the democratic process, can collectively produce spectacular results.”

Speech at the 11^th anniversary celebrations of the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC), New Delhi, October 9, 2005:

“Of late, the incidence of crimes against women has gone up and the role of the journalists, particularly women journalists, has become quite crucial in such cases. Nobody can understand a woman’s problem better than another woman and therefore the role of women journalists becomes all the more critical. Womankind, known for its innate humanness, sympathy and compassion is best suited to tackle all problems. Particularly, when there is so much emphasis on reformative approaches rather than retributive one.”

Interaction with students at Avinashalingam University, 2006:

“If women get into the Assembly, they would bring some order. We can also hope to see developmental politics instead of political politics if more women enter the scene. Universities and educational institutions should aim at generating employment and not employment seekers.”

Speech at the “Meeting extraordinaire” organised by G.V.G. Visalakshi College for Women, July 16, 2010:

“A nation will be empowered only when its women population got empowered.”

A part of his speech that appeared in newspapers on 25 March 2013, as a part of Gillette India’s Soldiers for Women Campaign:

“I firmly believe that the respect that its women enjoy tell us how developed a country is. Equally, I truly believe that in every man burns the courage to stand up against any injustice done to the other gender. He has demonstrated this over centuries, and we must salute and further this quality.”

“In my 80 years, I have interacted with many great women’s minds. Their professionalism, contribution to family and society have left a permanent imprint on me. And I am sure everyone has similar inspiring memories.”

“Our nation has a noble tradition of respecting women, and all good minds must unite to eliminate the inhumanities which blot our traditions. When we respect women we respect our nation. All men must stand by and stand up for all women. In this, they would be doing nothing more than nurturing their own inherent goodness, be the best they can be – and act as a morale booster for others of our gender.”

In his autobiography, ‘My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions,’ Dr. Kalam’s love and regard for the women in his life is evident. In a special chapter dedicated to his mother and his sister, Dr Kalam describes how two of them together symbolized for him the “resilience and resourcefulness of the ordinary Indian woman.” These initial lines from a poem Dr. Kalam wrote on his mother, beautifully capture what his mother meant to him and from where his noble ideas for women empowerment were born:

“Sea waves, golden sand, pilgrims’ faith,

Rameswaram Mosque Street, all merge into one,

My Mother!”

Today, as a tribute to Dr. Kalam, let us administer an oath exclusively in ‘Kalam style,’ and commit to do our best to bring about a change in the lives of women around us – in education, employment or healthcare – in whichever small ways we can. Let us pledge: “I will work in my life to change the lives of at least 20 women by empowering them through education and awareness in different spheres of life.” Start today: “Small steps lead to big changes while big steps keep us stuck.”

08/12/2024 0 comments 41 views

Tejaswini Yojana – Unlocking The Untapped Potential Of Young Women

by Srinivas Rayappa 08/12/2024

written by Srinivas Rayappa

By Srinivas Rayappa

Several studies have highlighted that women’s economic empowerment is central to realizing women’s rights and gender equality. Women’s economic empowerment includes women’s ability to participate equally in existing markets; their access to and control over productive resources, access to decent work, control over their own time, lives and bodies; and increased voice, agency and meaningful participation in economic decision-making at all levels from the household to international institutions.

However, the female labour force participation rate in India fell from 30 percent in 1990 to about 20.7 percent in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown which followed, have made things much worse for women participation in the labour force. Though the National Sample Survey found that women, especially in rural settings desire to work, in reality, most women in rural areas are rarely engaged in work outside of their homes. Preliminary data collected through Participatory Rural Appraisals in 1300 villages across 53 taluks in Karnataka shows that for 57% of women the primary activity is working on the family farm. The primary reasons cited for this trend are the lack of opportunities for women to work outside of their homes/farms and the lack of skills to undertake any specialized work outside of their villages.

When more women work, economies grow. Women’s economic empowerment boosts productivity, increases economic diversification and income equality in addition to several other positive development outcomes. As a market, women represent an opportunity bigger than China and India combined. They control $20 trillion in consumer spending, and that figure could reach $28 trillion in the next five years. In fact, women drive the world economy. A study reveals, that growth does not automatically lead to a reduction in gender-based inequality, however, increasing the female employment rates in OECD countries to match that of Sweden, could boost GDP by over USD 6 trillion.

In an attempt to empower young women in rural India, the Jharkhand government has embarked on a very ambitious project – “Tejaswini Yojana”. Tejaswini Yojana intends to catalyse the socio-economic empowerment of adolescent girls and young women in select districts of Jharkhand. Adolescent girls and young women are a critical entity for a growing economy like India and especially for the state of Jharkhand. This Yojana (policy) has been designed to cater to a group of women who despite having tremendous potential, have unmet aspirations. Their stark vulnerabilities point to an urgent need for comprehensive empowering interventions, focused on education and employment. Women’s access to services and programs remains limited and it is in this context that the Government of Jharkhand with the support from the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice of the World Bank designed the Tejaswini Yojana – A Socio-economic Empowerment Program for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW’s). The project serves as a best practice example of how to leverage context-specific diagnostics and global evidence to design a holistic package of services to improve outcomes for girls and young women in a low capacity environment.

The project will be implemented in 17 districts of Jharkhand where SABLA scheme of Government of India is not being implemented. The programme has already been implemented in two districts Ramgarh and Dumka and is now being rolled out at other 15 districts as well. This five year project will be implemented at a total cost of $90 million, of which $63 million will be provided by the World Bank in the form of a loan. The eligibility criteria to avail this scheme would be adolescent girls and young women in the age group of 14-24 years from the state of Jharkhand. The Tejaswini Yojana will be implemented by Jharkhand Women Development Society (JWDS) under overall supervision and guidance of Department of Women, Child Development and Social Security (DWCDSS), Government of Jharkhand.

The three major goals of the project include:

1. Expanding Social, Educational and Economic Opportunities

2. Developing an Intensive Service Delivery System

3. State Capacity Building and Implementation Support

The Need:

Before embarking on the Tejaswini project, a team of experts engaged in a two-year capacity-building Technical Assistance program with the help of the Government of Jharkhand. During this period, the team conducted a state-wide survey of male and female youth to assess their aspirations and the barriers to their economic and social inclusion. This survey was complemented with in-depth qualitative research with girls, boys, parents, and teachers to understand the socio-economic environment for girls’ empowerment. An estimated 56 percent of adolescent girls and young women (ages 15–24) were neither engaged in training, education, nor employment (“NEET”), compared to 19 percent of young men from the same households. School attendance dropped significantly as girls enter adolescence, at a time when marriage and domestic pressures predominate. Only 68 percent of girls ages 14–15, and 44 percent of those ages 16–17 were enrolled in school. The vast majority (69 percent) of young women (ages 18–24) participating in the labour force were self-employed, and were mostly concentrated in subsistence agriculture and unpaid family work. Finally, the survey and focus groups underscored the importance of other decision makers in AGYW’s lives. Indeed, AGYW under the age of 18 named fathers as the main decision maker in matters affecting their lives, and those over 18 named husbands.

The Jharkhand skills gap study undertaken by the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) uncovered a number of particular constraints faced by Jharkhand’s high share of SC and ST citizens to accessing services. Some of the other specific concerns were gender specific. For instance, most of the women cited lack of vocational training institutes dedicated to women in vicinity of their place of stay as a major reason for not opting for vocational training. Also as most of the districts do not provide job opportunities for women after completion of vocational training, women prefer not to opt for vocational training.

Objectives of Tejaswini Yojana:

The objective of the project is to improve completion of market-driven skills training and secondary education for adolescent girls and young women in select districts of Jharkhand. In the 17 districts covered by the project, there are about 2.1 million adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in the 14–24 age group, of which 13 percent belong to SCs (Scheduled Castes) and 25 percent belong to STs (Scheduled Tribes). Here are the objectives of Tejaswinin Yojana –

1. Establishment and Operation of Tejaswini Clubs where groups of Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) from 17 districts of Jharkhand are identified and enrolled.

2. Life Skills and Business Skills Training will be imparted to all the AGYW beneficiaries enrolled with the project under Tejaswini clubs. Besides, community-level business skills training will be provided to the interested beneficiaries for increasing young women’s capacity to generate income through self-employment and micro-enterprise.

3. Non-formal Education and Vocational Skills Training shall be provided through an open schooling system to the beneficiaries aged 14-20 years, to bridge the gap in skills acceptable for participation in today’s highly competitive world. In addition to the training, beneficiaries aged 16-24 years will be linked to vocational skills training through performance-based contracts with select qualified providers. This scheme is applicable to both wage employment and self-employment.

4. For enhanced outreach of the project through intensive service delivery, the project will pilot and evaluate intensive community-level service models focused on increasing access to educational interventions, training and employment opportunities. The intensive intervention model will first be implemented in two districts, Dumka and Ramgarh, before expanding to the other 15 districts of Jharkhand where the focus will be on non-intensive interventions. The sub-activities include the following –

4.1. Compared to one facilitator for every two clubs in the 15 districts which will have a non-intensive intervention, additional youth facilitators will be deployed for every Tejaswini club in the two districts of Dumka and Ramgarh.

4.2. Establishment of a Cluster level resource centre for AGYW

4.3. For enhanced outreach to hard-to-reach populations, a local full-time designated safe space called a “Cluster Center” shall be established, which shall be leased and operated by the NGO provider in approximately 200 sites.

4.4. For the more vulnerable population, top-up cash grant shall be provided to Tejaswini Clubs, to help aid self-employment opportunities.

4.5. To further motivate the growth and progress of Tejaswini Clubs, better access to informal credit support shall be provided to comprehensively complete business and livelihood skills training and also pursue self-employment.

5. In an effort to facilitate inter-departmental coordination and convergence, a state strategy shall be formulated and a plan of action shall be mapped out in a consultative manner, subject to approval by the state government, thus providing a platform for convergent action of existing programs and institutions for socioeconomic empowerment of AGYW in Jharkhand.

6. In an effort to strengthen M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation), a robust system will be put in place to monitor beneficiary mobilization, participation, case management, and payments as well as any grievances or appeals. The project will support the design, development, and operation of an automated program MIS.

7. NGO service providers will be engaged to implement the community-level interventions with regard to mobilization, engagement of youth facilitators, club formation, counselling and guidance to AGYW, and setting up of community-level full-time safe spaces (cluster centers), among others.

8. Benefit payment to AGYW for Completion of Vocational Skills Training and Non-formal Education: The project will provide contingent cash transfers to the beneficiaries participating in these courses for incentivizing regular participation in, and completion of Non-Formal Education and vocational skills training courses.

9. Capacity building of DWCDSS & JWDS and implementation support through a state level resource centre for empowerment of adolescent girls and young women that will provide ongoing support to DWCDSS in evidence based policy and program development, process and impact evaluations, knowledge management and need based program augmentation. Besides, an in-depth ‘Training Needs Assessment’ of the project stakeholders at all levels will also be undertaken along with development of training modules.

10. Public Education and Communication: The project would support development and implementation of a comprehensive communication strategy and campaign to raise awareness and citizen accessibility to social care services. These would include design, printing and dissemination of posters, handbills and other audio-visual materials. Community mobilization and communications with an emphasis on engaging families and community leaders (especially men) in support of girls’ program participation and broader access to educational and economic opportunities.

11. System strengthening through standard tools and procedures: Project will facilitate development of standard tools/ reporting formats for project; support development of relevant guidelines and guidelines for project implementation, partnerships and human resource management led by JWDS; and formulation of a state strategy and plan of action for convergent action on the empowerment of AGYW

Organisational Structure:

The day-to-day implementation of the project is carried out by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) within the JWDS. For implementation and supervision of the project at the district and block levels, the JWDS has set up implementation support units in 17 project districts. In the districts of Dumka and Ramgarh, where the project will undertake intensive service delivery, every block has a Block Resource and Implementation Unit (BRIU) that is part of the JWDS. In the remaining 15 districts, the project works through Community Service Providers(CSPs) that are managed by JWDS staff. These implementation arrangements will contribute key lessons on government-led implementation of projects for AGYW, and in particular on the sustainability of publicly-financed community-level infrastructure dedicated to AGYW.

Challenges:

1. AGYW in developing contexts face multiple constraints, therefore multicomponent interventions are often needed—particularly when the goal is not only to achieve economic outcomes but also to empower women.

2. Lack of mobility is a perennial constraint for AGYW, due to a combination of domestic responsibilities tied to the home, safety concerns, and cultural norms.

3. Lack of guidance and information also constrain AGYW’s access to opportunities.

4. Economic and liquidity constraints could limit AGYW’s ability to take up key interventions and self-employment.

5. Childcare can be a constraint for participation in activities, training, and employment among married young women in the project’s target group.

Despite the project being in its early implementation cycle and the plethora of challenges that need to be overcome, the enrollment of girls and establishment of Youth Clubs and Kendras is likely to impact gender relations at the household and the community. The enthusiasm of the young women and the willingness of families to support the participation of girls in the program makes for a promising start.

08/12/2024 0 comments 29 views

पुलिस बल में महिलाएं

by Rajesh Singh 08/12/2024

written by Rajesh Singh

राजेश ओ.पी. सिंह

भारतीय महिलाओं का देश के भीतर सुरक्षा की पहली पंक्ति अर्थात पुलिस बल में प्रवेश आजादी से नो वर्ष पूर्व 1938 में शुरू हुआ, परंतु आज लगभग आठ दशकों के बाद भी इस क्षेत्र में महिलाओं की संख्या में नाममात्र की बढ़ोतरी और विकास हुआ है। 2011 की जनगणना के अनुसार भारत में 48.46 फीसदी जनसंख्या महिलाओं की है परन्तु पुलिस बल में इनका प्रतिनिधित्व लगभग 7 से 8 फीसदी के बीच ही है। जब पुरुषों द्वारा महिलाओं पर अपराध, हिंसा व शोषण होता है तो उसे किस रूप में दर्ज करना है और दोषी पुरुष के खिलाफ क्या कार्यवाही करनी है, ये सब निर्णय लगभग सभी केसों में पुरुष अधिकारियों द्वारा ही लिए जाते हैं और यहां निर्णय एक पुरुष अधिकारी द्वारा पुरुष के पक्ष में ही लेने की सम्भावना ज्यादा होती है। जैसे कि वर्ष 2015-2016 में “राष्ट्रीय परिवार स्वास्थ्य सर्वे” ने अपनी एक रिपोर्ट में बताया कि यौन हिंसा के 99 फीसदी मामलों को पुलिस ने दर्ज ही नहीं किया। वहीं ये माना जा सकता है कि यदि पुलिस बल में महिलाओं की संख्या ज्यादा होती तो निश्चित रूप से यौन शोषण के इतने मामले सामने ही ना आते और मामलों के दर्ज होने की दर भी ज्यादा रहती, जिस से पुरुषों में एक भय बना रहता। अब जब मामले दर्ज ही नहीं हो रहे तो पुरुषों में निडरता पनप रही है और वे बिना किसी डर के महिलाओं के साथ यौन शौषण के साथ साथ हर प्रकार का शोषण कर रहे हैं।

महिलाओं का सार्वजनिक जीवन

परिवार रूपी निजी दायरे से निकल कर सार्वजनिक जीवन में महिलाओं की भागीदारी अधिकांश समय तक पितृसतात्मक सोच से ही संचालित होती रही है। पितृसता ऐसी विचारधारा है जो महिलाओं को पुरुषों के मुकाबले कमजोर मानती है और यही से लैंगिक भेदभाव शुरू होता है। ये लैंगिक भेदभाव किसी भी व्यक्ति के मन में यकायक उत्पन नहीं होता, यह समाजीकरण की उस निरंतर चलने वाली प्रक्रिया से ही जन्म लेता है, जो बाल्यकाल से ही आरंभ हो जाती है।

इसमें प्रत्यक्ष भूमिका घर व परिवार की और अप्रत्यक्ष भूमिका विद्यालयों की होती है। इस तथ्य की पुष्टि दो महत्वपूर्ण तथ्यों से होती है, पहला अध्ययन “स्टेनफोर्ड विश्वविद्यालय” का है, जो बताता है कि बच्चे के जन्म से ही घर में लिंग आधारित भेदभाव शुरू हो जाता है, जो न केवल बच्चे को मानसिक रूप से कमजोर बनाता है बल्कि उसके मस्तिष्क को भी कुंद कर देता है, नतीजन बच्चा एक ही दायरे में सोचना शुरू कर देता है। वहीं दूसरा अध्ययन “ग्लोबल एजुकेशन मॉनिटरिंग रिपोर्ट 2020” का है, जो यह दावा करता है कि विश्वभर में स्कूली पाठ्यक्रम में महिला शख्सियतों की छवियों की संख्या न केवल पुरुषों की तुलना में कम है बल्कि जिन महिला शख्सियतों की छवि दिखाई गई है और पढ़ाई जाती है, वहां उन्हें सिर्फ पारम्परिक भूमिकाओं में ही चित्रित किया गया है।

प्राचीन काल में सिद्धांत के तौर पर देखे तो हमें कई जगहों पर महिलाओं की अच्छी स्थिति का उल्लेख मिलता है, जैसे मौर्य काल में महिला गुप्तचरों के उदाहरण देखने को मिलते है। ज़ाहिर सी बात है कि उस समय में महिलाओं की स्थिति आज से बेहतर रही होगी। मध्यकाल में बाहरी आक्रमणकारियों के कारण महिलाओं की क्रियाशीलता घर की चारदीवारी में सिमटती चली गई और धीरे धीरे पितृसता हावी हो गई।

और पिछली शताब्दियों में हुए श्रम विभाजन में महिलाओं को बच्चों व परिवार की देखभाल के साथ ममता, स्नेह, सेवा वाले गुणों का काम मिला और बाहर के जोखिम भरे कार्यों के साथ साहस, रोमांच, बुद्धिमत्ता जैसे गुणों वाले कार्यों को पुरुषों ने संभाला। इस प्रकार श्रम एवम् लैंगिक विभाजन धीरे धीरे विकसित हुआ, लेकिन समय के बदलते चक्र के साथ लिंग आधारित विभिन्नताओं तथा अन्यायपूर्ण और पूर्वाग्रहों से भरे नियम कानूनों, प्रथाओं व रीति रिवाजों को प्रगतिशील लोगों द्वारा चुनौती दी गई, जैसे प्रारंभ में सती प्रथा जैसी कुरीति को कानूनी तौर पर बंद करवाया गया, बाल विवाह पर रोक लगवाई गई, विधवा पुनर्विवाह विधेयक पास करवाया गया और महिलाओं की शिक्षा को लेकर अनेक अधिकारों को बनाने की कवायद शुरू की गई I

आज महिलाओं को संविधान ने वो सब अधिकार दिए हैं जो पुरुषों को प्राप्त है। इसके बावजूद मार्च 2020 में ‘संयुक्त राष्ट्र विकास कार्यक्रम ( यू. एन. डी. पी.)’ की रिपोर्ट “जेंडर सोशल नॉर्म्स इंडेक्स” में पचहत्तर देशों (जिनमें विश्व की लगभग 80 फीसदी आबादी बसती है) का अध्ययन बताता है कि लैंगिक असामनता दूर करने के क्षेत्र में पिछले दशकों में हुई प्रगति के बावजूद अब भी 90 फीसदी पुरुष व महिलाएं ऐसे है जो महिलाओं के खिलाफ किसी ना किसी तरह का पूर्व ग्रह रखते है। इस अध्ययन से एक महत्वपूर्ण बात यह निकल कर आई कि पुरुषों की तरह महिलाएं भी महिलाओं को लेकर पूर्वाग्रहों से ग्रसित है।

परन्तु इस सब के बावजूद भारत में लैंगिक भेदभाव को खत्म करने के लिए अथक प्रयास जारी है। जिसकी शुरुआत 19 वीं शताब्दी में महात्मा ज्योतिबा फुले और सावित्री बाई फुले द्वारा महिलाओं के लिए स्कूल खोलने से हुई, उसके बाद जैस महात्मा गांधी ने भी स्वतंत्रता के संघर्षों में महिलाओं को शामिल करते हुए सार्वजनिक जीवन में महिलाओं की उपस्थिति से जुड़ी वर्जनाओं को तोड़ा था।

पुलिस बल में महिला

बेशक आज महिलाओं को सारे सामाजिक, आर्थिक व राजनीतिक अधिकार प्राप्त है फिर भी काफी लंबे समय से महिलाओं ने उन्ही पेशों को चुना जिन्हें पितृसतात्मक परिधि के अन्तर्गत महिलाओं के लिए सुलभ माना जाता है जैसे, अध्यापन, नर्सिंग, डाक्टरी, रेडियो प्रचारिका, रिसेप्शनिस्ट आदि। पुलिस तथा सेना में महिलाओं की भूमिका को स्वीकारने में समाज की गति काफी धीमी रही है।

हर कार्य में महिलाओं की भागीदारी को सभी देशों व समाजों द्वारा स्वीकारा जा रहा है। पुलिस बल में महिलाओं की भागीदारी का मुद्दा केवल लैंगिक समानता का मुद्दा नहीं है बल्कि उस कार्यस्थल को लिंग समावेशी बनाने से जुड़ा मुद्दा है, जिसकी जरूरत हर परेशानी में फंसी महिला को पड़ती है।

देश भर की तमाम राज्य सरकारें पुलिस बल में महिलाओं की भागीदारी को लेकर सचेत है तथा आरक्षण व अन्य प्रावधानों के माध्यम से महिलाओं की भागीदारी को सुनिश्चित करने कि कोशिश कर रही है। परन्तु फिर भी पुलिस बल में महिलाओं की उपस्थिति अन्य कार्यों जैसे अध्यापन, नर्सिंग आदि से काफी कम है, जैसे कि आज भी पुलिस बल में केवल 7.28 फीसदी महिलाएं शामिल हुई है, और उनमें भी 90 प्रतिशत कांस्टेबल जैसे निम्नतम पद पर है, और केवल एक प्रतिशत ही निरीक्षक पदों तक पहुंच पाई है,इसके पीछे क्या मुख्य कारण है ये अपने आप में सोचने का विषय है ।

पुलिस बल चुनौतियां तथा सुधार

1. सबसे मुख्य चुनौती ये है कि आज भी बहुत से

परिवार रूढ़िवादी सोच के कारण महिलाओं को

सेना या पुलिस में भेजने से कतराते है ,क्यूंकि

हरियाणा और राजस्थान जैसे प्रदेशों में इन सेवाओं

से जुड़ी महिलाओं की शादी को लेके काफी

मुश्किल खड़ी होती है ।

2. सबसे बड़ी चुनौती महिलाओं को पुलिस बल में ये

आती है कि थानों में पुरुषों की संख्या ज्यादा होती

है इसलिए महिलाएं अपने आप को कमजोर

महसूस करती है, क्यूंकि वहां होने वाली बातचीत

और वातावरण में लैंगिक पूर्वाग्रह साफ झलकता

है, क्यूंकि अधिकांश पुलिसकर्मी गांवों से आते है

जो पितृसता सोच के अधीन जकड़े होते हैं और

उन्हें उस सोच और अभ्यास से निकलने में लंबा

समय बीत जाता है।

3. सबसे बड़ी चुनौती कार्यस्थलों पर महिला

सुविधाओं का अभाव पाया जाता है जैसे शौचालय

आदि, और ड्यूटी का समय भी निर्धारित ना होना

महिलाओं के लिए चुनौती पेश करता है।

गर्भावस्था में और माहवारी के दौरान पुलिस बल

में शामिल महिलाओं का काफी परेशानियों का

सामना करना पड़ता है।

4. सबसे बड़ी चुनौती ये है कि जब महिलाएं घर के

बाहर सार्वजनिक जीवन में शामिल हो रही है तब

पुरुष घर के कार्यों में कोई योगदान नहीं दे रहे,

जिसके कारण महिला पुलिस कर्मियों को दोहरे

बोझ का सामना करना पड़ रहा है , जिससे उन्हें

अनावश्यक तनाव का सामना करना पड़ता है

जिसका नकारात्मक प्रभाव उनके पारिवारिक

रिश्तों और बच्चों पर पड़ता है।

इन्हीं वजहों से ज्यादातर परिवार अपनी बेटियों और बहुओं को पुलिस बल की नौकरी से दूर रखते है।

समाधान – समाधानों की बात करें तो मौजूदा समय में

कार्यस्थलों पर बेहतर वातावरण व सुविधाओं की व्यवस्था की जानी चाहिए, कार्यस्थलों को लिंग समावेशी बनाने के लिए समय समय पर वर्कशॉप का आयोजन किया जाना चाहिए। सरकार को निरन्तर प्रयास करने चाहिए ताकि स्थिति में सुधार आए।

हमें ये बात ध्यान में रखनी चाहिए कि समाज के किसी एक वर्ग को लैंगिक सरंचना के कारण नुकसान हो रहा है तो ये पूरे देश व समाज का नुक़सान है न कि केवल महिलाओं का। महिला और पुरुष मिल कर ही एक प्रगतिशील समाज का निर्माण कर सकते हैं।

08/12/2024 0 comments 23 views

Women On Internet

by Guest Author 08/12/2024

written by Guest Author

By Mansi Anand

From connecting millions to another millions, a global network “The Internet” keeps on expanding itself from information to communication and many more. Today, it’s quite hard to even imagine a life without this global network. It’s just not a hub of knowledge, but a way to do things in more efficient way. A way that reduces time consumption and cost, resulting into profit maximization and what’s not?

It will not be an exaggeration to say that, at the beginning of the internet boom, men were the dominant users of internet. But today, that doesn’t hold true any longer. The data distribution of internet service by Sandhya keelery, says – 70% of Indian internet users were male while 30% were female users in 2016; which was estimated to change to 60% male users and 40% female users by 2020. This indicates towards ever growing active women participation in the world of networks.

One cannot deny the fact that internet has brought significant changes in the life of the women. Let’s discuss some of them.

Internet gives a means to women to empower herself economically by making her financially independent. At the same time, it boosts her confidence by realising the reality of the world without breaking the social norms. Secondly, women no longer have to depend on an accompanying male partner for travelling. Internet can help make all the arrangements in a safer way – from booking hotels to local transport.

When it comes to education – going to school and colleges and being an informed citizen is still a luxury for many. But internet makes education more democratic via digitalization, MOOCs etc. Internet has not only educated woman but also enlightened them to use their true potential.

While democracy grants women an equal right to vote, it is the internet which has helped many women access the information they need to make up their independent minds, and engage in discussions that brings democracy alive. Internet has provided a space to women, where they can express their opinions, without the hard physical walls of a patriarchal world. Women can choose sometimes to hide their identity and still engage in discussions that matter. But this does not mean, that internet itself is immune from the influence of patriarchy. Or that the need to hide identity is not problematic to begin with.

Specially in this pandemic, internet has been like a Messiah for every company. Here too, women are playing an excellent role in managing their economic life along with family obligations. Online working has helped many women, to take care of their children while also managing their professional responsibilities. While working from home, she feels safer and comfortable and doesn’t have to worry about being physically sexually harassed, often faced in travelling through public transport. At the same time, online working has helped men and women divide household work more equally, thus acting as an impetus for equal partnership.

Smith and Balka (1988) talk of using computer networks for feminists around the world and to keep isolated women in touch with one another. Thousands of women have started their online businesses and have attained financial independence by selling food, clothes and a whole lot of other things. While this has been very beneficial for reducing social, economic and political imbalances, it has also helped women come out of their world of isolationism.

It is however important to look towards the other side of the coin. One cannot also deny the fact that as per National family health survey report 5, on an average less than 3 out of 10 women in rural India and 4 out of 10 women in urban India have ever used internet. On the other hand, 42.6% of women ever used the internet as against an average of 62.16% among the men; which clearly shows a down graph of women as compared to men. Similarly, in rural India, 33.94% women ever used internet as against 55.6% among men. While in urban India an average of 56.81% of women ever used internet compared to an average of 73.76% among the men.

The above data shows a significant decline in the percentage of women using internet, which requires serious discussions. Some of the factors that may be responsible for this are as follows –

Lack Of Literacy Rate – This is one of the crucial factors, which come in the way and act as an obstacle, since due to lack of education, especially amongst rural women – they consider internet and related things as a burden and waste of time. As they are unaware about the benefits, hence, they avoid using it.

Social Dilemma On The Adoption Of Internet- Many a times, families occupied by traditional values don’t want their women to use internet or to maintain any connection with modernization. As they consider it as an obstacle or simply, they are not ready to accept an intelligent woman in their family, which leads women to be in a dilemma about using internet.

Problem Of Flaming– Nowadays flaming has become a major problem for women to deal with. It simply means an act of posting insults in offensive language on social networking sites which later leads to controversial conversations and became a headache for a woman using internet.

Hostility And Harassment On Internet- Such kind of unaccepted behaviour directly harms the dignity of women. Harassment on the internet impacts their mental peace and energy resulting from an intolerant comment on social networking sites or by displaying one’s personal information. This also acts as a demotivating factor for other women to get more active on the internet.

On a concluding note, one can see that – narrowing the digital divide between genders can actually give far sighted benefits to our economy and democracy. Internet has the power to create an ecosystem where women feel more included in the system. For this reason, it is pertinent that government should seriously focus on creating opportunities like – educating women through different sources, creating awareness for using internet, and most importantly by enforcing strict rules against online harassment. These reforms can bring a great change towards better women participation and that matters.

08/12/2024 0 comments 26 views

No Entry for Men – Umoja Uaso: Kenya’s Women-Only Village

by Srinivas Rayappa 08/12/2024

written by Srinivas Rayappa

Srinivas Rayappa

The Samburu are a Nilotic people of north-central Kenya. Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists who herd mainly cattle but also keep sheep, goats and camels. Rooted deeply in patriarchy, the Samburu people are semi-nomadic, largely polygamist and closely related to the Maasai tribe. Women in the tribe have been living under a harsh patriarchal system for as long as they can remember. For generations, female genital mutilation is one of the most important rituals among the Samburu tribe. Once circumcised the girl can be given away in arranged marriage to a man who is old enough to be her grandfather. The Samburu tribe has a tradition of repressing women and treating women as second class citizens. Women are not allowed to own land or other types of property, such as livestock and are considered property of their husbands.

In accordance to their culture, the father chooses an older “warrior” male with which the daughter will enter into a temporary marriage. Pregnancy is forbidden, but contraceptives are unavailable. If the child becomes pregnant, she is forced into an abortion, conducted by other women in the village. Since the girl is married at an early age, she cannot be a competent parent. While giving birth they face a lot of challenges: they rupture, they bleed, because they are young and don’t have access to healthcare facilities.

Even performing their duties and chores, is very hard for them. They are often left to take care of animals.

Some of the harrowing experiences endured by the women in the tribe include the story of a 11 year old girl who was traded for cows by her father. Her husband was 57 years old. Another young lady has five children, all with different fathers. Girls are married off to men, the age of their grandfathers. Women have little or no say in matters pertaining to the Samburu community. At village meetings men sit in an inner circle to discuss important village issues, while the women sit on the outside, only occasionally allowed to express an opinion.

If the repression and harrassment meted out to women in the Sambaru community by local men were not enough, during the 1980’s there was an “epidemic of rape” on Sambaru women by British troops on exercise in central Kenya. Since, 500-600 women from the Samburu tribe in Kenya have fought for decades to prove that they were raped by British soldiers who, under an arrangement with the Kenyan government, train regularly in the nearby countryside. Those impregnated by their rapists and who gave birth to children that are of a lighter colour than native children have been shunned, abandoned by husbands and families and forced to leave their villages. On August 14th 2003, a hundred Masai women trekked to the British High Commission in Nairobi, to lodge a complaint that they had been raped by British soldiers. Another 800 women, mostly from the Masai tribe or their Samburu cousins, have made similar claims. The matter is being investigated by Britain’s Ministry of Defence at snail’s pace. More incidents of sexual assault are coming to light with the most recent being 30 women from the Samburu tribe alleging that they were raped by Gurkhas based at Archers Post in 1997.

Distraught at being subjugated to domestic violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation and rape from men, both within and outside the community, a group of 15 brave women under the able leadership of Rebecca Lolosoli, took matters into their own hands and setout to start their own village, devoid of men. Thus, in 1990, was born Umoja Uaso (“unity” in Swahili, the Uaso Nyiro is a nearby river), an all female matriarch village located near the town of Archers Post in Samburu County, 380 km (240 mi) from the capital, Nairobi. Umoja Uaso is one of the world’s first “All-Women” communities where men are not allowed to reside nor are they allowed to dictate their views or opinions on matters pertaining to the community.

What started as a sanctuary for 15 women, who survived sexual assault and rape by British soldiers, has today grown to give shelter, livelihood and a future to any and all women trying to escape harrassment, repression and rape.

Rebecca Lolosoli, who started this movement recollects, “As a woman you have no right. If the husband wants to kill you, he has the right to kill you anytime because women are like a property. Men wanted to destroy our village but we resisted. We are not going to move an inch even if it means they kills us. Let them kill us all and make history of killing all the women in the village.”

Rebecca is the matriarch of Umoja women’s village and an advocate for women’s rights. Growing up as a member of the Samburu tribe she was married off at the age of 18. Deeply moved by the suffering of women all around her, she began speaking up about helping women who were victims of rape by British soldiers. Angered by her vocalism, the men in her neighborhood beat her up till she was hospitalized. To make things worse, her husband did not protest when she was being beaten and hence she left him. Along with her other victims of violence, she established the women-only village of Umoja Uaso. Umoja which was once a safe heaven for women has now become a globally known example of a successful matriarchy.

Even to this day, the men in the Samburu tribe consider Rebecca as a threat because they firmly believe that she is ruining the age old culture and tradition. She has faced repeated threats and attacks from local men since she set up the “women-only” village, but she remains undeterred.

What began as a refuge for survivors of sexual violence and torture, Umoja has grown to provide a safe habitat and nutures 47 women and 200 children. One would imagine that these communities would only have older women, but there are plenty of young women as well, who left their homes because they did not wish to be subjugated to torture from their husbands.

Although the inhabitants live extremely frugally, these enterprising women earn a regular income that provides food, clothing and shelter for all. Village leaders run a campsite, a kilometre away by the river, where groups of safari tourists stay. Many of these tourists, and others passing through nearby nature reserves, also visit Umoja. The women charge a modest entrance fee and hope that, once in the village, the visitors will buy jewellery made by the women in the craft centre.

Intimidated by their self-sustenance model, the insecure men from neighboring villages began beating the women and snatching away their hard earned money. The men felt threatened with the gaining independence of women. Since, Umoja has now been barricaded by thorns and women stand guard all night to protect their community. Over the years, women have grown in strength and are enjoying their freedom. There are no bells and whistles to their lifestyle but the women and children earn a regular income to take care of their basic needs.

The women of the village have been taught how to construct their own houses where they can live peacefully. With the hand crafted jewellery that they make and sell by the roadside, they have attained financial independence. With their savings, they have now started a school for the children in the village because they now understand the importance of education. Rebecca firmls believes that the children should not be handicapped because of lack of knowledge and that they should see light in their life by having good education and have an understanding of what’s going on in this world. As if setting an example, Rebecca’s daughter now studies in Germany. The self-sufficiency and freedom has inculcated a ray of hope among the distraught women which has inspired them to give a better future for their children.

On occasions, men are allowed to meet the women of the community. However, who comes in and who goes out is dictated by Rebecca. The rules of the village are crafted solely by the women. The young girls are allowed to meet their boyfriends but outside the village. When they get pregnant, their children can live in the village but the male must leave the village once they are eighteen years of age. All decisions are collectively made by the women of the community under the “tree of speech”, a place where they gather for discussions on issues plaguing their community.

The internet has put Umoja firmly on the global map and now people travel far and wide to come and see how the land of “no-men” thrives in the region of Samburu. Rebecca has been able to interact with powerful women across the globe and is now friends with the former First Lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton. Thanks to Rebecca’s every growing international clout, the elaborate beaded jewellery produced by the women of Umoja has found a worldwide marketplace. Also, Umoja Uaso has turned into a tourist destination visited by people across the globe.

Inspired by the success of Umoja Uaso, several all-feamle societies have cropped up across Kenya. While some villages forbid men completely, others allow men to be part of the community but it is the women who have an overriding say in all matters pertaining to their community.

Gender inequality is the blemish of the 21st century, a remnant of the past that the tide of time should have long washed away. It’s easier for girls in urban places to fight for equal rights but for a tribal women like Rebecca Lolosoli to raise her voice in a patriarchal society and highlight that misogyny is not normal, is indeed a rare achievement and ofcourse commendable.

08/12/2024 0 comments 31 views

Nivedha R.M – Recycling Waste Into Wealth

by Srinivas Rayappa 08/12/2024

written by Srinivas Rayappa

By Srinivas Rayappa

“I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use” – Mother Teresa

Bengaluru, touted as the Silicon Valley of the East and the Technological Hub of India, has in recent years earned the ignominious title of ‘garbage city’ due to abysmal planning and a broken waste management system. At present, Bengaluru generates about 2,800 tonnes of mixed waste on a daily basis. This is currently dumped in landfills, which are unhygienic, unsustainable and are under scrutiny from the Karnataka High Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

People are seen scrunching their noses, complaining about the unbearable stench and grumbling about how their area has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, but very few have taken any concrete steps to find a viable solution to the problem. However, Ms. Nivedha RM has set out on a journey to put an end to this menace.

Nivedha was in her third year of chemical engineering at Bengaluru’s R V College of Engineering when she and a group of friends cleared a lane near their college, where garbage had piled up over time and remained uncleared. This initiative made headlines in a local magazine which gave her the much needed recognition to pursue a larger goal of cleaning up Bangalore.

In her vicinity, Nivedha saw that all kinds of waste – stale food, diapers, blood, used syringes, plastic were strewn around on the streets. She was always frustrated to see the litter on the streets close to her house which would often stink and would get obnoxious when the garbage was burnt once a week by the authorities. She and her friends decided that they had to put an end to this menace and started cleaning the garbage themselves. But, unfortunately after a few days of cleaning, the garbage was back on the streets. Nivedha felt she had failed because she had only temporarily solved the problem but had failed to identify the root cause of the problem.

Determined to pursue her goal, Nivedha and her team decided to do a door-to-door campaign in an attempt to help educate people about the need to segregate waste at the source. But convincing people to change their age-old habits was a daunting task. She then began to research online to find ways in which this problem could be resolved, only to end up being frustrated because she could not find any feasible solution. Nivedha almost gave up.

One day, a 3 year old girl who was playing by the roadside, slipped and fell into a burning pile of garbage and lost her life. Nivedha was deeply anguished to hear the wails and cries of the young girl, but little could she do to help save her life. This incident left a deep impact in the mind of Nivedha and her resolve to pursue her goal of finding a solution to this menace was cemented.

Nivedha furthered her research on the internet to find any product which could segregate waste but was disappointed not to find any solution across the globe. Hell-bent on trying to fix the problem, Nivedha decided to build her own system which could get the job done. She decided to meet industry veterans and share her idea hoping somebody would help her pursue her goal. However, she was dismayed to learn that several people had attempted this feat before and had failed miserably. The only advice she got from these veterans in the industry is to not waste her time trying to fix this problem and to go find a rewarding career. Nivedha who came from a humble middle-class family was distraught by the responses she got. But the wails and cries of the 3 year old continued to haunt her and she set out to build her own machine.

Within 5 months, Nivedha built a working model of a system from scratch and was partially successful in segregating waste. Enthused by the results, she decided to demonstrate her product to all her critics who had advised her against treading on this path. Unfortunately, on the day of the demonstration, the system failed within five seconds of being switched on, as the motor jumped out of the machine and she was totally distraught. The mocking of people left her devastated and she was convinced that all her critics were indeed right in advising her not to pursue this endeavor. She decided that this was the end of the road and she must now focus on pursuing a job.

One call with her mother however changed everything. Her mother reminded her of the loss of the precious life of the 3 year old in the burning waste and the need to bring about change, else the menace could engulf the entire society one day in the near future. Her mother also reinforced Nivedha the need to put in dedicated and sincere efforts until all the possibilities were exhausted and not to bother about the end outcome. She also assured Nivedha that she would support her daughter fulfill her dreams with whatever meager income that she had.

This call with her angel mother gave her the much needed oxygen to pursue her goal. Nivedha spent the next few months visiting garbage dump sites across the city to study the different types of wastes and the potential ways to deal with this abundance of litter. Thanks to her continued efforts, she embarked on a journey which was nothing less than an adventure where she chanced upon some of the most interesting people, who eventually quit their lucrative jobs to join her in her efforts to clean the city. Now equipped with manpower and intelligence from diverse spectrum of society, her team methodically and meticulously built a system which could segregate waste, a system which was deemed impossible to build by the so-called experts. Nivedha had made her “Impossible Dream” come true. Thus was born ‘Trashcon Labs Private Limited.’

Trashcon Labs, with its technology enabled solutions, is helping the world dispose off waste in a responsible manner by turning every bit of waste into something of value that is not perceived as waste. Their flagship product, Trashbot starts at Rs. 9 lakh and the price varies on capacities. Societies can process their waste and connect it to a biogas plant or composting unit. The gas can be used for cooking purposes, while compost in the gardens. Plus, they can sell the non-biodegradable waste to Trashcon and generate revenue too.

Some of their esteemed clientele include Adani Port in Mundra, Gujarat and Airports Authority of India, Chennai.

In recognition of her work in providing unconventional solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems, the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Torbjørn Røe declared Nivedha the winner of the 2019 Impact Maker Awards which carried a prize money of Rs. 40 lakhs. The Impact Maker Awards has been instituted by the Norway-based group Xynteo, and consists of major companies like Unilever, Mastercard, General Electric and Tatas. Xynteo has also extended support to Nivedha to help her scale up the production which currently stands at ten machines a month.

In an interview to BetterIndia, Nivedha says, “When I started working at the dumpsite, my friends were getting an MBA. They would joke and mock me as a ‘kachrewali’ (waste-picker). But now, when I look back, the recognition and the blessings of people we impacted, outweigh any doubts. With every tonne of waste I saved from entering landfills, I impacted 4,000 lives (1 kg per household of four). We now want to reach every village and city and prove that waste is wealth.”

Even though Nivedha could not save the 3 year old girl from losing her life in the burning pile of waste, she has now ensured that more young children do not fall victim to the garbage menace plaguing cities across the globe.

To learn more, please contact Nivedha at nivedha@trashcon.in

08/12/2024 0 comments 28 views

Load More Posts

women empowerment

Three Woman Judges Elevated to the Supreme Court!

Meet The Real Sherni : In Conversation With Rachna Pradhan, Forest officer at Senchal, Darjeeling

Ambedkar’s Quest For Gender Equality

SC allows Women candidates to appear before the NDA exam

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on women empowerment

पुलिस बल में महिलाएं

Women On Internet

No Entry for Men – Umoja Uaso: Kenya’s Women-Only Village

Editor's Pick

Featured

Popular Categories

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?