8th February’03
Government of Goa, declared year ‘2001 as Women
Empowerment Year, during this period various activities were organised by
different organisation at village level, State level. In this endeavour
Peaceful Society also played a major role.
Peaceful Society, Madkai organised workshops on
different topics such as Law, Education, Health, Banking, Women and Politics,
Theatre, Women Entrepreneurship, Schemes for self reliance of Women. The
resource persons (Advocates, Teachers, medical practitioners, Mamlatdar from
Ponda, Margao, Journalists and other dignitaries from social field) from
different fields presided over the workshops, provided their valuable advice.
These workshops were attended by women from Kundai, Madkai, Marcel, and
Cumbarjuva. As an outcome of this workshop various inferences were drawn.
The need for the women to be educated, self reliant,
economically independent was realised, the importance of marriage registration,
birth registration was stressed, information regarding facilities provided by
the government and how they can be availed through banks, cooperative
societies, the formalities involved in banking, in day to day transactions,
were explained, the value of proper diet during childhood, pregnancy,
misconceptions regarding birth control, STD, urinary infections, were cleared.
Every month health camps were organised, wherein medical check up and
medication is given.
During the six-month programme, a core team
comprising of Ms. Bharati Bandodkar, (Women’s wing Coordinator, Peaceful
Society), Ms. Jyoti Kuncoliencar, and Dr. Poornima Usgaonkar was constituted
for successfully carrying out the programme in Goa.
Objective:
Having successfully carried
out the programme, there was a need to consolidate or eventualise the efforts
initiated, to analyse the success achieved, to understand what more needs to be
done in the field of empowering the women, to ascertain the future course of
action, to formulate a committee and chalk out future plans, a workshop on 8th
February’2003, which would mark the Consolidation of previous workshops held so
far was organised in the Campus of Peaceful Society, a programme launched by
Swaraj –Goa after its formation in January’03.
Participants:
In this workshop, members of
Swaraj –Goa team, Mr. Ulhas Arolkar, Mr. Honu Gavde, Mr. Soter D’Souza, Ms.
Bharati Bandodkar, Ms. Sonia Kamat, formed the core group. Mr. Ulhas Arolkar
was the facilitator. In all 42 participants including teachers, Women
Entrepreneurs, journalists, Women Sarpanches, from Kundai, Madkai village,
along with the rural women attended the function.
Methodology:
The one day workshops began at about 10.30 a.m. on 8th
February’03, the preparation for which had been initiated days before. The
participants were asked to register themselves. The workshop began with a round
of introduction by each of the participants.
Mr. Ulhas Arolkar, the facilitator, in his
introductory speech mentioned that the workshop is being organised by the
Swaraj Manch, to mark the consolidation phase of Women Empowerment Programme
year’01, to formulate a committee which will comprise of members from different
fields, and chalk out the future plans in Goa.
Later on, Mr. Ulhas Arolkar, cited the topics that would be discussed during the day, the topics included:
Role of Women In Politics:
The 73rd Amendments of the Indian Constitution,
guarantees 33% reservation for women in Panchayat Raj. Although this has been
done lot more needs to be achieved. Rural women, who contest the elections and
later come to power, are not aware about their rights, they mostly become mere
‘ Rubber Stamps’, and they do not enjoy Freedom of Expression, and have no say
of their own. Various schemes which are launched, are not thoroughly
implemented, this affects the image of Women Sarpanches. In rural areas, not
being well qualified also proves to be a hurdle in their functioning and in
understanding the schemes. Local people have to do a lot of running about to
avail the facilities, as everywhere work is done on the basis of acquaintance.
Some women Sarpanches shared the view that during
Gram Sabhas, most of the time is spent on critising /fault finding by a mob of
opponents, sometimes the women are also abused, forced to take decisions which
favour a section of society rather than. Time is spent on useless arguments
rather than on fruitful discussions.
Many illegal constructions occur, regarding
permitting opening of new factories, providing NOC for the same, the women do
not have the liberty in decision making .In case of job allotment, the gathered
audience felt that local youth should be given should be given first preference
rather than Non- Goans. At the same time, the reasons behind giving preference
to outsiders rather than Goan youth were analysed.
v
The
callous attitude towards work.
v
Being
non punctual at times
v
The
attitude of being “Susegad” i.e. being at ease.
v
The
desire for white –collared jobs only.
The Need of Education For
Women /The Role Of Education In Women’s Life.
In today’s fast developing world of Science and
Technology, it is most important that women are Educated, Self Reliant, economically
independent. Being educated does not mean being mere ‘Book worms’; instead they
must have first hand knowledge in all matters pertaining to Law, Health,
Entrepreneurship, and Politics, running a household. Through education moral
social values need to be inculcated. Education should not be taken as a
compulsion, instead those interested can also go for vocational training
courses –tailoring, Horticulture, Floriculture, catering.
Education must be taken not from the academic point
of view of securing high percentage, but for imbibing good values, teachers
expressed their views that, on being educated the youth /the children become
conscious about dignity of labour, which in turn alienates them from performing
household jobs, from working in fields. Parents need to stress on the education
of a girl child, provide them with favourable environment, which will bring out
the talents in them.
In Goa, we find increased incidence of ‘Girls
Dropout’. In rural areas, girls studying in X or XII, if they cannot cope up
with the studies, take a drop, and remain at home, sometimes without even
considering the other options available for them. In such circumstances, career
counselling or vocational training needs to be imparted. These girls can take
up the courses recommended by the RDA. Not having completed their graduation,
they are forced to work in factories at a low scale, sometimes in conditions
detrimental to their health; this in turn affects their future prospects for a
bright life. In extreme cases, who are unable to accept failure go to the
extent of committing suicide while some feel frustrated and nurse a feeling of
inferiority complex throughout their life.
Having evaluated the conditions, the plenary, felt
the need to initiate steps in the direction of educating and uplifting these
girls, of providing career counselling to them.
With this, the group then
dispersed for a tea break, at about 11.30 a.m.
When we speak in terms of gender equality, we mean equal
status equal rights to the women as enjoyed by their male counterparts. But, in
this male dominated society, the concept is more theoretical rather than
practical.
Crimes against women are on the rise, they are
abused, raped, subjected to ill treatment, burnt for dowry, exploited at the
working place, yet women meekly tolerate all this, they suffer yet do not
complain mainly because they are unaware about their legal rights. This is also
seen in case of married women, they are battered, forced to leave their marital
home, give up their property rights.
In Goa, even today we find incidences, where the
rural women are unaware about the importance of Birth and Marriage
Registration. Lack of knowledge regarding formalities involved in Marriage
Registration(The couple must do 2 signatures in the Civil registration office,
the duration between the first and second signature can be 15 days or second
signature must be done within three years, for validity of marriage), results
in increased cases of desertion, divorce. The cases where both the signatures
are not done, the women suffer as in the long run, they are forced to vacate
their matrimonial home, deprived of their rights and they have no proof
regarding validity of their marriage .
Considering the above facts, the gathered audience
felt, that there is a need to create greater awareness regarding Marriage
Registration, to form a Women’s Vigilance Cell which will be a source of
support and which will protest against antisocial crimes such as exploitation
of women at working place, women abduction, rape, Paedophile, burning of women
due to dowry, desertion. This cell will help in restoring the rights of the
women in trouble.
The group then dispersed for lunch break at about 1.00 a.m. The session then restarted at about 2.00 p.m. The audience then moved on to discuss about the Health Problems In Women In Goa.
Women, in general are more concerned about the
welfare of their family, in catering to the needs of each individual of the
family. Most of their time goes in settling the household chores. From dawn to
dusk, they are busy in maintaining the house, looking after their children,
attending to the invitees/guests. Even in case of workingwomen, most of the
time is spent outside the house doing the official duties. In the bargain, this
results in neglect towards Health.
Also, at times, women shy away from approaching
Doctors for health related problems like lump in the breast, menstruation,
menopause, other vaginal infections, misconceptions regarding intimate
relationships. Also there is general tendency of approaching female Doctors in
such matters.
Women, may it be rural or urban, as a wife as a
mother need to know about the diet to be taken for having a healthy body, the
diet recommended during pregnancy, after menopause, at the age of forty and
above where in certain hormonal changes occur, resulting in change of mood,
calcium deficiency occurs leading to Osteoporosis, fatigue.
They must have a knowledge about the diet to be
given to their infants, the vaccinations, the medication, especially importance
has to be given to a girls child’s diet, as various hormonal changes occur
during adolescence, as their body goes through various stages – menstruation,
pregnancy, delivery, menopause, and other stressful situations that may arise
in between or in course of life.
Having discussed the above, the audience later
examined the health issues in Goa. Here in Goa, we find instances of
malnutrition among rural women, tuberculosis, fungal infection in nails (in
case of women working in fields) mental stress due to increased expectations,
regarding child birth, due to husbands addiction to alcohol, gambling,
unemployment, and other vices.
In light of the above, the ladies felt that regular
health check-up camps must be organised, where in some of the doctors
volunteered for clinical guidance, check-up.
Also the audience felt the
need for conducting workshops for housewives, mothers, informing them about
personal health and hygiene, their children’s health, care of aged members, and
in addition, to this the art of parenting, of inculcating good social values in
their children particularly in case of girls, grooming them for being good
mothers and above all a good Human-Being.
In today’s fast developing world of Science and Technology, of increased inflation, sophisticated way of living, it is most important that women too work, that they are economically independent, self reliant and stable.
In urban areas, women mostly work in Government
institutions, private firms, multinational companies, while in villages, women
indulge in working in fields, perform household jobs, while in villages, women
indulge in working in fields, perform household jobs, while some prefer being
housewives only.
In Goa, at village level, there are various Women’s
Organisations, which encourage housewives to be ‘Entrepreneurs’. But, most of
the housewives are unaware of various Government schemes, procedures involved
in availing loans. Rural women prefer to borrow money from indigenous
moneylender rather than from ‘ Nationalised Banks’.
They find banking procedures to be tedious, time
consuming, they are unable to understand the terms and conditions, mode of
repayment of loans. There are ‘Self –Help Groups’ which promote sale of
household items like pickles, papads, masala powders, spices etc. Apart from
this, women can also indulge in catering, floriculture, horticulture, network
marketing, running a nursery /kindergarten.
The women entrepreneurs, Ms. Sandra Fernandes, Ms.
Nafees Shaikh, MS. Seema Nagarsekar and the gathered audience then decided to
initiate steps to strengthen Women Self Help Groups which promote and encourage
self reliance and self sustainance of rural, urban women.
With this, the participants dispersed
for tea break at about 3.30 p.m. and rejoined at about 4.00 p.m. to discuss, a
way forward.
Action Plan:
Considering the present scenario in Goa, and having
discussed the various issues pertaining to women in Goa, the participants
arrived at a consensus on conducting the following activities.
v Organising training
programmes, workshops for increased participation of women in Panchayat Raj.
v Having Counselling Centre or
conducting workshops on various vocations available.
v Organising health camps for women
and children.
v Providing legal advice.
v
Strengthen
Women Self Help Groups, Women’s Organisations.
Having
planned the above activities, a six-member team comprising of Ms. Seema
Nagarsekar, Ms. Neela V. Nagarsekar, Ms. Bharati Bandodkar, Ms.Meena Pai, Ms.
Praveesha Naik, Ms. Radhika Phadte, was formed to strengthen the cause of
empowering the women in Goa.
The workshop was then concluded at about 4.30 p.m.
with a vote of thanks by Mr. Honu V.Gavde.
<< >>