Dear Readers,
The Gender Team takes this opportunity to wish all its readers a very happy and prosperous new year. This time we have tried to bring more issues in the newsletter. Some that may resonate with previous issues and some new that have a profound bearing on developmental activities in the country.
Lead Story
Sexual harassment -Megan Gaventa
Whether it’s stares on the bus or whistles on the street, sexual harassment pervades women’s lives all over the world. It varies in type: in the UK, the most common forms are greetings like ‘oi oi, gorgeous’ from builders working in the street, or looks and jeers from a group of ‘lads’ in the pub. In my time in India, I have encountered a range of incidents: from men taking my photo without permission, to looking me up and down as I walk along the road, to standing that bit too close in crowded areas. Even my poor knowledge of Hindi doesn’t mean I don’t understand when groups of guys call me names or make unwelcome comments as I pass them. As a Western woman I expected to stand out from the crowd and receive unwanted attention; my guidebook even warns women travelers about the ‘eve teasing’ they are likely to face. Yet, my time in India has also shown me that these actions are not only directed to foreign females: it has been made clear to me that sexual harassment is very much part of Indian society, on streets, on buses and even in homes. It can happen to men on occasion, but the fact is that it is women who encounter the vast majority of incidences. While much may remain hidden, and much may be accepted, the question remains of how it can be stopped.
Dealing with sexual harassment involves raising awareness amongst both men and women about what behavior is acceptable, what behavior is unacceptable, and the reasons behind these differences. Addressing sexual harassment also means making everyone aware of their rights and building confidence so unwanted attention is not just ignored or accepted, but rather spoken about, complained about, and stopped. It is these types of initiatives that I have seen in PRIA, and I have heard many positive statements from men and women telling me that they will not put up with harassment in the office, and it is clear to me that such actions will not be accepted by those in charge. What is needed now therefore is to extend this awareness and confidence to the world outside the workplace. Doing so involves not just social change, but also individual effort. The first step? Raising one’s voice and saying ‘no’ to harassment, be it a look, a touch, or a name-call. All is unacceptable, and all must be stopped.
Side Story
How women friendly is NREGS?- Rajesh Kumar Sinha
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), that guarantees assured 100 days of wage employment for every household whose adult members are interested in manual labour, has salutary provisions to ensure gender equality. One-third employment for women, equal wages for women and men, crèche facilities at worksites are some of them. Even after more than a year after its launch ground realities are not so rosy. Bandi Lachmamma of Anantpur district in Andhra Pradesh works as a coolie and does not find a place in NREGS. A widow, she is denied job since she does not have a male partner. “Since higher output was seen as coming only by being family-centric, single-women have no place,” says Bandi Lachmamma. And hence, to meet her both ends, she wakes up at 5 am in the morning. After cooking, fetching water, washing and other chores by 7 am she heads for the auto that takes her to Ananthpur. She starts work at 9 am and reached back home only 7 pm. Only if NREGS had provided her job life could have been much easier.
But that does not mean women are not getting employment under NREGS. Our concern is that women friendly provisions of the Act have not been turned into reality. In financial year 2006-07, 40 percent of those who got employment under NREGS were women. In Rajasthan percentage is even higher. But working under NREGS also means compromising on other aspects. Vijayarani of Saipur Gram Panchayat in Karauli district has to leave their children with her aged in-laws and her father in-law brings the child once in a day to worksites for breastfeeding. So much about crèche facilities at worksites!
During PRIA’s own interventions and survey we have never come across a proper crèche facility for children. All that is there at few places is a swing or two.
There are some other issues too. Even if women are getting equal wages but same schedule of rates applicable to both women and men leads to lesser payments if assessed individually. Usually wages are paid to heads of households who in most cases are men. This again is reducing women’s control over resources earned by themselves. Is anybody listening?
Grassroots Experiences
Two experiences on girl child education- Amar Anand
Case 1
Bawaria community is a distinct community found all over Rajasthan. They are more known due to a particular work that they do. Their main occupation is to look after the agricultural land of others and protect it from birds, animals that graze the agriculture products and destroy the field. In Govindgarh also there is a settlement of this community in the Bhuteda Panchayat. I had interaction with this community when I started the survey of household to find out children who are not going to schools (whether private or public). In the 15 households where the survey was done in collaboration with parents were found that more than 30 children of the age group 6-14 are not attending school. It was found that only 1-2 parents are sending their ward to school. Most of the children were engaged by the parents in looking after the agricultural field of the farmers of the village. They have no time to attend school as they have to earn for their family, even from the tender age of 8! Even girls come with the boys and their parents for tending to the agricultural fields. When asked the reason for not sending the children to school, they spoke plainly that this was their work that they had been doing for ages, in fact, it is the only livelihood that they have. How could they send the children at the cost of their livelihood?
When I interacted with the teachers and saw the attendance register, I found that the children of the community are actually enrolled. When I enquired about this the teacher said that all know that the Bawaria do not send their children to school. They have admitted them but they will not come. What could they do? ‘We have to work the attendance, as we have to show enrolment to the SSA.’ Even the ward panch of Ward 6, Baldeo Yadav, involved in the survey said that this is the fact. It is difficult to change their mindset. So it seems that it is difficult to deal with the situation. But does it mean that these community children will remain illiterate generation after generation and their name will be highlighted as enrolled & literate citizen of the community.
Case 2
“No girls study after class five”, says Suman, a 12 year old girl from Udaipuriya panchayat, Govingarh block, Rajasthan. But then Suman has not attended even a day’s school. She wakes up early in the morning by 7am and starts preparing food. Her mother goes out at 8am after having a cup of tea. It is then Suman’s responsibility to do the entire household chores. She sweeps, washes clothes, cooks food, readies her younger sister and brother for school, fetches water, clean utensils and even looks after her 4 years younger brother. She only goes to bed by 9 pm in the night. And she has been doing this from the age of 8-9 years when her mother would go to work.
Only 35 kms from Jaipur town, this panchayat has majority from the SC and ST community and is involved in traditional work of carpet weaving and shoe (mojri) making. Hers is a landless family of 8 members comprising of her father, mother, grandmother, two brothers and two sisters. Addicted to alcohol and currently unemployed, her father says, “I am unwell since last Diwali and hence is unable to do any work. My wife is the only bread earner and she has to go out in early morning for labour and comes home only by 7-8 pm in the night. Suman is the only person who can do the household work and look after their younger sisters and brothers. In these circumstances, how can I send Suman to school?” Even her mother Gyarsi Devi is adamant of not sending her to school now. She says that they cannot afford to send her to school as Suman is the only one who can look after the family while she is out for work, especially since her husband or mother-in-law does not do any thing. Although her two younger sisters go to school, for Suman, it is too late to go to school.
Local - Global Snippets
New guidelines soon for child adoption (The Hindu, 6 Oct 2007): The central government will soon finalize fresh guidelines for child adoption so as to make the process more transparent and ensure that there are adequate safety checks and a tracking system.
India is a flesh trade giant (DNA, Mumbai, 10 Oct 2007): Appetites in Delhi, Mumbai have trapped 50,000 kids in prostitution. A UN reports says 90 percent of trafficking cases in India take place across interstate borders. Women and girls from West Bengal, Orrisa, A.P and the North-Eastern region herded to Delhi and Mumbai where they are subjected to various forms of exploitation.
Breast-feeding must be a child’s right (The Hindu, New Delhi, 10 October 2007), Syeda Hamid, Planning Commission member, has suggested that government should consider extending maternity leave to women to ensure breast-feeding for at least up to six months, necessary for a physically and emotionally healthy child.
The weaker sex no longer (Financial Express, 12 October 2007), Women in India seem to have come of age-finally. Women now head almost 14 percent of Indian households, rural and urban. Furthermore, 43 percent of married women are employed and 45 percent have money that they can use for themselves. NFHS-3 by the government puts into perspective financial independence, decision-making and general awareness of the so-called weaker sex.
Child sex ratio declines further (Deccan Herald, 12 October 2007), The 2001 census found a child sex ratio of 927 girls(aged between 0-6 years) per 1000 boys, five years later the third edition of a national family health survey has reported a sex ratio of 918 per 1000 boys.
Physical, sexual abuse common in marriage (The Indian Express, 12 October 2007), A latest survey done by the Population Council and KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune, show that a large number of young women are abused by their husbands at home.
Should board have quota for women (The Economic Times, 19 October 2007): The involvement of women in industry at the top level is crucial for developing a knowledge- based economy, India demands skilled educated leaders at the helm of her exploding economy and cannot afford to squander the economic potential of women. Women face certain barriers in progressing to leadership roles.
Good news for girl child in city (The Times of India, New Delhi, 25 October 2007): The figures which stood at 822 females per 1,000 males in the 2005 report is now 831 females per 1,000 males- a considerable improvement
Male chauvinism in Panchayats (The Indian Express, Chennai, 26 October 2007): Alleging discrimination on the ground of gender and caste, women panchayat president in the southern districts, particularly Dalits have claimed that they are being excluded from making administrative decision.
Child marriage (Assam Tribune, 26 October 2007): The National Family Health Survey III carried out in 29 states during 2005-06 reveals that nearly 45 percentage of girls in India were married off before they turned 18, the minimum age prescribed by the law.
Future shock: No brides for 28m (Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 30 October 2007): India will have 28million single men by the year 2050, thanks to female foeticide. The warning came at the Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health in Hyderabad.
India second in atrocities on women (The Asian Age, 31 October 2007): Domestic violence tops among the atrocities subjected on women across the world. The rate of violence in India is a high 19 percentage, coming after Zambia, which is leading in the world.
Empowering women (The Tribune, 8 Nov 2007):Government move to ensure that at least 33 percentage direct and in direct benefits of all the schemes must reach women and girls is commendable.
Financial incentive to improve Punjab sex ratio (Hindustan Times, 3 December 2007):The government will give money to families that allow the birth of a girl child in Fategarh Sahib, Punjab, the district with lowest sex ratio in the country.
States not keen on Women Protection Act (The Hindu, 11 December, 2007): National Commission for Women chairperson Girija Vyas has expressed concern over the delay in appointment of POs (Protection Officers) by states for the implementation of the newly enacted Protection of women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
IT: Need for more gender equality (The Hindu, 13 December, 2007), Nasscom, President, Kiran Karnik said that a study by the association indicated that the percentage of women employed in the IT and ITeS sector might grow from 30 percent to 45 percent by 2010.
Sex Ratio declines further in five states (The Hindu, 14 December 2007), Sex ratio has further decline in the five northern states with Punjab showing the worst results - there were only 527 girls for every 1,000 boys in 2005 as against 754 girls as per the 2001 census.
E -discussion
In this very changing social world, I am trying to figure out what being free and liberated means to Indian women. With many subliminal levels of repression underlying the many open levels of suppression, oppression and gender bias, what does it mean to be empowered? In some senses, women’s feelings of insecurity, of being biased against women ourselves, are like the colonial mindset – it is more about us than about the colonizer. As women we often behave the way men would, or at least the way we think men would. And so become witting or unwitting perpetrators of gender bias towards our gender. Today I AM the person and I AM my own glass ceiling. I AM the woman and I AM the woman apologist. I AM my jail and I AM my own liberator.
(Excerpt from Mallika Sarabhai’s article ‘A Call for Freedom’, India Today Woman, December 2007) Is there some truth to this thought?
Response to the last issue
It is indeed sad that 'esteemed' institutions like Delhi University should have such a sorry record in dealing with sexual harassment. When we link it to the topic of E-discussion, I suppose the root of the problem could be the way this is trivialised in the patriarchal Indian psyche. Many of us who have faced such harassment while commuting or when in public places also tend to ignore it. The issue at hand requires a change in the prevailing social mindset where sexual harassment in any form and to any extent has to be unacceptable. And the beginning has to be made from us ourselves.
