President of Nyay Samiti (left) and a member (right)
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Today, we feature a guest contributor, Utthan, and their work empowering women to harness their voice through the development of women's federations.
In Gujarat, one of the core areas in which Utthan works is women’s empowerment and gender equality. Since 1981, Utthan has operated in the coastal (Amreli and Bhavnagar districts) and tribal areas (Dahod district) of Gujarat. Following the infamous communal violence of 2002, Utthan also reached out to the deeply affected minority communities in predominantly tribal Panchmahal District. One of Utthan’s key strategies in this area has been to empower women to institutionalize their voices through women’s federations (mahila sangathan). Today, Utthan supports four women’s federations in Gujarat.
In Gujarat, one of the core areas in which Utthan works is women’s empowerment and gender equality. Since 1981, Utthan has operated in the coastal (Amreli and Bhavnagar districts) and tribal areas (Dahod district) of Gujarat. Following the infamous communal violence of 2002, Utthan also reached out to the deeply affected minority communities in predominantly tribal Panchmahal District. One of Utthan’s key strategies in this area has been to empower women to institutionalize their voices through women’s federations (mahila sangathan). Today, Utthan supports four women’s federations in Gujarat.
After the
events of 2002, regardless of community or religious background many women felt
insecure and afraid. In 2004, responding to the need to re-establish common
ties and communal harmony, Utthan helped institute Ekta Mahila Sangathan, an
independent women’s federation comprising women from diverse backgrounds. Nine
years later, Ekta Mahila Sangathan has grown to 822 members. This post focuses on the experiences of the women members of the Ekta Mahila Sangathan (Unity Women’s Federation) in Panchmahal District.
They will fight for their own rights and seek justice. 'This way, I want women to become self-reliant and motivate other women to do the same too.' - Manjula ben Suvar (member of Nyay Samiti) |
One distinctive
aspect of the women’s federations Utthan works with is the Nyay Samiti or Justice Committee within each federation. In Ekta
Mahila Sangathan, the Justice Committee specializes in addressing the issues of
violence that most directly impact women in the area including domestic
violence, rape, dowry, inheritance, education, and the issues of single or
widowed women. The justice committee offers emotional and social support to
victims and interfaces with both formal and informal authorities on their
behalf, including the victim’s family, the village panchayat, caste panchayats,
the police, and judiciary. In the beginning, women would approach the Nyay Samiti secretly. However, as Ekta
Mahila Sangathan has grown in both size and legitimacy, women are now
comfortable approaching the Nyay Samiti in
public. Women from all community backgrounds (Muslim, Hindu, and tribal) have
reached out for help and understanding from the Nyay Samiti. The stories of two such women are below.
Salma – Standing up to domestic violence
One morning
a young woman named Salma came to Nasim ben, who is currently heading Ekta’s Nyay Samiti, crying. Salma told Nasim ben
that she was the victim of both mental and physical torture at the hands of her
husband. He beat her on a regular basis and forced her to work much more than
she could manage. The marriage had been arranged by Salma’s own aunt and
despite many complaints by her aunt, Salma’s husband continued his abusive
behavior. At Salma’s request, the Nyay Samiti
stepped in and approached the local panchayat (village council). The police
were contacted and, as a result, a warrant was issued for the husband’s arrest
and Salma was finally able to return to her parent’s home. Salma is now living
a better life, able to voice her opinion and live as she chooses, free from the
fear of her husband.
Shaista Sheikh – Fighting the abusive cycle of child
marriage
In 2011, Shaista
Sheikh was the victim of a child marriage. She was continuously tortured and
abused by her husband and in-laws. After an incident in which her in-laws
poured kerosene on Shaista and tried to light her on fire, Shaista and her
family finally had the courage to fight back against the situation. The family
approached the Nyay Samiti and the
members registered a case against the abusive husband, even while his family
refused to accept any allegation of wrongdoing. The case was registered in the
Santrampur Police Station and while the case is still pending, Shaista is now
able to lead a normal life away from her husband.
Why do we rise? |
'We, the members of Aman Youth Unity Federation, believe in the association of girls and boys to bring justice to victims irrespective of the caste, creed, or religion of the victim.' |