Women
have always formed an integral part of SAMUHA's programmes.
SAMUHAs community organisation process begins with the
organising of gender-based woni/street gumpus/groups. Fe/Male
heads of each household join their respective gender group.
Each woni gumpu then selects a representative to the Gram Samstha/Village
Institution. In effect, women comprise 50% of all community
institutions. Since decision-making in all these community institutions
is consensus-based, the role of women in decision making is
both institutionalised and made critical.
Women also form an interest group on their own.
Peoples Financial Institutions, which is based on the
apexing of thrift SHG members into formal cooperatives is
entirely built around women. SAMUHA activities also focus
on women in other ways: the watershed programmes look into
the interests and involvement of women-headed households,
and women land owners; SAMARTHYA looks at women With Disabilities;
while SAMRAKSHA looks at women infected/affected with HIV/AIDS,
womens reproductive and sexual health, and the organising
and protection of sex workers.
Pampa Nagar Mahila
Abhivruddi Samstha :
SAMUHA came across a group of former Devadasis from Tavaragera
Village who had been given 2 acres of land each as a rehabilitation
measure in 1991. Many of these women had not even seen their
lands, and all of them because the land had been issued to
them as a loan, were defaulters to their local banks.
SAMUHA began to work with the women by helping
them come together, articulate their needs and aspirations
as a group, and concentrate their impressive determination
and strength on organising themselves into a People's Development
Organisation. In April 1999, the Pampa Nagara Mahila Abhivruddhi
Samstha (PNMAS), Tavaragera, was officially registered. This
year, the PNMAS moved to its own office premises. PNMAS has,
with support from ICCO, The Netherlands, undertaken small
but significant activities that have seen the transformation
of their lands from barren, grazing lands to productive agricultural
lands; the development of dryland horticulture in 10 half
acre plots; the starting of supplementary schooling for their
children: the holding of annual functions which are now attended
by all the local leaders who also participate in the lunch
that is served as part of this function....
IMPORTANT
STATISTICS:
Total
land: 84 acres
Acres under cooperative farming: 42
Women involved in cooperative farming: 21
Plants under DLH: 550
Plants under social forestry: 10323
Naturally regenerated plants: 245 |
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The inauguration of the Munjavu
Mahila Vidoddesha Souharda Samithi Niyamitha at Deodurg on Dec
30, 2002, was attended by 1700 members. According to a bystander
who watched these women conduct their programme: "This
initiative has not only paved the way towards economic development,
but towards social and political development as well.
The MMVSSN, Tavaragera, was inaugurated in March
2003. In President Muthamma's words: "A women's bank
was our dream. Today, it's a dream come true. If this bank
is to move forward, every member in each of these 24 villages
should participate effectively by depositing the share amount
and undertaking loan transactions regularly.
KEY
LEARNINGS:
Womens
sodality has the power to break caste and class barriers.
Formal
access to bank funding is seen by the larger society as a
significant power indicator.
IN
THE PIPELINE...
...
computer training for adolescents and Nursery Teachers Course
for women
...
Tie and dye training and marketing as part of an alternative
skills strategy.
| Girls need more opportunities. They should be able to
stand on their own feet and be equipped to face challenges.
~ Susheela, grand daughter of a former Devadasi |
At age nine, Sharanamma was initiated into the
Devadasi system. In the Pampanagara community, it was a family
tradition. In 1999, when support from SAMUHA, the Pampanagara
Mahila Abhivrudhi Samstha was registered, Sharanamma joined
as an organiser for the Dry Land Horticulture programme. Her
eldest daughter, in addition to going to school, has joined
the tie and dye textile training course.
IMPORTANT
STATISTICS:
MMVSSN
members: 2883. Of these:
Women Gram Samstha members: 1318
Women Gram Panchayat members: 4
Women Taluk Panchayat members: 1
Dais: 32
Anganwadi workers: 26
Mahila Mandal members: 2
ICDS Ayahs: 18
Night school teachers: 1 |
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