Introduction:
On the eve ofInternational Women’s Day every year Dalit Sthree Sakthi organizes week long campaigns with a specific theme from 1st to 8th March. The theme for this year’s campaign is
“Qualitative Childhood for Dalit Girl Children”. Likewise this year we have also named the International Women’s Day as “Shramika Mahila Dinothsavam”. The week long campaigns were celebrated division wise from 1st to 7th March and the concluding State level meeting was conducted at Vijayawada on 8th March. The brief details of the campaign are as follows:
Division/District: Machilipatnam / Krishna
The meeting was organized under the leadership of the Machlipatnam Divisional Organizer with 50 women collective members from 3 mandals. The District Coordinator (DC) invited the dignitaries on to the stage.The meeting was started with a song by the cultural team. Addressing the gathering the DC said about the present situation of dalit women and the need of qualitative childhood for dalit girl children.
State Coordinator (SC) briefed about the various circumstances that make dalit girl children vulnerable. He also explained in detail the various rights and entitlements of dalit girl children that help them to come out of this helpless situation. He motivated the dalit women to play an active role in achieving their rights by fighting against atrocities and questioning the government. Mangamma, State Women Collective member detailed about the issues in the district including the Karagraharam land issue and stressed the need of the community staying united to achieve their rights. The meeting concluded with a song by cultural team after the vote of thanks by the Divisional Organizer.
Division/District: Gudiwada / Krishna
Gudiwada Divisional Organizer organized the meeting with 67 women collective members from 3 mandals. District Coordinator presided over the meeting. The dignitaries on the dias are Vijaya Lakshmi, MDO, Bhanumathi, CDPO - ICDS, State Coordinator, DSS and Padma - State Women Collective. The MDO in her speech said that the dalit women should be assertive as the atrocities on them are increasing. She also mentioned that there are many welfare programmes for women and they have to be implemented properly so that we can see the development of women. CDPO - ICDS has appreciated DSS first of all for conducting awareness programmes for dalit women. She appreciated the role of DSS in standing by the side of the victims of atrocities. In addition, she assured her support to DSS regarding any services of ICDS. State Coordinator discussed about the various circumstances that make dalit girl children vulnerable. Then he explained in detail the various rights and entitlements of dalit girl children that help them to come out of that helpless situation. He motivated the dalit women to take an active role in achieving their rights by fighting against the injustice by questioning the government. The meeting concluded with a song by cultural team followed by the vote of thanks by Divisional Organizer.
Division/District: Filmnagar / Hyderabad
A meeting was conducted at Film Nagar in Hyderabad. The meeting was presided over by the DC and about 80 women collective members spread over 40 slums have participated. Convener-DSS has attended the meeting as chief guest and the state team has also participated. The State Coordinator spoke about the present situation of the dalit girl children and requested the mothers to take care of their children by providing nutritious food and treat them equally.
He asked them to make good use of ICDS project which is supposed to provide nutritious food and education for the children below 6 years. Then Programme Manager spoke about the atrocities that the dalit women is facing regularly and asked them to become weapons to fight against problems and issues. He also spoke about the economical condition of dalit women, explaining the huge difference in the budget that is allotted and that is actually sanctioned. The Convener spoke about the class difference that is evident in the urban slums. She asked them to assess the difference in life styles of both the groups and understand the reasons. She motivated them to fight for their rights and encouraged them to provide qualitative childhood for their children.
Division/District: Amalapuram I / East Godavari
Amalapuram Divisional Organizer arranged a meeting at Katrenikona, where in 95 women collective members from 3 mandals have participated.. Vamana Murthy, MPP attended the meeting as the chief guest. The other dignitaries on the dias were Nalla Narasimha Murthy, MPTC, Prasad - Superintendent of MDO Office, Nirmala Sarpanch of Katrenikona, Nalla Rambabu Sarpanch of Koppigunta, Lakshmi Dharma Rao - ZPTC, Sujatha - State Women Collective, District Coordinator and State Coordinator from Hyderabad. DC in her presidential address briefed about the campaign and how DSS is taking forward the slogan of qualitative childhood for dalit children. The Supt of MDO has said that the women have to take an active role in questioning the government. In continuation he said that nobody will come and feed them with all the entitlements but the women are the one who have to fight and succeed in getting the schemes. It is their responsibility to monitor the schemes and see that they are implemented properly. He assured that there will be full support from the government. State Coordinator quoted Dr. BR Ambedkar, “The development achieved in the dalit women is the scale to measure the development of the society”, said that the society has to strive for mainstreaming the dalit women and girl children. The vote of thanks was proposed by the divisional organizer.
Division/District: Amalapuram II / East Godavari
In the meeting held at Allavaram 90 women collective members from 3 mandals have participated. The dignitaries on the dias are GP Naidu Superintendent of MDO Office, Sridevi MPTC, Sudarshan Rao Sarpanch of Allavaram, Dasari Mani, Pushparajyam Ex sarpanch of Mogallmuru and State Coordinator. The programme started with a song by the participants. The participants were very active and the meeting was well organized. State Coordinator spoke about the campaign and briefed about the programmes that DSS organizes and said that DSS will be the service provider for the issues dalit women face. He also told about ICDS programme and asked them to utilize that for better childhood of their children. Naidu assured his support for the welfare of the dalit women. He said that any issue brought to his notice will be solved within no time. He also asked the group to let him know on the status of Anganwadis in their areas. Dasari Mani and few others from Thadikona raised about the lack of bus facility and the problems raised due to liquor belt shop.
Division/District: Rajahmundry / East Godavari
Rajahmundry Divisional Organizer arranged a meeting at Anaprthi with 85 women collective members from 3 mandals. The dignitaries on the dias are Srinivasa Rao, Narsimha Murthy and the State Coordinator. State Coordinator has asked the women to come forward when issues arise in the community and to be united. Some said that only few women come out and support for the cause. He said that they will have to fight for their rights and DSS is always there to support. He asked them to utilize the government schemes especially for the welfare of the children to provide good education and conducive environment. This would help for their healthy growth and better future, so that there is a tremendous change in their lives. He advocated for qualitative childhood to dalit girl children where they are free from all forms of violence and violations.
Division/District: Chevella / Ranga Reddy
The Divisional Organizers of Ranga Reddy district arranged a meeting at Govt.GirlsHigh School campus in Shabad with 70 women collective members. The meeting was organized in coordination with the MEO of Shabad. Musical chair was conducted for the participants along with other games for school girls. Later in the afternoon, Victor - MRO and Vinay Kumar - MDO attended as the guests. Prasanna Kumari - MEO presided over the programme.
Victor explained the origin of patriarchy and various forms of suppression on women. He asked the women to grow as a power and to develop economically by utilizing the schemes that the government provides. As a Mandal Revenue Officer he assured that he would help for the welfare of the women. State Coordinator spoke about the qualitative childhood for the children especially for the dalit girl children. Songs were sung by the Elementary school children. Prizes were distributed for the winners.
Division/District: Guntur (Dt)
The District Coordinator, Divisional Organizers conducted the meeting at Vavilala Hall with 114 women collective members. Convener-DSS was the chief guest and Rajeshwari CDPO ICDS, Advocate-DSS have also participated. District Coordinator presided over the programme. Advocate from DSS explained about the situation of the girl child and motivated the women collectives to educate the child in better environment for better future. He added saying that there are many atrocities on dalit women and now the women has to take good care of their children to avoid the atrocities faced by them. Rajeshwari explained about the schemes available for dalits. She also spoke about DV Act. The Convener spoke about ICDS schemes in which food is not being provided properly and how the dalit children are being treated. Tenali Divisional Organizer concluded the programme by giving vote of thanks.
Division/District: Kakinada/ East Godavari
Kakinada Divisional Organizer arranged a meeting at Kakinada with 85 women collective members from the slums. Vidyavathi, CDPO ICDS attended the meeting as chief guest, Manjulabai Retd Professor, Pitta Varaprasad - RPI District President, Srilakshmi and Vijayalakshmi advocates were the other dignitaries on the dias. Vidyavathi spoke about the child rights and said that they are being violated. She said that the parents have to provide good education for better future. Manjulabai said that it is the parents and the government responsibility to provide better childhood and education for the children. Vara Prasad said that, if the government gives the land which is useful to the dalits, they can use and develop for betterment of their livelihood. The District Coordinator explained about the situation of the dalit girl child and about the campaign for providing the qualitative childhood for dalit girl child.
Division/District: Narsaraopet/Guntur
The Divisional Organizer arranged the meeting with 120 women collective members at Machavaram. The meeting was started with the songs by the cultural team. The Advocate from DSS explained about the situation of the girl child and motivated the women collectives to educate the child in better environment for better future. He added saying that there are many atrocities on dalit women and now the women has to take good care of their children to avoid the atrocities faced by them. Administrator from DSS explained about the International Women’s Day, how the day was formed. She also motivated the women collectives to provide a better education and environment for their children to bring social change. District Coordinator spoke about ICDS schemes and its implementations. The meeting was concluded with the vote of thanks by the Divisional Organizer of Narsaraopet.
Public Meeting on Shramika Mahila Dinothsavam
The public meeting was held at press club, Vijayawada. The women collective members from all the districts have participated. Jhansi Geddam, Convener was the chief guest and Jhansi BSNL Employees Association Gen. Secretary; GDV Prakash was also on the dias. The meeting was presided over by Krishna District Coordinator. The Convener spoke about the difference in the class which is evident in the urban slums.She asked them to assess the difference in life styles of both the groups and understand the reasons.
She motivated them to fight for their rights and encouraged them to provide qualitative childhood for their children. She said “On account of International Women’s Day, we have taken a subject to speak on slums, hostels, schools of dalit children for qualitative education”. Jhansi from BSNL explained that the parents of dalit girl children should take responsibility to send them to school for their bright future. The parents should take proper care and provide better environment. Programme Manager explaining about the present situation of the dalit girl children has said that the facilities at schools, hostels are worst for a dalit girl as the government is not providing sufficient funds. If sufficient budget is given, the dalit girl child can have qualitative education and can be on par with the children of corporate schools. Vijayawada Divisional Organizer concluded the programme with vote of thanks.