Women's Empowerment
Women's Empowerment has been the center around which all programmes of the Society for Environmental Education and Rural Development (SEED) have revolved. We believe that if a society has to change, only women can bring about that change. The various activities are:
MAHILA MANGAL DALS
In the Dwarahat and Bhikyasain regions of Almora district, a unique programme on women’s empowerment has been taking shape for the last one and a half decades. An organization dedicated to women’s development, SEED, has been constantly working towards uniting women into Mahila Mangal Dals. Started originally as an experiment in the form of children’s education and environmental awareness programmes, the scheme has found a hold in more than 80 villages of the Riskon and Ramganga valleys. Women associated with these welfare groups have united themselves at a regional level into a Mahila Ekta Parishad, Suraikhet, displaying unbeatable leadership qualities. Today, heartening results of the efforts are visible throughout the valley.
Bringing forth the self-respect in the women belonging to the hills of these difficult terrains and giving a new direction to their efforts has proved to be a useful tool in bringing a change in rural life and women’s empowerment. What is interesting is that even though this expedition has now become a mission for SEED, it has never been a formally organized programme. Neither is it a part of the big budget schemes being run in the name of Mahila Swashakti, Sashaktikaran and Swayam Sahayata Samuh nor of the training programmes held by organizers who are big on money. SEED never started a programme in the name of women’s empowerment. Instead, this is a fruit of constant discussions with the rural community, esp. women through the medium of practical education and subtle training at the village level by SEED, Sunadi.
The main force behind this expedition has been a Lecturer of Chemistry at the Adarsh Inter College, Suraikhet, Dwarahat, Mr. Mohan Chandra Kandpal. Born two kilometers away from Suraiket in Kande village, Mr. Mohan adopted the work of teaching in a village school after his education in the city of Kanpur. While he worked as a teacher, the condition of rural women invoked in him the desire to understand and finally bring about a change in their lives. As a beginning, this teacher started his expedition by establishing an organization Society for Environmental Education and Rural Development, “SEED” on the World Environment Day, 5th June,1993.
In the initial years, the organization began discussions with school students regarding the problem of grass, fodder, leaves, fuel wood, water and women’s education in villages under the umbrella of environmental education. An appeal to participate in the process of discovering solutions to these problems was made to the rural communities. However, they met with failure in their efforts regarding this matter. Women of the villages maintained a distance and took no interest in these academic programmes and experiments in school. Since most men of the villages in the region, like those of other rural regions of the state, have migrated in search of means to survive, the rural life is completely dependent on the women’s shoulders. Few of these men return to their villages even after they have retired. In most villages, the male population consists of only old men and children. Under these circumstances, these women’s days remain packed with agriculture, cattle, kitchen, household, cultural and social work, along with looking after the children and their education. Even apart from all this, with the deepening crisis of fodder, fuel wood and water, these women remain so busy that they have little time to devote to any other thought. All their energies and time are channelized towards taking care of the household needs. In such a scenario, it was but a dishonesty to expect their participation without disburdening them.
On the other hand, the biggest challenge of working on the issue of environment in the village was an attempt to change the fixed mindset of the rural population regarding environment. The common man in the village thought of all talk on environment to be linked with the moral that “one should not cut trees”. Secondly, technical terms like carbon dioxide-oxygen balance, greenhouse gas, ozone layer, etc. which were being served by the mass media in the name of environment were beyond the villagers’ understanding. These terms were not only beyond them, they were even diminishing their understanding of their own surroundings. Thus, an organization which had the word “environment” attached to it had to be either a concern of the educated or a means to rob the villagers of the resources fulfilling their daily needs. These circumstances made it even more important to take environmental programmes from within the boundaries of the school to the villages outside.
SAMUHIK SAHAYATA KOSH
Women associated with the Mahila Mangal Dals of around 60 villages situated in the difficult terrains of the mountains of the Dwarahat-Bhikyasain region have started an expedition of uprooting the money lending system prevalent since ages. Under this expedition, the village level Mahila Mangal Dals have developed their own common ‘kosh’ (treasury) with the membership fees. The amount received from the nursery and other community work is too added in this ‘kosh’ by the Mahila Mangal Dals. The women of the village are being given loans at nominal interest rates according to their needy with this amount. Today these women associated with the Mahila Mangal Dals are strengthening the financial position of their families along with working towards the conservation of water, forest and land and health education. These rural women are not only realizing their potential through this programme but have also freed themselves from the boundaries of the moneylenders and can now work for social welfare without any pressure.
MAHILA EKTA PARISHAD
MOVEMENTS
MOVEMENT AGAINST MINING
While on the one hand, the women were leading a movement for the conservation of broad-leaved species and forest plantation; on the other hand, a lease regarding the mining of limestone was passed in a Van Panchayat where the only oak forests of the region were situated. The women came to know about this lease only after the mining started. Slowly the mine owner started to increase his area of work in the forest, which led to the formation of pits there. All the small plants were uprooted and thrown away from the forest area for the purpose of mining. Witnessing this, the women got agitated and the Mahila Mangal Dal of the village called a meeting of all the neighboring Mahila Mangal Dals. Ultimately, SEED supported the Mahila Mangal Dals in their purpose. Women attempted to stop the mining by themselves going to the mining site. Holding the uprooted plants in their hands, they protested at Dwarahat and shook the local people, especially the younger generation, out of their comfortable shells. The students of the Dwarahat Degree College too supported the women. The District Magistrate was given a warning regarding a ban on illegal mining taking place in the forest area and ending the limestone lease. The Mahila Mangal Dals ultimately succeeded in their attempts to stop the mining after holding protests for many days.
PROTEST AGAINST SOCIAL EVILS
Alcohol has always played a major role in worsening the condition and torturing the women of the mountains. In the Suraikhet region too, the increasing popularity of alcohol has been a burning issue. Everyday quarrels, misbehavior and physical fights were a common scene in the village. Many families were on the verge of being destroyed. The lives of women had become exceedingly difficult because of alcohol. Everyday the drunkards would either torture their wives or beat up their mothers and children, tearing apart familial bonds and beliefs. All the family and public events in the village were arrested by the use of alcohol. Even the schools, teachers and children were not untouched by this evil. During the elections, alcohol was being used as a tool to gain votes. The situation was thus that the care of children was being affected in many families. Under these circumstances, alcohol was a burning issue for the women and the biggest challenge for the conduction of rural programmes in the village. Under the increasing impacts of alcohol, it was difficult for women to even hold meetings and discussions, being united seemed a far-fetched dream. Apart from this, the tendency of playing cards and gambling was on a rise amongst the men of the village. Though there was angst amongst women against the social evils of drinking and gambling, they were tired of it and wanted a solution to the problem. Nevertheless, no one was willing to come forth against the men. However, the united strength of the ‘sangathan’ filled them with confidence and energy. The Mahila Mangal Dals united themselves against alcohol. Five years ago, the Mahila Mangal Dals of villages Kande, Bitholi and others started a movement against alcohol at Suraikhet. The buses and jeeps were checked and the illegal alcohol coming into the villages was banned. The Mahila Mangal Dals kept an eye on the sellers and consumers of alcohol and announced in the region that anyone who would create nuisance after alcohol-consumption would be fined for Rs.500. the youth were made aware against this social evil. For this purpose, they had to take severe steps in many villages. Those creating nuisance post alcohol-consumption were boycotted from the society. It was only after these steps that the women could succeed in uprooting the social evil of alcohol-consumption and gambling.
MOVEMENT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
A few days ago during the Women’s Meet (Mahila Sammelan) organized at Sunari, a 54 years old woman from Dahal village narrated her experiences and said, “The country had become independent many years ago but we can feel the independence only now.” This realization has encouraged the women to move out of the boundaries that limit them to their villages. Today women have come forth to uproot all social evils that tear apart the community and divide it in parts. The Mahila Mangal Dals of villages Shilang, Chauda, Minar,Rana and others have banned the demand of dowry in the village. Now there is no demand for dowry in these villages. Generally, the girls are married off after the age of 16 in the more inaccessible villages, which severely affects their studies. This is the reason why the Mahila Mangal Dals are determined to uproot this social evil. The women are creating awareness at the family and village levels. With encouragement from these ‘sangathans’, Kishori Sangathans have been formed in more than two dozen villages. As a result, the female youth can put forth their problems openly.
KISHORI EKTA PARISHAD
The awareness regarding their own rights that has come about in the women associated with the Mahila Mangal Dals has made them take the problems of the female youth at the family, village and regional levels seriously. The women have pledged to erase the very roots of those traditions and thoughts which make the woman a ‘weakling’ and because of which their own daughters are neglected. Not only are they discriminated in their own homes as against the boys in matters of food, clothing, education, domestic work and behavior, they have to face the consequences of being girls even in the society and schools. Generally accepting everything without a word, these girls have now started being vocal regarding the discrimination they face. For this purpose, with the formation of Kishori Manch (stage for the girl youth) in every village, these girls have united themselves in the Kishori Ekta Parishad. Girls studying in different classes and girls who have left studies in between classes sixth and tenth are now organizing meetings at the regional level and are speaking against the traditional, conservative psychology and discrimination.
MAHILA MANGAL DALSIn the Dwarahat and Bhikyasain regions of Almora district, a unique programme on women’s empowerment has been taking shape for the last one and a half decades. An organization dedicated to women’s development, SEED, has been constantly working towards uniting women into Mahila Mangal Dals. Started originally as an experiment in the form of children’s education and environmental awareness programmes, the scheme has found a hold in more than 80 villages of the Riskon and Ramganga valleys. Women associated with these welfare groups have united themselves at a regional level into a Mahila Ekta Parishad, Suraikhet, displaying unbeatable leadership qualities. Today, heartening results of the efforts are visible throughout the valley.
Bringing forth the self-respect in the women belonging to the hills of these difficult terrains and giving a new direction to their efforts has proved to be a useful tool in bringing a change in rural life and women’s empowerment. What is interesting is that even though this expedition has now become a mission for SEED, it has never been a formally organized programme. Neither is it a part of the big budget schemes being run in the name of Mahila Swashakti, Sashaktikaran and Swayam Sahayata Samuh nor of the training programmes held by organizers who are big on money. SEED never started a programme in the name of women’s empowerment. Instead, this is a fruit of constant discussions with the rural community, esp. women through the medium of practical education and subtle training at the village level by SEED, Sunadi.
The main force behind this expedition has been a Lecturer of Chemistry at the Adarsh Inter College, Suraikhet, Dwarahat, Mr. Mohan Chandra Kandpal. Born two kilometers away from Suraiket in Kande village, Mr. Mohan adopted the work of teaching in a village school after his education in the city of Kanpur. While he worked as a teacher, the condition of rural women invoked in him the desire to understand and finally bring about a change in their lives. As a beginning, this teacher started his expedition by establishing an organization Society for Environmental Education and Rural Development, “SEED” on the World Environment Day, 5th June,1993.
In the initial years, the organization began discussions with school students regarding the problem of grass, fodder, leaves, fuel wood, water and women’s education in villages under the umbrella of environmental education. An appeal to participate in the process of discovering solutions to these problems was made to the rural communities. However, they met with failure in their efforts regarding this matter. Women of the villages maintained a distance and took no interest in these academic programmes and experiments in school. Since most men of the villages in the region, like those of other rural regions of the state, have migrated in search of means to survive, the rural life is completely dependent on the women’s shoulders. Few of these men return to their villages even after they have retired. In most villages, the male population consists of only old men and children. Under these circumstances, these women’s days remain packed with agriculture, cattle, kitchen, household, cultural and social work, along with looking after the children and their education. Even apart from all this, with the deepening crisis of fodder, fuel wood and water, these women remain so busy that they have little time to devote to any other thought. All their energies and time are channelized towards taking care of the household needs. In such a scenario, it was but a dishonesty to expect their participation without disburdening them.
On the other hand, the biggest challenge of working on the issue of environment in the village was an attempt to change the fixed mindset of the rural population regarding environment. The common man in the village thought of all talk on environment to be linked with the moral that “one should not cut trees”. Secondly, technical terms like carbon dioxide-oxygen balance, greenhouse gas, ozone layer, etc. which were being served by the mass media in the name of environment were beyond the villagers’ understanding. These terms were not only beyond them, they were even diminishing their understanding of their own surroundings. Thus, an organization which had the word “environment” attached to it had to be either a concern of the educated or a means to rob the villagers of the resources fulfilling their daily needs. These circumstances made it even more important to take environmental programmes from within the boundaries of the school to the villages outside.
SAMUHIK SAHAYATA KOSHWomen associated with the Mahila Mangal Dals of around 60 villages situated in the difficult terrains of the mountains of the Dwarahat-Bhikyasain region have started an expedition of uprooting the money lending system prevalent since ages. Under this expedition, the village level Mahila Mangal Dals have developed their own common ‘kosh’ (treasury) with the membership fees. The amount received from the nursery and other community work is too added in this ‘kosh’ by the Mahila Mangal Dals. The women of the village are being given loans at nominal interest rates according to their needy with this amount. Today these women associated with the Mahila Mangal Dals are strengthening the financial position of their families along with working towards the conservation of water, forest and land and health education. These rural women are not only realizing their potential through this programme but have also freed themselves from the boundaries of the moneylenders and can now work for social welfare without any pressure.
MAHILA EKTA PARISHAD Whether it be a matter of basic facilities or development programmes; whether it be a matter linked with women’s harassment or with water; with electricity or with mining; the women associated with the Mahila Mangal Dals started questioning authorities not only at a local but also at the state level. They started getting their point carried across as they realized the strength of their ‘sangathan’.
The discouragement these women met with during this phase of development, provided a challenge to their power. The ‘sangathans’ accepted even this challenge and under the guidance of SEED they united themselves under the Mahila Ekta Parishad (Women's United Federation) at the regional level. Today the Parishad is an independent body consisting of around 2500 women members. The ‘sangathans’ linked with this Parishad (Federation) are undertaking various movements demanding their rights. They have shaken the Government Departments out of their perennial complacent insensitivity through the strength of their unity. Today these women are reaching the village, regional and district Panchayats to save the democracy from becoming entirely corrupt.
The discouragement these women met with during this phase of development, provided a challenge to their power. The ‘sangathans’ accepted even this challenge and under the guidance of SEED they united themselves under the Mahila Ekta Parishad (Women's United Federation) at the regional level. Today the Parishad is an independent body consisting of around 2500 women members. The ‘sangathans’ linked with this Parishad (Federation) are undertaking various movements demanding their rights. They have shaken the Government Departments out of their perennial complacent insensitivity through the strength of their unity. Today these women are reaching the village, regional and district Panchayats to save the democracy from becoming entirely corrupt.
MOVEMENTSMOVEMENT AGAINST MINING
While on the one hand, the women were leading a movement for the conservation of broad-leaved species and forest plantation; on the other hand, a lease regarding the mining of limestone was passed in a Van Panchayat where the only oak forests of the region were situated. The women came to know about this lease only after the mining started. Slowly the mine owner started to increase his area of work in the forest, which led to the formation of pits there. All the small plants were uprooted and thrown away from the forest area for the purpose of mining. Witnessing this, the women got agitated and the Mahila Mangal Dal of the village called a meeting of all the neighboring Mahila Mangal Dals. Ultimately, SEED supported the Mahila Mangal Dals in their purpose. Women attempted to stop the mining by themselves going to the mining site. Holding the uprooted plants in their hands, they protested at Dwarahat and shook the local people, especially the younger generation, out of their comfortable shells. The students of the Dwarahat Degree College too supported the women. The District Magistrate was given a warning regarding a ban on illegal mining taking place in the forest area and ending the limestone lease. The Mahila Mangal Dals ultimately succeeded in their attempts to stop the mining after holding protests for many days.
PROTEST AGAINST SOCIAL EVILS
Alcohol has always played a major role in worsening the condition and torturing the women of the mountains. In the Suraikhet region too, the increasing popularity of alcohol has been a burning issue. Everyday quarrels, misbehavior and physical fights were a common scene in the village. Many families were on the verge of being destroyed. The lives of women had become exceedingly difficult because of alcohol. Everyday the drunkards would either torture their wives or beat up their mothers and children, tearing apart familial bonds and beliefs. All the family and public events in the village were arrested by the use of alcohol. Even the schools, teachers and children were not untouched by this evil. During the elections, alcohol was being used as a tool to gain votes. The situation was thus that the care of children was being affected in many families. Under these circumstances, alcohol was a burning issue for the women and the biggest challenge for the conduction of rural programmes in the village. Under the increasing impacts of alcohol, it was difficult for women to even hold meetings and discussions, being united seemed a far-fetched dream. Apart from this, the tendency of playing cards and gambling was on a rise amongst the men of the village. Though there was angst amongst women against the social evils of drinking and gambling, they were tired of it and wanted a solution to the problem. Nevertheless, no one was willing to come forth against the men. However, the united strength of the ‘sangathan’ filled them with confidence and energy. The Mahila Mangal Dals united themselves against alcohol. Five years ago, the Mahila Mangal Dals of villages Kande, Bitholi and others started a movement against alcohol at Suraikhet. The buses and jeeps were checked and the illegal alcohol coming into the villages was banned. The Mahila Mangal Dals kept an eye on the sellers and consumers of alcohol and announced in the region that anyone who would create nuisance after alcohol-consumption would be fined for Rs.500. the youth were made aware against this social evil. For this purpose, they had to take severe steps in many villages. Those creating nuisance post alcohol-consumption were boycotted from the society. It was only after these steps that the women could succeed in uprooting the social evil of alcohol-consumption and gambling.
MOVEMENT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
A few days ago during the Women’s Meet (Mahila Sammelan) organized at Sunari, a 54 years old woman from Dahal village narrated her experiences and said, “The country had become independent many years ago but we can feel the independence only now.” This realization has encouraged the women to move out of the boundaries that limit them to their villages. Today women have come forth to uproot all social evils that tear apart the community and divide it in parts. The Mahila Mangal Dals of villages Shilang, Chauda, Minar,Rana and others have banned the demand of dowry in the village. Now there is no demand for dowry in these villages. Generally, the girls are married off after the age of 16 in the more inaccessible villages, which severely affects their studies. This is the reason why the Mahila Mangal Dals are determined to uproot this social evil. The women are creating awareness at the family and village levels. With encouragement from these ‘sangathans’, Kishori Sangathans have been formed in more than two dozen villages. As a result, the female youth can put forth their problems openly.
KISHORI EKTA PARISHADThe awareness regarding their own rights that has come about in the women associated with the Mahila Mangal Dals has made them take the problems of the female youth at the family, village and regional levels seriously. The women have pledged to erase the very roots of those traditions and thoughts which make the woman a ‘weakling’ and because of which their own daughters are neglected. Not only are they discriminated in their own homes as against the boys in matters of food, clothing, education, domestic work and behavior, they have to face the consequences of being girls even in the society and schools. Generally accepting everything without a word, these girls have now started being vocal regarding the discrimination they face. For this purpose, with the formation of Kishori Manch (stage for the girl youth) in every village, these girls have united themselves in the Kishori Ekta Parishad. Girls studying in different classes and girls who have left studies in between classes sixth and tenth are now organizing meetings at the regional level and are speaking against the traditional, conservative psychology and discrimination.
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