Youth fight for gender justice

By Elisa Patnaik Mar 31, 2007, 6:54 GMT

Bhubaneswar, March 31 (IANS) When 22-year-old Laxmipriya Nayak from a small village in Orissa's Dhenkanal district asserted to her college mates and teachers that girls and boys are equal, she created quite a furore.

She was challenged to prove her mettle as an 'equal' and was ordered to climb coconut trees and cut paddy crops just like boys and men in their village. A gutsy Laxmipriya took the test head on and not only climbed the trees and cut the crops, she also achieved much more, writes Grassroots Features.

Laxmipriya and other men and women from the village and adjoining areas have not only strived to change stereotypical gender relations but also raised voices against rampant alcoholism that has often led to brutal domestic violence in their area.

Like Laxmipriya, there are thousands of other Change Makers (CMs) spread across South Asian countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, who have been spreading the message for a violence-free environment in their own homes and society.

The CMs are part of the 'We Can End Violence Against Women' campaign - a six-year, six-country South Asia regional campaign that addresses the root causes of discrimination against girls and women to end all violence against them.

The campaign, launched in India in 2004, works with nearly 350,000 men and women in 170 districts of 12 states that include Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Orissa.

More than 300 men and women from India and abroad participated in the National Change Makers Assembly, organised by 'We Can' India at Bhubaneswar recently, which was marked by exchange of varied experiences, shared bonhomie and a renewed pledge to fight violence against women.

The CMs include youth, community members, religious groups, women leaders, persons with disability, panchayats members, etc, who believe that such violence is unacceptable.

Innumerable stories of 'change' marked by individual courage and attitudinal difference were exchanged during the meet and the participants took a common pledge to fight verbal, physical and mental abuse against women.

Manu, from Delhi, while sharing her experience said that prior to the 'We Can' campaign, she had always viewed all men with suspicion and also feared them. 'However, after my training I developed the confidence to talk with them and express my opinion. I also realised that for the campaign to be successful and to establish equal gender relationships, men and women have to work together,' said Manu.

The CMs also have the task of influencing 10 more people to join the campaign. CMs from Delhi narrated how they have initiated a special celebration programme upon the birth of a girl child in various parts of Delhi where gender bias exists.

Santosh from Delhi said that he is determined not to accept dowry even if it means going against his parents.

The story of Pushpa, a middle-class housewife from Maharashtra, was presented in the form of a play during the conference. Pushpa was unable to provide for the higher education of her children. She had initially decided to send only her son for higher studies but changed her decision when her daughter also expressed interest in further studies. She realised that her daughter should be given equal opportunity.

Likewise, a Youth Parliament organised by the Orissa campaigners was largely responsible for influencing the passage of the Domestic Violence Bill in the State Assembly and making it an Act in Oct 2006.

The experiences of other South Asian countries aren't very different. Lack of equal opportunities for women, incidents of rape, domestic violence, molestation etc is quite common.

In Sri Lanka, for example, while the campaign is progressing well in non-conflict zones, in other places of the strife-torn country, the members are facing difficulties. 'Sexual harassment, trafficking of women and children are some of the main issues on which the campaign has been working,' said Jessy Ariaratnam, district coordinator of the Manwar Women Development Federation.

Participants from Nepal said that since it is difficult to gather many people at one place for a meeting, the Change Makers themselves go to the people and motivate them through dramas and skits during popular festivals like Holi.

Though representatives from Bangladesh narrated some of their success stories, they also revealed that they have to work in difficult circumstances because of the rising fundamentalism in their country. 'Even so-called small attitude/behaviour changes in a family, that gives way to a more equal gender relationship, are significant, yet not easy to attain,' said Bhairavi, a CM from Andhra Pradesh.

In Nepal for example, parents of several CMs expressed displeasure at their children joining the campaign saying it would threaten their lives.

The fears are not always unfounded. Several Change Makers in India and other South Asian countries have indeed faced threats and intimidation from their detractors.

'I had received several abusive phone calls from a regressive group of boys and have even filed an FIR. But the experience has made me braver,' reveals Swapna Biswal, a college student from Orissa.

The 'We Can' campaign seeks to make a difference by creating five million Change Makers in South Asia by 2011. However, emphasis is now on the quality of their training.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service