I have been lucky, honored (and all those corny sounding words whose meaning is nonetheless genuine and appropriate here) to be part of a training session for elected women from gram panchayats (village governance) of different states.
So the latest update from our quite forgotten villages is "hope". The villages from some regions it seems have kept up with changing times. Some however (esp. Bikaner) are still catering to the stereotypical thoughts of "village life" in our heads. They are still struggling with survival issues - water, food, basic health amenities.
Hope, though, blooms. These women, some literate, many not have learned and shared through songs, movies, and discussions. They learned about their roles and responsibilities, they became aware of gender inequalities... the rules and traditions that enforce them. They realigned their thinking and fought with social conditioning in their heads. They shared experiences (which were similar... after all people are people everywhere). They derived immense strength from being together and from all the similar situations, challenges, problems they faced.
How many will cause a major positive impact once they return remains to be seen but the very fact that there is such an encouraging start towards a better future at the grassroot level makes me happy.
I could feel that the place of learning and the organization was like an epicenter. The ripples of all things good and positive in the form of these informed women spreading to the far corners of our country forms a pretty pattern in my head.
So the latest update from our quite forgotten villages is "hope". The villages from some regions it seems have kept up with changing times. Some however (esp. Bikaner) are still catering to the stereotypical thoughts of "village life" in our heads. They are still struggling with survival issues - water, food, basic health amenities.
Hope, though, blooms. These women, some literate, many not have learned and shared through songs, movies, and discussions. They learned about their roles and responsibilities, they became aware of gender inequalities... the rules and traditions that enforce them. They realigned their thinking and fought with social conditioning in their heads. They shared experiences (which were similar... after all people are people everywhere). They derived immense strength from being together and from all the similar situations, challenges, problems they faced.
How many will cause a major positive impact once they return remains to be seen but the very fact that there is such an encouraging start towards a better future at the grassroot level makes me happy.
I could feel that the place of learning and the organization was like an epicenter. The ripples of all things good and positive in the form of these informed women spreading to the far corners of our country forms a pretty pattern in my head.
Hmm..Nice..Impressive...
I used to be quite skeptical about such movements and the motives of the urban problem-less (on a relative scale) people who run it. Strangely, all it took was a movie ('Bawandar') and Deepthi Naval's character in that in particular, to make me think that there're quite a few out there who are genuine and actually mean well...
great sou, the solution to all the nation's problems are in the villages. but how dependent are these initiatives on the government/political support? Do you guys face any problems on that front?
@ frissko - actually lots of thoughts.. you feel empathy is a prime requirement for a social worker but i can tell u having an objective "cold" mind can really help take better decision at times. ofcourse the intention has to be "good".
@ porky - actually (thankfully) the panchayats report directly to a minister at the center. MLAs ofcourse are not ok with it.. but it's not half as bad as it would've been if MLAs had any direct power over the decisions of the panchayat. the women becoming aware of legal rights and powers really helps.
:)...go on sou..do what u keep doing...
want to keep the "happy birthday" message till my next birthday or what? :)