A Field of My Own

Securing land rights for women equal to that of men not only gave women financial and livelihoods security but also helped them find their rightful place as farmers capable of making life-altering and life-enriching decisions, and gave them dignity and recognition in society that had been hitherto denied them

I would like to share my reflections with you. I have been questioning myself and trying to listen to my inner calling. I am passionate about securing land rights for women. This is not a stand-alone issue but a vital missing link in the entire schema of engagement with women. Securing land rights for women is very relevant in my struggle for women’s agency. Where do I begin my sharing? Should I start from my own field? Is my fight for these rights limited to my work life? Will it always be an intrinsic part of my professional life? I may need to start with myself and my family, understanding the patriarchal norms and barriers preventing women—daughters, sisters, mothers, wives—to own, access, control and utilize land and property. Women accessing land rights may not be the only way to build a just and equal society but it is a crucial dimension in our endeavor for development.

Revisiting those days

I am an agriculture engineer and I joined PRADAN in 2003. My first assignment was in Khunti, Jharkhand, and I worked there till 2010 when I was transferred to Rayagada in Odisha. In the last decade, I have had the opportunity to work closely with tribal women, mobilizing them to form and join Self Help Groups (SHGs), nurturing and strengthening SHGs to secondary and tertiary level collectives such as Clusters and Federations/Co-operatives.