Kesla Women Enter the Political Sphere: Grow as Citizens

Representing themselves in panchayats, where they had faced humiliation and disrespect earlier, women have fought unitedly against the system and gradually gaining the respect and recognition of men who are beginning to acknowledge that women have equal rights of citizenship.

Background

“When we speak, we are afraid that our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.” This was the realization of the women in Kesla, Madhya Pradesh, based on their experience of getting actively engaged in the wider social and political spheres. Earlier, women were only engaged in domestic chores and were least concerned with what happened in the world outside. There has been a drastic shift, however, in their mindsets; and its impact is heartening to see.

T his is the third year of the Gender Equality Programme (GEP) in Kesla. This programme was designed to empower women on the socio-economic as well as political fronts. When the programme was first introduced and before outlining the engagement methodology, a baseline study was conducted to get an idea of the actual situation. The baseline survey provided us with statistics that have helped us devise strategies relevant to the context of Kesla.

During the survey, it was clearly visible that the community was knowledgeable about the significance of savings and credit, and the various livelihood interventions (namely, agriculture, poultry, and sericulture) that have helped families strengthen their financial stability and meet the demand of food sufficiency. However, in terms of strengthening the position of women in the family, these interventions had not had the impact expected even though the delivery apparatus used had placed the women at centre-stage.

Decision-making, the control over assets, and the buying and selling patterns of produce remained with the men of the family, who were, by and large, authoritative and dominating. There was a resigned acceptance within the community about gender-based discrimination. The women were not concerned about inequalities; they accepted the societal law and did not question its practice or its origins. They just continued to live subjugated lives.