These Gujarat women fight for their sisters

From dumping old, rudimentary practices to adopting new ones, from helping widows get their rights to becoming leaders, they have done it all and continue to inspire others to follow suit.

Inspirational women leaders representing nearly 40,000 groups across India were present at Sayala village in Surendranagar district for the Rural Women Leadership Convention. The two-day convention which commenced on Monday, is being organised by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) - AKRSP (I). The Mahila Shakti Sammelans formed by AKRSP (I) include women of various tribal and semi-tribal belts as key participants and catalysts for community development. Leaders representing these sammelans or manch have come down to Sayala to share their experiences. 

"Today's programme is aimed towards inviting leaders from various sects, areas, villages and states to make them share their strategies, plans and operational activities while fighting for their rights. These women leaders have their own federations or manch as they call it and are here to share," CEO of AKRSP (I), Apurva Oza informed.

The convention began with women enacting their achievements in the form of a play and then went on to explain their current fights, problems faced and the possible solutions they expect from the government. Present at the convention, were RM Patel, principal secretary, panchayats and in-charge of tribal department, Government of Gujarat and DG Solanki, APO and District Rural Development Agency, Surendranagar among others.

Oza further said that while AKRSP (I) was receiving European Union funding for Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, all other regions were being funded by private bodies or state and central governments.

Ima Vasava, Sorapada village, Sagbara Taluka
"Of the 95 villages in our district, only 52 have discarded the practice, I am still struggling for it to be discarded same from other villages," Vasava informed. Vasava is talking about the practice of a just-widowed woman to wear only a saree with no blouse. She discarded this practice, starting with her own sister-in-law.

President of Jay Jalaram Mahila Vikas Mandal, Sorapada, Vasava has formed eight savings groups under the Savshakti project and has also received a certificate from chief minister Narendra Modi for her outstanding performance in farming and leadership. Today she is respected in her village and elsewhere and men come to her to seek advice while buying land or electing their panchayat leaders.

Sumitra R Vasava, Balethi village, Mandvi taluka
"I was working with Legal Aid and Human Rights Commission office at Mandvi  and received training in government schemes, rules and regulations supporting women. I received hands-on training about constitution and our rights. Owing to this, I was then able to help other women get their due rights," informed a proud Vasava. Of her biggest responsibilities, she has helped 33 women inherit or own land, of which 16 are widows. She has already helped 163 widows avail of widow pension under a government scheme, with 25 more cases in process. She charges a one time guidance fee of Rs251 for widow pension, Rs151 for senior citizen pension, Rs351 for Sankat Mochan scheme, and Rs551 for Indira Aavas Yojana.

Sharifa Bhikha Makwana, Talala, Gir
A resident of Talala, Gir, Makwana is a Siddi by origin and has received education till class II. "Despite such low education I work as a para-worker in the Siddi Adivasi Mahila Sangh and as a secretary in the Adivasi Mahila Sangh. Women in my caste or tribe were extremely addicted to gambling while the men were addicted to alcohol. But today women are saving money to provide better education to their children and men are helping women in farming, animal husbandry, growing seasonal fruits, and the like. Besides these, we also earn our livelihood from organising mehendi classes and doing embroidery work. We have also taken loans from banks to buy auto rickshaws providing employment to our men", Makwana concluded.