A voice against exploitation

Aarti's eyes have a lost look in them, her demeanour is that of a child who has been abandoned. The way she tries to disappear in the cor...

Aarti8217;s eyes have a lost look in them, her demeanour is that of a child who has been abandoned. The way she tries to disappear in the corner seat at the gathering demonstrates that she is unsure of herself, of her identity and of her place in the society. She is 17 years old. Her husband, a barber by profession, has deserted her, within months of marriage, on the pretext that she does not know how to cook. Her mother, who is a poor, illiterate widow, believes that she has discharged her responsibilities by giving her away in marriage. Aarti8217;s education was cut off at the primary level, nor does she have any vocational training.

In consequence, Aarti G Godbole not her real name, does not belong8217;, she is a destitute. Anyway, her abandoned status does not make her unique, not in Manjari Khurd where she resides. She has just raised the notch of the graph of deserted women.

Streevani, a Pune-based women8217;s organisation, has taken up Aarti8217;s case and advocate Madhumita Chowdhary, linked with Streevani, is trying for a possible reconciliation with her husband.

On March 9, as part of Women8217;s Day celebration, Streevani held an awareness creation programme at village Avalwadi, three kms from Wagholi. Women from neighbouring villages of Wadjai, Manjari, Gawlewadi along with their children gathered at the colourful canopied shelter to assimilate what their tais from Streevani had to tell them. A group of children from Manjari Khurd enacted a play which highlighted the need for literacy and promoted the cause of adult education. Karyakartha Pathnatya Sangha, a street play group from Yeshwantnagar, Yerwada, enacted a play highlighting the need for education, evils of superstitions, respect for women.

It was clear that the women enjoyed the play. But would it have the impact which it was intended to have? A talk with the women revealed that though in principle they accepted the literary theory, they were reluctant to enroll in adult education classes.

Says Sister Helen, in-charge of Streevani, 8220;This awareness will be strengthened by our follow-up exercises wherein local animators of Streevani have weekly meetings with the women. At these meetings women share their experiences, discuss their problems, analyse them and reach solutions.8221;Are the women receptive to ideas which are new to them? Sister Helen acknowledges that it is not easy. 8220;To approach them we had to think of a scheme which would be easily understood and accepted, therefore, we started our work with self-help groups8217;, cooperative finance group, wherein 20 women in a vicinity come together and deposit a sum every month. This sum is deposited in a bank and whenever the need arises, the women are allowed to withdraw from the pooled amount at a very nominal interest rate. Response to this has been tremendous from all the villages.8221;

Local animator for Manjari Khurd, Jaymala Kshirsagar, says, 8220;Men come home drunk, beat their wives and children and hardly contribute to the house income. The women work in the fields from morning to late evening, handle domestic work and run the house. There is no conducive atmosphere for studies. If a girl fails in her class, immediately her studies are discontinued and she is married off.8221;

Story continues below this ad

Gangu Tai Sangle of Khusgaon shared the experiences of her village in the activities initiated by Streevani and encouraged the gathered women to participate in the weekly meetings. Suvarna Goudlekar, a voluntary worker from Jnanaprabhodhini, called upon the women to be confident and inculcate a sense of self-respect.

Sister Helen says, 8220;We have ventured into field work only recently and we hope our efforts will have a positive effect. Without their cooperation it would be very difficult for us to gain success in our mission.8221;