Correcting the riot wrongs

Hindus and Latha had deposed against Rukhiyabis sons. For the last seven years,the two women lived in hostility.

In May 2010,both came forward to make a fresh start under the banner of SPARSAM Sustainable Project for Poverty Alleviation and Reformation of the Seabelt Area of Malabar,an innovative rehabilitation project for riot victims designed by the Kozhikode district administration. Rukhiyabi and Latha are among the 250 women from both communities who have taken up joint business activities.

With two riots in a row claiming 14 lives,Marad had become the states hotbed of Hindu-Muslim hatred earlier this decade. It all started as an eve-teasing incident on New Years eve in 2002 and ended up in riots. The first round of riots claimed five lives,three Muslims and two Hindus. As police lowered the guard,another bout of violence broke out in May 2003. This time,eight Hindus were killed. Fearing revenge killings,a number of Muslim families fled the coast. It was only several months later that Hindus of Marad allowed the Muslims to return.

But though a constant police vigil ensured an uneasy peace,Hindus and Muslims led a segregated life in Marad,which has a population of less than 4,000. The police still maintain manned check-posts on all roads leading to Marad and around 100 policemen camp permanently on the coast thats lit up by high mast lights even at night.

The police tried to break the ice by roping in government departments to provide tarred roads,drinking water and clinics for the troubled region,but the deep-rooted distrust stayed. Muslim fishermen never got on to the vessels launched by Hindus and vice-versa. There was no interaction among Hindu and Muslim women either.

The usual approach towards riot victims is to rehabilitate them separately,fearing that interaction or mingling would create further trouble. But in the SPARSAM experiment,the administration wanted to nurse them back to a situation where Hindus and Muslims would mingle with each other. We wanted to bring women from both sides together to bring about a change into the present situation, says Kozhikode district collector P B Salim,who conceived the project.

But bringing both communities together for business ventures was a risky proposition. Police,senior government officials and even peoples representatives warned me against the move. But now,three months into the project,the air of scepticism has been almost cleared, said Salim.

After several rounds of counselling,both communities agreed to allow their women to work under the SPARSAM project. Accordingly,250 women from both sides were divided into five activity groups,with 50 women in each segment. They were trained in business activities of their choice. The women were deployed in these activities in such a manner that each one had to interact with a member of the other community. Some of these women are wives of the accused,others are close relatives of the victims.

Government and financial agencies have so far invested Rs 32.60 lakh in the project.

Book binding,scrap segregation,mushroom farming and garment manufacturing were activities undertaken by the Marad women on a business outsourcing model,in which all products are marketed by branded houses in the state.

At a footwear unit,Sefsilu says she is glad to be a part of the project. After several years of separation,I have been able to share lighter moments with Hindus. I feel relieved now.

Rajitha,a member of a book binding unit and a mother of two,had earlier been working as a sales girl in Kozhikode. Her husband Vijesh is in jail for his role in the riots of 2002. She says she joined SPARSAM because it got her job so close to her home. It also helped that she could put the bitterness of the past aside.

Rahiyanth,wife of another accused,Sharafudeen,says,Earlier,I was confined to the house,killing myself thinking of the violence that separated me from my husband. Now,my work keeps me busy and has brought me closer to Hindu women.

When I chose Rukhiyabi as my teashop partner,many Hindu leaders objected. But I do not want to witness a repeat of the bloodbath. Rukhiyabi knew that I had deposed against her sons. But,now we talk only about tea and snacks, says Latha.

Many Muslim women have come out,ignoring minor protests from men in the community.

No one in my family wanted me to work at the garment-making unit. But with my husband serving a jail term,I can at least work till he comes back, says Sajira,wife of Salim,another accused.

Kerala Hindu Co-ordination Committee secretary T Suresh,a prominent leader from Marad,says though the project has helped women of both communities get over their bitterness,a lot remains to be done. Let us hope the co-operation that these women display at the workplace will slowly help the two community bond.

Indian Union Muslim League leader T U Azeez says the situation has improved a lot with SPARSAM. He says Hindus and Muslims should go together for fishing,like they used to during the pre-riot days.

Marad station officer A Umesh says SPARSAM has brought in positive changes. Women have realised that they will be able to earn money only if there is peace.

Enthused by the success at Marad,the government is planning to replicate the model in other trouble-prone coastal areas in the state.