Jan Ugahi celebrates Womens Day
Jan Ugahi commemorated International Womens Day by organising a get-together for women from the bastis and other women victims of domestic violence who have been assisted by the organisations Womens Empowerment programme. About 110 women participated in the programme, which included participatory skit presentation on womens issues, ex-tempore fancy dress competition depicting various professional roles performed by women, group songs, rangoli competition. Notable was the freedom with which women expressed their concerns, raising their voices in an atmosphere of solidarity, voices which otherwise are stifled in a male dominated world. Their concerns were for their own rightful space in this unequal world with expressions/slogans like - we will make our presence felt, we will fight together for our rights, we must take back what has been robbed from us as no one will give it to us etc. Other issues that were highlighted in the skits were the discrimination against the girl child, early marriages of girls, heightened sexual abuse of women & children during the tourist season with middlemen from the community aiding and abetting, taking advantage of the poverty and vulnerability of the people, prevalence of incest, abuse at work places, dowry system etc. The programme concluded with the women proclaiming in unison that it was time to raise their voices and for women to come together and fight for their rights as there is no other way to expect things to change in the existing scenario. --------------------------------------------------------- Read Goanet messages at: http://www.goanet.org/archive.php?name=News&list=goanet
