Convention decries exploitation of women

The conference organised jointly by the All India Progressive Women’s Association(AIPWA), the Samatha Vedike, Mysore, highlighted the determination of individual cases and groups in fighting the injustice and inequality. It also exposed the plight of women who had  been unsuccessful in availing various government schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS).

During the first session, a representative of a women’s group from Gangavathi, Koppal shared her group’s experience in fighting against the disparity in payments in the rice mills there. The owners and authorities at the mill duped women their genuine labour for the day, paying less than the minimum wage fixed per day either by the mill owners or the government agencies. The women, who became aware of this raw deal they were being handed out, protested and received their due, she said.

Also, the mill owners payed a basic minimum salary of Rs 2000. In several cases, the women were told that Rs 500 was deducted towards provident fund, but the amount was not deposited.

Another woman from Harapanahalli from Davanagere shared similar experience under MNREGS programme. The Government officials tried to deceive the women by paying them less. An SHG group carried out a campaign against it. Similar was the experience for women from Suttige Hundi in H D Kote taluk in Mysore district. There was irregularities in distribution of ration in PDS shops.

Sexual abuse

Shivamurthy, a member of dalit forum and supporter of women’s campaign said the dalit women in Boodihalli in Challakere in Chitradurga district were sexually abused by upper castes and local politicians. But, many were scared to come out and protest due to fear and family pride. However, a fact finding team from Samatha Vedike and the dalit forum managed to expose the racket, he said.

Today, he added, the politicians and the district administration was trying to hush up the case. They are issuing statements that no such cases were reported in village by any dalit women.

In her address, Dr R Indira, professor of sociology and noted social activist said the women’s movement was only way to avail justice against the inequality and injustice against the gender.

She regretted that the corrupt political system had ruined the the values in society. “Now, no politician is sorry for whatever wrong he has done or for scams he is involved in. The identification with a scam or corruption has become a prestige issue of sorts for leaders,” she ridiculed.

The participants exchanged their experiences in SHGs, campaign against alcohol and others.

Earlier, the conference was inaugurated through a small act play demonstrating the plight of woman owing to dowry menace. Samatha Vedike activists presented the play. Kavitha Krishnan, national secretary of AIPWA, Rathi Rao, vice-president, Meera Nayak, convener of Samatha Vedike were present.