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8/14/2019 Enss Padyatra Report
1/14
DhamitoShimla
ASingleWomansMarchforJustice
AreportbyFrameWorksResearchandMediaCollective(2008)
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AspertheCensusfiguresof2001,thereareabouttwolakhtwentyninethousandwidowsinHimachalPradeshandovereightthousanddivorcees.
Therecouldbemanymoresuchwomenwhoarenotlistedintheseofficial
estimates.Theserecordsalsodonottakeintoaccountalargenumberofwomen
whomay
have
been
abandoned
by
their
husbands
or
others
who
may
have
remainedunmarried(beyondtheageof40).Today,someofthesesinglewomen
haveorganizedthemselvesthroughEkalNariShaktiSangathan(ENSS)inorder
tohighlighttheirissuesinthepublicdomain.ENSSwasfoundedin2005with
supportfromSocietyforSocialUpliftThroughRuralAction(SUTRA),acivil
societyorganizationthathasbeenworkingforoverthreedecadesonissuesof
genderandlocalselfgovernanceatthegrassrootslevelinHimachalPradesh.
Ruralsinglewomenarethemostmarginalizedsectionofsociety,lackingany
formofsocial,economicorpoliticalsupport.Mostofthesewomen,onceleft
bytheirhusbandsorwidowed,havenootherchoicebuttoreturntotheir
parentshomes.Inordertoavoidcostsofalimonyormaintenance,neithera
legalsettlementnorproperdivorceproceedingsarefollowedincasesoffailed
marriages. Evictedfromtheirmatrimonialhomes,awomansshareinthe
propertyorassetsofthehusbandsfamilyisneveracknowledged.Inmany
cases,theirnamesarestruckoffthefamilyregistersintheirinlawsPanchayats.
Sincetheyarenotofficiallydivorcedorseparated,reenlistingthemselvesinthe
Panchayatsoftheirparentalvillagebecomesdifficult.Completelydependenton
theirnatalhomesthatarealreadystrainedforresources,ruralsinglewomenare
forcedinto
becoming
social
and
economic
liabilities.
A
few
of
these
women
who
havepursuedlegalbattlestoclaimtheirrightshavebecometrappedinthe
tediumoflawsuits,erodingwhateverisleftoftheirscantresources.Forthose
whoarenotlegallyrecognized,availingthebenefitsofgovernmentschemesfor
singlewomenbecomesimpossible.Giventheprejudiceagainstsinglewomen,
creatinglivelihoodstosupportthemselvesandtheirchildrenisastruggle.
EkalNariShaktiSangathanseekstoprovideaplatformtobringtheneedsand
issuesofsinglewomentothefore.Today,about6,053womenofHimachal
Pradesh
are
an
integral
part
of
the
Sangathan.
The
Sangathan
has
spread
its
membershipbasethroughlocalNonGovernmentalOrganisationsworkingin
differentdistrictsofHimachalPradesh.BesidesaStateLevelCoordinator,
variousdistrictshavetheirowncoordinatorswhobringsinglewomentogether
forcounseling,legalaid,meetingsanddiscussions.Allthecoordinatorsand
volunteersmeetonceamonthtochartoutfuturestrategiesandplansofthe
Sangathan.AllofficebearersofENSSthemselvessingle,drawontheirown
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personalexperienceandstruggles,toguideotherwomenwhomaybeinsimilar
circumstancestoday.
Forfourteenmonthsafterhermarriage,Hardeisufferedextremephysicalabuseand
mentaltrauma,asherhusbandandmother in lawwouldbeatherupbadlyonthe
smallestofpretexts.Often,bruisedandcoveredinblood,Hardeiwouldseekhelpfrom
otherfamiliesinthevillagebuttheyremainedtacitobservers.Noonecameforwardto
protectherorinterveneonherbehalf.Whenherfirstchildwasbornagirl,thingsbecame
worseforher.Finally,amonthafterthebirthofherchild,Hardeiwalkedoutofthehouse
onenight,drapedinblood emotionallyshatteredanddefeated,andhadnochoicebutto
returntoherparentshouse.Eversince,Hardeihasdoneallkindsofoddjobssoastonot
overburdenherfamilywithherresponsibilities.
In2005,HardeibecameamemberofENSS.Meetingotherwomenlikeher,readingand
talkingaboutthestatusofsinglewomenandmeetingvariousvolunteersandcivilsociety
membershelpedherbuildanunderstandingofherentitlementsandrightsasasingle
woman.Whileteachingsewingtootheryounggirlsinhervillage,Hardeiwouldadvise
themonmarriage,theirrights,howtostandupinthefaceofviolence thingsshehad
sufferedinsilenceonce.Today,HardeiisanactivememberoftheSangathan Myfather
sometimetellsmethatIhavetoomuchkranti(revolution)inmenow,shesayswith
pride.ButItellhimthatatleastyoucanwalkwithyourheadheldhighbecauseofme.
Thereisnothingintheworldnowthatsheisafraidof,saysHardei,andshewantsher
daughter now10yearsold,tomakeherown,informedchoicesinlife.Marriage,she
feels,caneitherbeheavenorhell,dependingonhowonewantstomouldtherelationship.
Throughherstruggles,Hardeihasemergedasastrongpillarofsupportformanyother
womenintheSangathantoday.
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About3000singlewomenfromninedistrictsofHimachalPradeshundertookapadyatrafromDhamitotheState
capital,Shimlafromthe1sttothe
3rdofApril2008.Theobjectiveof
thethree
day
padyatra
was
to
createawarenessaboutissues
affectingsinglewomenandto
impressuponthegovernment,
theneedtoformulate
appropriatepoliciesthatcould
addresstheirproblems.Rather
thanpatronage,ENSSdemandsa
policyapproachthatsafeguards
therightsofsinglewomen.Throughthepadyatra,ENSSputforwardsomeof
theirmaindemandsbeforetheState
Foroldersinglewomen,SocialSecurityPensionpolicyshouldbeframed
ontheprincipleof`inclusiveness,whichmeanseverysinglewoman
shouldbeentitledtoSocialSecurityPension(exceptthosewhohave
alternatesourcesofpension/salaryorareIncomeTaxpayers);
Thosesinglewomenwhoarefightingtosecuretheirrightsvisvistheir
in lawsfamily,shouldbeprovidedwithfreelegalaidandtheircases
mustbe
referred
to
fast
track
courts.
Also,
the
spouses
of
all
single
women
whoarenotpayingthemaintenanceamountasdecreedbyeitherthe
grampanchayatsorthecivilcourts,shouldbelegallychallengedthrough
fasttrackcourts;
TheStateshouldensurethat2acresoflandisgrantedonalongterm
lease(fromthegovernmentssurpluslandpool)toalleconomicallyweak
singlewomenwhoarecapableandeagertoworkasselfemployed
farmers;
Everysinglewomanshouldbeprovidedwithhealthcarefacilitiesfrom
theprimarytothetertiarylevel,freeofcost.
8/14/2019 Enss Padyatra Report
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Inordertosensitisethe governmentabouttheirdemands,ENSSsent
variousmemorandumsand petitionstotheStategovernmentmuchbefore
the padyatrawasundertaken.WhentheStateLegislativeAssembly
electionsweredeclaredinNovemberDecember2007inHimachalPradesh,
ENSSstrategicallyusedthisopportunitytomainstreamtheirdemandsinto
the electionmanifestosofvariouspoliticalpartiesandaccordinglyreleased
the Manifestoofthe Vulnerable,projectingthe problemsfacedbysingle
women.Presentingsuchamanifestowasararemove,muchappreciatedby
the peopleandforcingthe politicalcandidatestotakenoticeand pledge
theirassurancetoworkfor the issue.Afterthe elections,ENSSdecidedto
carryonwiththe padyatratoShimla,inordertopressurisethe newly
electedmemberstorespondtotheirdemands.
Carefulplanninganddiscussions,monthsinadvance,wentintotheorganisation
ofthis
padyatra.
ENSS
coordinators
and
volunteers
held
extensive
meetings
with
theirgroupsindifferentpartsofthestate,outliningtherationalebehindthe
yatratoSangathanmembersandmotivatingthemtoparticipate.Bygenerating
awarenessaboutissuesthattheSangathanstoodfor,thewomengathered
supportfromothercommunitymembersintheirrespectivevillages,who
extendedwhateverhelptheycouldmonetarilyorinkind.Localpolitical
leadersandPanchayatPradhansalsogavedonationswhileafewprivate
transporterschargedminimalratesfor theirservices.Kanta,anENSS
memberfromUna,recalledhowaCIDofficialcametoinquireaboutthe
forthcoming
padyatra
on
being
intimated
about
it.
Instead
of
offering
justification,KantaexplainedtheSangathansobjectiveandvisionbehindthe
padyatratohim.NotonlydidtheofficialhimselfgiveacontributionofRs100
fortheyatra,thefollowingdaythelocalpolicestationputtogetheradonationof
Rs500tosupportthecause.AlltheunitsofENSSraisedenoughfundsthrough
publiccontributionsthatwereusedforthejourneyfromtheirrespectiveareasto
Dhami,theplacewheretheyatrabegan.OthersupportersofENSS activists,
organizationslikeChristianAid,OXFAM,SWISSAID,The HungerProjectand
individualsfromCanada,partsofEuropeandtheUnitedStatesofAmericaalso
gavedonationsthatmadethepadyatrapossible.
Howeverthereweremanychallengesontheway.Vestedinterests,inanattempt
toweakenthemoraleofthewomen,spreadvariouskindsofrumoursregarding
theforthcomingpadyatra fromspreadingstoriesabouthowtheyatriswouldbe
bombedatShimlatohowifawomanpanchayatmemberparticipatedinthe
yatra,allfinancialaidtoherpanchayatwouldbestopped.SomelocalMLAs,ina
bidtodividethestrengthoftheSangathancarriedoutvillagetovillage
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campaignsagainstthepadyatra.FromwithintheSangathan,someENSSgroups
feltthatsendingawomensdelegationtoShimlainsteadofconductingtheyatra,
wouldbeabetteralternative.DisagreementsonthiswiththelargerSangathan
membersledtosuchENSSunitsdroppingoutoftheyatra.Despitethese
obstacles,theSangathanwasfirminitsresolveofmarchingtoShimlatopresent
theCharterofDemandstothegovernment.Morethan3,000singlewomen
enrolledforthepadyatra.
AfewmembersoftheSangathansurveyedthedesignatedroutepriortothe
yatratolocateplaceswherethewomencouldbeaccommodated.Giventhe
mountainousterrain,itwasdifficulttofindlarge,flatgroundswheresuchahigh
numberofpadyatriscouldbeputup.ThevillagePanchayatsenrouteDhamito
Shimlawereextremelyhelpful theyallocatedpanchayat/anganwadigroundsfor
thepadyatris,andlocalcommunitymembershelpedinmakingfood,security
andother
such
arrangements
for
the
women
during
the
stay
in
their
village.
NehruYuvaKendragroupsofthesevillagesofferedvaluableassistanceand
helpedinsmootheningoutlogisticaldifficultiesthatwereboundtoarisein
coordinatingmorethan2000women.
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AnewspaperreportinalocalHindidailyontheeveofthePadyatra
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Aneighty yearoldwoman;ayoungmotherwithhertenmontholdson,abandonedbyherhusband;another,barelytwentyandalreadyawidowmany
singlewomenofvaryingagegroupsfromdifferentdistrictsofHimachalPradesh
congregatedin
Dhami
on
the
evening
of
the
31st,
determined
in
their
resolve
to
beginthemarchtoShimlathenextday.Manyofthewomenwhochoseto
participateinthepadyatramanagetheirhouseholdssinglehandedandtheyhad
madearrangementsfortheirfamilymembersyoungchildrenorageing
parents,whiletheywereaway.
Ontheeveoftheyatra,1,785SangathanmembersmetinDhamibuttheir
numberincreasedto2,065ontheseconddayasmorewomenjoinedinfromthe
otherdistricts.Onthefinalday,nearly3,000ENSSwomenwalkedtoShimlato
presenttheir
charter
of
demands
to
the
government.
There
was
however
no
representationfromKullu,KinnaurandChambadistricts,wheretheSangathan
isstillatanascentstage. Toexpresssolidaritywiththehillwomen,fivewomen
representativesoftheEkalNariSangathaninRajasthanalsocameforthemarch.
Dhami,aplacewheretheBegaarfreedomstruggleagainsttheoppressionofthe
aristocracytookplacein1939inHimachalPradesh,wasanappropriatestarting
pointforthepadyatra.Amidstslogansandsongs,ENSSmembersbeganthe
padyatrabytyingredthreadsaroundeachotherswristsandappliedteekas a
symbolicgesturemarkingtheunityand
strengthof
the
Sangathan.
The
oldest
memberoftheENSS,a90yearoldwoman
fromKangra,flaggedoffthemarch.
Holdinghands,inrowsoftwos,the
womenwalkedontheNationalHighway
88towardsShimla,raisingslogansthat
drewmuchattentionandpubliccuriosity.
Eventhoughthefirstafternoonwitnessed
unexpectedbadweather,thewomenwere
notdiscouraged.
However
some
vehicles
had
to
be
arranged
at
short
notice
becauseofheavyrainsothattheolderparticipantscouldbetakentoNehra,the
firsthalt.
Themorningofeachdayoftheyatrabeganwithmotivationalspeechesand
slogansasthepadyatrisreadiedthemselvesforthedayahead.Onthesecond
day,asthewomenwalkedthroughacrowdedmarketstreetinGhanahattito
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theirnexthaltnearHeeranagar,thepassersbystoodtransfixed,overwhelmedby
thesighttheywerewitnessing along,serpentinechainofwomen,withbanners
andpostershelduphigh,theirslogans
resonatingastheymovedon.Somecurious
onlookersevenfetchedtheircamerasto
capturethisbrilliantspectacle.Someaged
andailingmembershadtobeferriedin
busestothenexthaltduetounpredictable
weather.Despiteinclementweatherand
dailyfatigue,thedeterminationand
enthusiasmofthewomenwasapparent
songswrittenbytheSangathanmembersdescribingtheirstrugglesandtheir
demands,folksongsoftheirrespectiveareas,orgroupsofwomenmatching
theirstepstocollectiverhythmsofclappingandcheeringwouldrundeepinto
thenight.
Nirmala,dressedinabrightyellowsalwarkameez,dancedincircles,holdinghands,to
thewordsofaSangathansong Dearsisters,breakallthebarriersandcometoShimla.
Aboutayearago,Nirmalahadbeenthrownoutofherinlawshouseasherhusbandwas
havinganaffairwithanotherwoman.EventhoughhervillagePanchayattriedtoresolve
hercaseandsummonedherhusbandoften,herefusedtoappearbeforethebench.
AnENSS
worker
heard
about
Nirmala
and
the
Sangathan
took
up
her
case.
The
ENSS
memberscalledforahearingofNirmalascaseinthepresenceofPanchayatmembersof
notjustherinlawsvillagebutthePradhanandUpPradhanfromherpaternalvillage,
aswell.ABlockDevelopmentCommitteemember,ZilaParishadrepresentative,other
ENSSmembersfromadjoiningvillagesandMahilaMandalmemberswerealsoaskedto
sitinthehearing.Giventhepresenceofsomanyfunctionaries,Nirmalashusbands
familywasobligedtoaccepttheircollectivedecision ofprovidingseparateliving
arrangementsforherinthematrimonialhomeaswellasamonthlymaintenanceofRs.
1000.InordertoensurethatthemaintenanceamountwouldreachNirmala,the
representativesallocated
the
responsibility
of
collecting
the
money
and
handing
it
over
to
hertotheUpPradhanofthevillage.Eventhoughsuchmeasuresmaynotrestore
Nirmalasrelationshipwithherhusband,theywereimportantstepsinsecuringwhat
wasrightfullyduetoher.Presently,sheisananganwadiworkerandisalsoanactive
ENSSmemberinherarea.
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Forthewomen,thepadyatrawasnotsimplyashowofstrength,itwasa
symbolofallthattheyhadsuffered
andovercome,somethingthat
validatedtheir
daily
battle
for
survival.Ageingwidows,helplessand
bereftoffamilysupportorcareintheir
oldage,completelydependenton
theirsonsfamilies,tauntedandjibed
atforbeingaburdenwalked
resolutelytomeettheChief
Minister.Wehavegivenhimour
vote,saidanoldlady,Heislikemy
son.IfIcanputhiminthatseatof
power,Icanalsobringhimdown.He
hastolistentoourdemands.Those
whoarerecognizedaswidowsare
entitledtoaWidowsPensionofRs
300permonthfromthegovernment.
Thisishardlysufficienttobeself
sustainable,especiallyatanagewhen
oneisnotphysicallystrongenoughto
earnalivingotherwise.Andthentherearemanyothers,strugglingtoprove
theirwidowhood
to
get
these
basic
entitlements.
Adarsh, Artis ten- month old son, clung
to his mother as she walked on the road,
oining in the slogans, gently, tentatively,
while attending to her baby. Artis
husband left her for another woman. She
underwent severe physical torture andmental trauma for many years and
shadows of her past still haunt her young
ace. Left with her daughter and son, Arti
has moved back to her parents house
recently. The night she returned, her
husband made an attempt to set her
parents house on fire but despite
lodging a complaint with the police, no
action was taken against him. Even
though Arti filed a case against her
husband, the police and the lawyers werebought over. Vulnerable and lost, the
oung mother is trying hard to piece her
life together though traces of pain and
ear are hard to erase. Arti, scared for
the life of her and her children hopes that
one day she would be able to leave her
past behind for a better future.
Beforesettingoutonthelastlegoftheyatraonthemorningofthe3rd,theMinisterforSocialJusticeandEmpowerment,Govt.ofHimachalPradesh,
ShrimatiSarvenChoudharyvisitedthepadyatrisattheircampsitenear
Heeranagar.Inheraddresstothewomen,shesaidthatthelifeofsinglewomen
wasnoteasyandeverythingmustbedonetopreservetheirselfrespectwithin
society.Sheaddedthatratherthanwalkingoutofamarriage,compromisingon
onesegoforthelargerbenefitofkeepingthefamilyintactmustalsobethought
about.However,
she
empathized
with
women
who
had
been
forced
to
walk
out
oftheirmarriageduetounavoidablepressures.Sheofferedsuggestionsfor
incomegenerationlikejoiningNariNiketanssetupbytheStateorothercivil
societyinitiativesinvolvedwithvocationalactivitieslikemakinghandicrafts,
sewingorbasketweavingthatcouldhelpsupportonesfamily.Althoughuseful
advice,anoldENSSmemberwasunconvinced,HowcanIweavebasketsinmy
oldage?Icanhardlyseeproperlyleavealoneweavebasketsorputathread
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throughaneedle?Asshesharedherdilemmawithothers,hereyeswelledup
talkingaboutheronlyson,himselfunemployed,whofindstheadditional
burdenofanoldmotherdifficulttobear.ButthefactthattheMinisterhadtaken
timeouttoaddressthewomenwasenoughtoliftthespiritofthepadyatris an
acknowledgementofthefactthattheircausehadbeenrecognized.
Becauseofincessantrain,thepadyatrishadtobetakeninbusestillBaluganj,a
pointofentryforShimla,fromwheretheywalkedthroughthecapitaltothe
VidhanSabha.Byearlyafternoon,allthewomencongregatedoutsidethe
VidhanSabha,waitingpatientlyintherain
amidstheavypolicesecurityandmedia
presence.AdelegationofthreeENSS
members theStateCoordinator,Nirmal
ChandelandtwoPadyatraCoordinators,
ShichiAngmo
and
Leela
Devi,
went
in
to
meettheChiefMinister,ShriPremSingh
Dhumal.WhiletheENSSmemberswaitedin
anticipationfortheChiefMinistersresp
theissuesofsinglewomenwerebeing
simultaneouslydiscussedintheongoingAssemblysession.Membersofthe
Housewereengagedinadebateregardingtherightsandentitlementsofyoung
widow
onse,
sthatthegovernmentneededtolookinto.
Ataround4p.m,theChiefMinistersteppedouttomeetthewomen.Appreciatingtheirresilienceandefforts,theCMagreedwithtwoofthe
demandsthathadbeenputforthbyENSS ofprovidingfreehealthservicesand
separaterationcardsforsinglewomen.HestatedthathisGovernmenthad
alreadyincreasedwidowpensionmarginallysincecomingintopowerinJanuary
2008andaddedthatthefeasibilityofthe
otherdemandsthathadbeenplaced
beforehimwouldbelookedinto. Oneof
thedemandsofENSSwastoensure
property
rights
(in
the
paternal
share)
for
tribalwomenoftheStateinareaslike
LahaulSpiti,PangiBharmorand
Kinnaur.Commentingontribalrightsin
India,theCMexplainedthatuntila
Centrallegislationtothiseffectwas
formulated,itwasConstitutionallynotpossibleforaStategovernmentto
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interveneandreformulatelawsintribalareas.However,hegavereassurances
statingthatifsuchachangeoccursthroughaCentrallegislation,hisgovernment
wouldbethefirstonetoimplementitintheState.TheChiefMinstersaddress
leftthewomenfeelingpartlyvictoriousandsatisfiedassomeoftheirdemands
hadbeenimmediatelyaccepted.Attheendofthethreedayyatra,themoodwas
oneofjubilationaswomentroopedbackfromtheVidhanSabhatocatchbuses
fortheirrespectiveareas.
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ThepadyatrahasthrownupsomecriticalquestionsfortheENSStoreflectupon,inordertochartoutitsfuturecourseofaction.Encouraginglocal
leadershipamongstitsmembers,exertingpressureonthegovernmenttotake
cognizanceofothercrucialdemandslikelandrightsforsinglewomenand
capitalizingon
the
positive
outcomes
of
the
yatra
are
significant
issues
that
the
Sangathanisnowfacedwith.
Inordertoemergeasapowerfulsocialmovement,theSangathanmustwork
towardsbuildingcapacitiesofnotjustitsofficebearersbutalsotheother
membersofENSS,inordertodevelopasenseofcollectiveownershipand
accountability.Eventhough3,900womenhadinitiallyenrolledfortheyatra,the
finalnumberofpadyatrisdidnotmatchthisestimate.Personallimitationscould
havebeenoneofthereasonsbehindthis,butitalsopointstothefactthatweak
groundlevelorganizationandmasssupportareareasofconcernincertain
districtsoftheState.
AmongthedistrictsinHimachalPradesh,themaximumnumberofcasesof
domesticviolenceanddesertionseemtobefromKangraandUna.Anattempt
mustbemadetoexaminereasonsforthesetrendsandplacethisdatainthe
publicdomain,sothatpositivepoliticalandsocialactioncanbeformulatedto
addressthis.
EventhoughtheresponseofthegovernmenttosomeofthedemandsofENSS
waspositive,
one
of
the
main
demands
with
regard
to
guaranteeing
land
to
singlewomenforcultivationdidnotelicitanyreaction. Thedebateinthe
VidhanSabharegardingsinglewomenfocusedonlyontheplightofyoung
widows,ignoringtheentitlementsofothersinglewomen deserted,divorcedor
thoseinvolvedinlongdrawnlegalbattlesagainsttheirmatrimonialhomes.
ENSSmustdevisestrategiesinordertodrawattentiontosuchissuesinthe
future.
________________________________________________________________________
Photographscourtesy PriyaD.Das
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________________________________________________________________________
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and
Media
Collective,
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