Women as Change Agents

The greatest social experiment. The historic confluence of forces taking shape in India — the awakening of women and the emerging commitment to local democracy — have led to what is unquestionably the greatest social experiment in the world today: the transfer of decision-making power to one million elected women local government representatives.

These women are not only the beneficiaries of change — they are the key agents for change.

Women and the Freedom Movement. Throughout India’s long struggle for independence, women stood shoulder to shoulder with men. The Freedom Movement was their movement, and the battles were their battles. In fact, it was a woman — the Rani of Jhansi — who fired the first shot that began the freedom struggle in 1857.

While the women of India worked, fought and died for freedom, few have been able to share the fruits of that freedom. They remain subjugated, marginalized and disenfranchised, as they have been throughout history.

Today, their struggle is again the nation’s struggle. Freedom for India’s women means freedom for India to create a new future.

  

Women face harsh opposition. The forces of patriarchy and feudalism that oppose local democracy also resist women’s assumption of leadership roles in that democracy. Women who dare to contest and win local elections are often victims of manipulation, physical attack, violence and humiliation. A mind-set of cynicism pervades India — portraying elected women representatives as puppets of men. Yet, study after study has shown that once women come into power, the overwhelming majority exercise power independently.

Women are making a difference. Against all odds, women in panchayati raj are already making headway in areas of immediate concern to their families and their villages. These issues, often ignored by men, range from health and sanitation to campaigns against alcoholism and domestic violence. At the dawn of this new millennium, many of the entrenched social evils that have persisted for thousands of years are beginning to change.

Women are transforming the development agenda to address issues critical to village life:

• Health: Women — who are most often affected by poor health throughout their lives — take a stand for better nutrition, sanitation facilities, safe drinking water, and access to reproductive health care essential for healthy families and communities.

• Education: Women organise literacy courses for other women in the community. They ensure that schools are built for children, that teachers are held accountable, and that both girls and boys attend.
• Income generation: Women form self-help groups and credit organisations among themselves to increase family income. Women leaders organise skills training for the women of the community.

• Addressing social evils: Women take action to address crucial social issues such as dowry, domestic violence, child marriage and child labour. They ensure that women know their rights and have access to information. They commit themselves to include traditionally excluded groups — the landless, scheduled castes and tribes.
• Redefining leadership: Women are changing the nature of leadership, incorporating values such as honesty, openness, patience, collective support, inclusion and accountability.
• Changing village dynamics: In even the most conservative villages, women’s leadership unleashes a process of change for the whole community. Women leaders empower other women to step out of the home, become literate and contribute to the community. They help to dissolve old prejudices, creating new partnerships with men.