Abstract
The All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM) is a common platform for Dalit women committed to challenging the nexus of patriarchy, caste, age-old social customs and traditions, class oppression, exploitation and most of all marginalization of Dalit women in the family, community and nation they live in. AIDMAM is part of NCDHR’S campaign for Dalit Women’s Rights and has the membership and solidarity of non-Dalit women, Dalit men, social activists and other human rights defenders committed to the cause of protecting and promoting the rights of Dalit women under the leadership of Dalit women. AIDMAM’S objective is to hold the state accountable for its failure to prevent violence against Dalit women and to take up advocacy at the state, national and international levels.
INTRODUCTION
All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM) is a movement initiated and promoted NCDHR (National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights) at the national level to focus exclusively on Dalit women. Its genesis is rooted in an attempt to address severe vulnerabilities faced by the 80 million Dalit women and girls who are socially excluded at the bottom of India’s caste, class and gender hierarchies. AIDMAM aims to support and strengthen Dalit women to address violence and access justice and right through networking, enhancing skills and leadership at district and state level. AIDMAM’s objective is Empower Dalit Women to challenge against Caste, Class and Patriarchal Norms, Support Dalit Women, liberate Dalit Women from their multi-dimensional issues. It 80 million Dalit women constitute a distant social category of the Indian population, right out of every 180 citizens in the country. AIDMAM has member-ship and solidarity of non-Dalit women too. Dalit men and other human rights defenders committed to the cause of protection and promotion of the rights of Dalit Women under the leadership of Dalit Women. Dalit Women experience endemic gender and caste discrimination and violence. They bear the brunt of untouchability, caste oppression, poverty and political sub-ordination along with Dalit men.
A RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE AGAINST DALIT WOMEN
AIDMAM is initiated as a response to all Dalit women who live through extreme situations of violence on an every day basis and the follow up to the Dalit women who participated and presented their cases in the ‘National Conference on Violence Against Dalit Women’ organized by NCDHR (National Campaign on Dalit Human Right). On an average 27,000 incidents of serious atrocities and human rights violations are registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, annually. NCDHR aims in its work to create awareness among the national and international community regarding the unique plight of Dalit women and to expose the failure of the state to protect and promote Dalit women’s rights. The long term goal is to build effective monitoring and legal mechanisms to support women who face violence, to train and support Dalit women’s rights defenders, to build alliance with other movements, and to ensure the effective functioning of the justice and administrative systems to destroy the culture of impunity.
AIDMAM AFFIRMS
Dalit women negotiate and manage their lives with tremendous courage, resilience and hope in the face of severe caste and gender violence in the form of verbal abuse, physical violence, sexual exploitation and violence both inside and outside home. Dalit women’s knowledge and skill in sustainable agriculture, irrigation techniques, animal husbandry and other artisan productions have critical value and contribution for ecologically sustainable development. Dalit women’s active participation and contribution to anti-caste and anti-untouchability as well as movements against patriarchy.
AIDMAM CONDEMNS
Ø The casteist forces that outcastes, devalues and violates Dalit women’s person hood, sexual and bodily integrity as well as source to life and livelihood.
Ø The forces of patriarchy that perpetrates sexual abuse and dowry harassment; curtails her freedom, space, voice, choice and opportunity within the family and community.
Ø Dalit women being excluded and distanced from access or control of any productive asset and resource like land, credit and quality education.
Ø The labour of Dalit women being exploited, paying them unequal and less than minimum wages.
Ø The extreme and gruesome nature of physical and sexual violence on Dalit women and girl children including rape, rape and murder, physical assault, kidnap and abduction, forced prostitution, sexual exploitation and desertion.
Ø The continuing dehumanizing social and occupational practices like manual scavenging and devadasi system forced on Dalit women.
Ø Hurdles placed on Dalit women leaders in the Panchayati Raj in fulfilling the Constitutional opportunities provided to them.
Ø The lack of accountability of the administration, law enforcing agencies, judiciary or the political system in administering services, extending development programmes or accessing justice. The perpetration of the cycle of violence and disabilities through the exploitation of Dalit girl children through sexual violence, child labour, illiteracy and discrimination.
AIDMAM DEMANDS
AIDMAM tries to recognize Dalit women’s contribution to national productivity and well being. It demands to protect life and promote security of Dalit women by adding necessary amendments and strict implementation Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 against SC and other legislative measures.
AIDMAM promotes to enhance economic conditions of Dalit women, expanding the provisions under Article. 21 ensure ownership, control and access to land, common property resources, credit and other productive assets. It demands to provide discrimination free opportunities for free, quality and compulsory education of Dalit girls and boys for primary, secondary and higher levels of professional and technical education.
Moreover it takes stringent action on any harassment of Dalit women as Panchayat Sarpanch or representatives and build their capacities to enhance their performance.
AIDMAM hereby declares the commitment to –
- Challenge the forces of caste and patriarchy, working towards a non-discriminatory and egalitarian society.
- Campaign against domestic violence, female foeticide and child marriage.
- Monitoring atrocities and extending legal support to survivors of violence.
- Evolve conceptual clarity on Dalit women’s perspective, concerns.
- Build and maintain links with other Dalit and women’s organizations to promote Dalit women’s concerns.
- Participate in development and human rights forums to present Dalit women’s perspective and concerns.
- Support member organizations through capacity building and access Dalit women’s access to rights and entitlements.
- Provide training to the Dalit women leaders to strengthen their capacities and leadership skills.
- Undertake action-research and advocacy on Dalit women’s rights issues.
- Promote State, Regional, National and international conferences to make visible Dalit women’s issues.
- Liaison with Dalit women, Dalit, women and other like minded movements and organizations on issues of Dalit women.
CONCLUSION
AIDMAM believes it is possible to create a non-discriminatory and violence free society where all children, women and men of diverse communities can live together and collaborate for common good and well-being. Dialogue and democratic processes can break hierarchical structures and systems of domination and power concentration. Ambedkar believed that ‘the progress of any community should be measured in terms of the progress made by its women-folk’. The courage, strength and resilience of Dalit women and their quest for justice is inspiration and strength to uproot caste system and Patriarchy. As the National Federation of Dalit Women has stated in its Declaration of Dalit Women’s Rights 2002, Dalit women have the right to life and to freedom from oppression and violence. The right to expression, conscience and autonomy. It is only when support is extended to Dalit women across the country that these women will become empowered and enjoy these fundamental rights on par with the rest of the Indian citizenry.
Dr. A. Tresa Josephine Rani
Associate Professor in History, Women’s Christian College, Nagercoil.
N. Hepsibai
Ph.D. Research Scholar, Women’s Christian College, Nagercoil.
References
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