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Some Critical Concerns
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Illiteracy in the women is
the major concern of this area. Women belonging to the Backward classes
like Dalits are illiterates. Due to the illiteracy they are unable to
express their problems also. To Overcome this problem RDWWS is conducting
campaigns in rural areas relating to the Literacy and it is also
conducting literacy programs as a part and parcel of it's projects. As an
example we had conducted literacy classes to the beneficiaries during the
candle making project
supported by VGIF (USA) and
Carpentry training project supported by World Development and Relief Committee,
Methodist Church, Ireland.
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Health Awareness - Health
awareness is very low in this NGO deficient region. People belonging to
the Backward Communities are suffering from serious health Hazards due to
their superstitions. RDWWS playing a key role to aware these people about
precautionary steps and medicines. In this view we have conducted several
campaigns on HIV/AIDS
to aware this people.
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Exploitation - Stone
Quarries, bonded labour and liquor have become synonymous with the lot of
the Backward Classes. The mode of abuse is as varied as they are cruel.
The mines are a hotbed of exploitation. The Dalits are encouraged by the
mine or land owners to take petty loans which, more often then not; they
are unable to pay. Then again workers are charged for absenteeism and also
at times chained up in the mine premises so that they are unable to run
away and instead forced to work. One of RDWWS's initial successes was the
freeing of several bonded laborers from South India in the Yerraguntla
region. However, bonded labour and atrocities on them still prevail in
large numbers. Moreover there have been instances where even after being
rescued from bondage they have preferred to go back to the same mines to
earn a livelihood, merely because of a lack of alternatives. Liquor
is another mode of well-planned exploitation. Liquor is often sold by the
mine owners at the site of the mines and the payment deducted from the
wages of the workers.
Advocacy for Women Rights
The program has made
significant gains in establishing and nurturing Community Organizations
among the women. These are increasingly playing more frontal role in raising
their voices and pressure building techniques. Their presence is felt all
over the region and in media circles. Local media has been providing profuse
coverage to all their activities and memorandums. Political and Official
agencies are also closely monitoring the growth and activities.
This organization is mainly working for
infusing a sense of solidarity, advocacy for the issues affecting lives and
resources, resisting exploitation and abuse of women. Inactivity of system
to provide social security has always been major question to address..
Proposed Activities:
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Continue leadership and capacity building
trainings for the female and male both.
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Community Meetings
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Raising demands for drought relief work,
monitoring BPL survey and functioning of food related
programs, Press for demands for land for land less and release for bonded
labor and child labor.
Faction and violence :
The Project area has been suffering from continuous faction. The women
belongs to the backward classes is living under Terror and fear. In the
present situation people of several villages are going to be displaced
completely. Incidents are increasing where Girls & women belongs to these
classes are being went for begging due to these problems .
There has been much needs to be done. The
project will continue seeking legal and administrative solutions in addition
to using media advocacy and local level mobilization activities.
Plight of extended phases
of Drought:
One of the major problems related to this area is drought. Draught has
forced a large scale shortage of food and water . Many families from all
over the areas have migrated from rural areas to towns and cities in search
of work and food. The RDWWS has tried it's best to take benefit of Drought
relief works in some rural areas. Several new works have been sectioned
under food for work scheme. The major benefit of these programs is being
siphoned by the multilevel corruption and pilferages. Therefore, actual
benefit reaching to the backward families is name sake and just for few
days.
If the draught and starvation continues at the
same pace, a large population of backward families would probably
permanently get displaced and would seek refuge in the urban slums.
Efforts are being made to continue building
pressure on the Administration to provide adequate food grains.
Self Help Groups
Significant progress is visible in the project
area in relation to women gaining prominence. In fact, now they are
spokespersons for all the issues against women and girls. Self help groups
have added to the strength of this movement. There is growing movement of
women to the banks and other offices. Savings have also provided
enormous confidence and capacity to challenge the forces of exploitation.
The chronic dependence on the money lenders for small loans and getting
caught in the vicious cycle of indebtedness is gradually on decline. |
