Introduction – Tree on Displaced and Homeless, Lal Bagh
Bridge Network – at Lalbagh
Interaction program by Samanvaya Samithi (women’s group) on situation of women in slums:
The scenario in which democracy in India is moving away from its people and being limited only to voting, the Women’s Network of Karnataka have organized a ‘Marmara’ campaign during the month of March 2014. Women, sitting under the tree will share their feelings/emotions on the structured injustice, violence, sexual harassment. The issues of domestic violence, dowry were part of this campaign so far. Now, the campaign’s focus is on the situation of women who are made to dwell on the road sides/under the flyovers/slums always with the fear of being evicted. In most of the cases, the families are evicted from slums without prior notice or any alternate arrangement. At this time, women will have to come across lot of difficulties. They are left to deal with the situation silently.
BRIDGE, a network of 11 NGO’s working in 32 slums across Bangalore had lead this campaign on 24th March 2014 at Lalbagh to create a platform for women to share their hardship as women they come across every day and also to put forward their demands to the political leaders who tend to remember them only during elections. More than 100 women represented from 30 slums/urban poor locations across Bangalore came together and shared their struggle in this space provided.
The discussions unfolded the many distresses these women underwent. For any political party the women question is the last priority. The worse reality is that the existing progressive laws are not being implemented effectively to support the women with dignity let alone their survival. Those hearing the narration were agonized that the women issues have never been taken and addressed seriously. Ironically, these very women are saviors of the family economically and socially.
Security of women/girl child living in streets is at stake. In slums Nirbhaya cases and infant sexual assault is almost an everyday affair. The physical and sexual violence against women are high in slums, and the security forces (police) refuse to file cases most of the time. Women are always seen and treated as a commodity. Even the so called secured institution - family falls short of providing secure environment to its women. Men consuming alcohol not only affect the economic condition of the family but even adhere to physical violence on their women. The state’s neglect in providing even minimal shelter to these communities is a shame!
Muthu, 30 yrs old from Vinobhanagar says “we were thrown out of our dwellings and now we are sleeping on the roadside. Many a times we spend sleepless nights as we have to protect ourselves and our girl children from miscreants who come drunk and sleep beside us. We also sleep under the fear of any vehicles running on us. We are totally unsafe. We did not get any support from our MLA also.”
Anniyamma, 51 yrs from Rajagopalnagar said “We had been living in this area from more than 15 yrs and all of a sudden we were evicted by private players. Our children have stopped going to school and the roadside is our home”.
Lakshmi 32 yrs from Kamakya says “People who make use of us to keep their house clean tell us we are dirty. We are not able to take bath even during our periods as there is no water and no public bath rooms. We are forced take bath in the mid night to avoid peeping toms”.
Velli 38 yrs from Bhavaninagar says “Alcohol is the biggest problem. See the irony, in our area there are 4 bars and just 1 ration shop, very clearly indicating where the government priorities are”.
The following demands that were raised during the campaign will be brought to the notice of the political leaders who come to their door steps campaigning for the forthcoming elections stating that ‘vote for the party that place these demands in their manifesto and fulfill them on priority’
- Any dwellings of the poor should not be evicted for any developmental work with out prior consent or even without making proper alternative arrangements
- Proper housing and land rights to be facilitated along with BPL ration cards and voter ID irrespective of whether they have homes or homeless
- To shut down bars immediately
Introduction >> Photos of the Marmara >>