A Girl.............

[raj_rathee]

Sujata:

The undue emphasis on the reference to "Paanchi Fail" is unwarranted.
Frankly it denotes someone that is left behind and is not mocking our women.
And I too happen to come from the same background too...more "fails"
than "passes". So your assumption that this hits closer to you than it
does to others is probably not correct. Plenty of my very own fall
firmly in that category. Keeping all that in good humor is not such a big
deal. But like I said before we are all different beasts, and take such sort
of "humor" differently.

Regarding the changes etc. I agree that there isn't a quick fix here.
It is a slow and gradual process that involves education of not only
the woman, but others around her. And I am arguing that it is happening
via numerous avenues and we should support that. One such avenue
that we (my dad) follow is the support of Arya Samaj activities in the
village that involve annual organisation of gatherings. Another friend
has also taken that up in his own village. So that is one such small step
we are taking.

Regular Indian media (t.v serials, movies, newpapers) etc are another
medium whereby such awareness is being spread. In that regard
our talking (and joking) here on Jatland is our own small way of sharing
this awareness. It trickles down to all of us so that we spread it around
in our own ways. So in that sense even seemingly "fruitless discussion"
is serving a purpose.

On top of all that, like I have pointed out many times, I strongly feel
that the ultimate change will happen via education of women which
will lead to economic empowerment. Despite the opinions of others here
I strongly feel that only that will have to be the key driving force...and that
is what we have to work for. We are seeing that in our
region of Haryana. So it is happening.

Please don't take humor as disregard for our women. The fact that I am
here and spending enough time on this thread should speak for
itself. It is one of the areas I feel very strong about. Otherwise I would
be spending more time in the humor section.

 

[shokeen123]

Glad we are on the same page...

“Otherwise I would be spending more time in the humor section.”

Thanks Raj, point well taken, I am glad we are on the same page now…but just for clarification, my compassion too stems from similar dedication, as you can see I deliberately invite much grief by taking on the pro women stance sometimes at the cost sounding almost awkward and or unpleasant. Not many women are outspoken (at least Jat) or wish to take on such a role, furthermore, positive and or constructive criticism intended at best, is not easy; and by no means do I bear personal grudge against any one. So for all those times that I have challenged our folks I hope it is my underlying compassion that is perceived favorably.

“Economic empowerment” is a very dear but complex term! Let us hope that through these discussions we sensitize enough people and somehow further the cause.

 

[raj_rathee]

[COLOR="Bluebut just for clarification, my compassion too stems from similar dedication, as you can see I deliberately invite much grief by taking on the pro women stance sometimes at the cost sounding almost awkward and or unpleasant. Not many women are outspoken (at least Jat) or wish to take on such a role, furthermore, positive and or constructive criticism intended at best, is not easy; and by no means do I bear personal grudge against any one. So for all those times that I have challenged our folks I hope it is my underlying compassion that is perceived favorably.
[/COLOR]

We all know that Sujata. It would be fair to say that all Jatland members
hold you in high esteem and always look forward to hear what
you have to say. And yes, that includes me.

 

[shokeen123]

Something to look into...

http://www.ncert.nic.in/sites/educationalsurvey/educationalsurvey.htm

Click on this link, then on "Girls’ Education" and then on “Partner Organizations” and this is what you get:

State Resource Centre (SEARCH), Rohtak, Haryana

Founded in 1995, SEARC has been functioning as a registered NGO aims at promoting gender equality. It is functioning as a state resource centre in the state on issues related to girls’ education, capacity building and empowerment.

Objectives

• To promote girls’ education, capacity building and empowerment.
• To promote gender equality.

Main Activities

• Train rural girls in cycling. So far 70 girls are trained in cycling, thus empowering girls.
• Community mobilization by conducting public awareness campaigns through Nukkad Nataks for gender equality.
• Running programmes under SWA Shakti Project of GOI for capacity building of girls and women.
• Introducing thrift and credit activities through Self Help Groups (SHGs). 22 Dalit women are members of SHGs.
• Conducting public awareness campaigns through plays and Nukkad Nataks focusing on problems of declining sex ratio in the state.
• Publish materials on women’s issues in the form of books, posters, folders and leaflets etc.

Contact Person:-

Dr. Santosh Mudgil
Director, SEARCH
State Resource Centre, Haryana
42/29, Chankya Puri, Near Shiela Cinema
Rohtak - 124 001
Tele - 01262-210916, 212371
E-mail: sr_centre@rediffmail.com

********************************************************************************************************************

“Train rural girls in cycling. So far 70 girls are trained in cycling, thus empowering girls.

This is funnier than I had thought! So they have trained 70 girls in cycling, what good did that do to promote gender equality? Mai pachchees saal pelhyan khet mai te apni cycle pe barsam er kaasni laya karti, but I was educationally inclined way before I learned how to ride a bicycle? This doesn’t make much sense? Who is keeping an eye on the performance measurements? Perhaps no one, and that’s why such organizations exist only in oblivion!

Are there volunteers to chat with Dr. Mudgil so that he/she can highlight other discernable breakthroughs achieved through the SEARCH initiative? Thank goodness their goals and objectives (to promote girls’ education, capacity building, empowerment, and gender equality) mesh in with ours! Now let us demand better action, why don’t we come up with our own set of activities, better yet, why don’t you all show up at the door of Dr. Mugdil during the Delhi meet, and ask him/her for better than cycling? And tell them public awareness at nukkad nataks alone wouldn’t do!

What do you think, Binod?

 

[vinodks]

Sujataji, you seem to be on hunting spree of oblivion orgns.... kahan kone mein link hai....

Overall, NCERT's project looks good. And some partner organizations also seem to be doing good stuff. SEARCH looks like a small orgn in Rohtak(reminds me Poonam's Rohtang pass). We shouldn't be too critical of their cycling work. At some places (far from Delhi) even learning cycling can be helpful in various ways(e.g. cycling can be helpful in commuting to school in nearby villages). Lots grown up girls in villages don't cycle. And their Nukkad Natak approach, though it sounds old way of spreading awareness, it might be effective in some remote villages. Though these activities might not seem that productive but they indirectly instil the feeling of confidence, sense of contribution and a plateform where people get together to discuss and celeberate. So. these small orgns have close communities of people who are atleast willing to work. And our involvement with them might be very beneficial to them.

In particular, SEARCH might not have updates all the activities on internet, but this already-prepared network of people can be connected to people like us and we can give them suggestions and ask them whay they think cycling is priority.

That brings a general idea, would it be good if there is common plateform where these kinds of orgns can come together and form a network, which can connect them to each other and jobless people like us. In fact this is one of the issue that we plan to work on in Jatland_Seva in near future. There could be many possibilties which can be discussed later. If such an effort is materized, it would require help(kind of that you can easily do) from sincere people who contribute to these kinds of thread.

Vinod
PS: BTW cycling is fun.

 

[poonam]

Mai pachchees saal pelhyan khet mai te apni cycle pe barsam er kaasni laya karti, but I was educationally inclined way before I learned how to ride a bicycle? [/B]

But not every girl is ‘Sujata’.. ( I mean it, no teasing/leg pulling here). And that rings a bell down my memory lane. How many girls from the rural parts are actually willing to go for higher education if given a chance? Not many I believe since they want an easy life and getting married and depending on their husbands forever is definitely much more effortless and undemanding (Mind you, I’m generalizing here and talking about an average rural girl).

My first hand experience and she was not even from any village so not an iota of rural influence. This girl (in High School) in my neighborhood used to come to me for help with her studies related problems (and trust me… I used to succeed in solving them… ). And she was pretty bright student and abruptly one fine day she breaks the news of her marriage and quitting studies. I tried to brainwash her but unfortunately, all my efforts went futile just because she herself was not interested in further education. So what do we do now?? As per my understanding it’s a kind of vicious cycle. Parents while raising their kids should inculcate these values and the understanding, appreciation and acknowledgement of being educated I guess. I’m sure there are other ways but to me that looks like the most effective process which initiates right after the birth. Reminds me of a popular saying of Nehru (otherwise no comments on him… )

“You can tell the condition of a nation by looking at the status of its women”

And as mentioned numerous times by many other members of this site including Jagmohan uncle that educating a woman is indeed much more important than anyone else since one educated woman means a family educated. So true!!

(Vinod: Rohtang Pass mera thaa...tune pehle kyo nahin bataya.. )

 

[devdahiya]

Vicious Circle

But not every girl is ‘Sujata’.. ( I mean it, no teasing/leg pulling here). And that rings a bell down my memory lane. How many girls from the rural parts are actually willing to go for higher education if given a chance? Not many I believe since they want an easy life and getting married and depending on their husbands forever is definitely much more effortless and undemanding (Mind you, I’m generalizing here and talking about an average rural girl).

My first hand experience and she was not even from any village so not an iota of rural influence. This girl (in High School) in my neighborhood used to come to me for help with her studies related problems (and trust me… I used to succeed in solving them… ). And she was pretty bright student and abruptly one fine day she breaks the news of her marriage and quitting studies. I tried to brainwash her but unfortunately, all my efforts went futile just because she herself was not interested in further education. So what do we do now?? As per my understanding it’s a kind of vicious cycle. Parents while raising their kids should inculcate these values and the understanding, appreciation and acknowledgement of being educated I guess. I’m sure there are other ways but to me that looks like the most effective process which initiates right after the birth. Reminds me of a popular saying of Nehru (otherwise no comments on him… )

“You can tell the condition of a nation by looking at the status of its women”

And as mentioned numerous times by many other members of this site including Jagmohan uncle that educating a woman is indeed much more important than anyone else since one educated woman means a family educated. So true!!

(Vinod: Rohtang Pass mera thaa...tune pehle kyo nahin bataya.. )

Sahi baat kahi jiji. Bhedd chal ki shikaar ho rhi sein mhari chhori. Sujata jiji jisi chhori sein te sahi par unn bechariyan tei beddi konya tutt rhi.......Wish them better guts and future.