Women's Tribunal Against Poverty 2007

In the Women’s Tribunal Against Poverty on the occasion of Poverty Eradication Day on 17th October 2007, the team of GLRF voiced the concerns of the tribal women. Priyasheela Besra, Founder Trustee of Saheli Adhyayan Kendra and core member of GLRF shared the testimonies on behalf of the thousands of tribal women affected by the loss of tribal land from State and denied by the Community. She called for action by the State and gender just evaluation of customs.

Dr Rose Kerketta played a pivotal role in the whole event as a Jury member. Sharing concerns with Kamla Bhasin, Ruth Manorama, Dr Rukmini Rao, Nikhil Dey and others, she helped in bringing the commonality of exploitation and poverty faced by different cultural communities and the need for them to come together, to strengthen each other’s movement.

Anna Soren and Mansi Dungdung interacted with the participants and distributed their booklets to them seeking their support.

Later in the evening the group presented the cultural expression at the stage provided at the Janadesh 2007 organised by the Ekta Parishad. The songs of Birsa Munda and Siddhu Kanhu, and those regarding the movement to create a new conscious adivasi society for Jharkhand made everyone join the dance.

On 18th October the team sat with other CWLR members from across other areas and cultural contexts (Muslim, Hindu, Tribal from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu) to analyse the steps so far and make further strategies for the next few months. The discussions on tribal theme gave a call for establishing women resource centres in various rural / urban areas to counter the effects of unsafe migration from where various services and trainings can reach out to women.

The two days participation has boosted the energies of the group, and there has been much analysis on unity of struggle between women from various cultures. The team from Jharkhand was especially delighted to meet tribal women sisters from West Bengal and Assam. While language was one common point between them, the other was the poverty and the struggle from patriarchy, also faced by them.

About this Space on GLRF

Johar !

Welcome to the world of discussions and sharings focused on gender issues amongst tribal community. This is an attempt to 'broaden our collective as thinkers and actors' on the issue, so that we can all learn from each other and strengthen the issue further.

While GLRF attempts to link land & resource rights for tribal women as the central point of all gender inequity making its entry in the tribal community, it has not forgotten patriarchy can take various shapes and forms – from globalisation 'thrusted' to feminisation of poverty to violence against women in the name of customs. Reforms, actions and struggles are required at various levels depending on the stakeholders we are dealing with.

There are hundreds of attempts being tried to create a better world for tribal women - from the tribal identity protection perspective, from women's right perspective, from the perspective of community control over natural resources, from labour rights perspective in this globalised economy and ... But still there is a common dream – to establish a society based on justice. (And this includes gender justice issues in tribal community).

Please give time to read and respond to the messages posted, so that we can do some bit of ‘impact’ on the issue. You may send responses at gender.and.livelihoods@gmail.com.

Looking ahead for establishing gender equity beyond the usual tribal scene of

men and women dancing together ! Let us give due respect to culture but stand for gender justice in this era of increasing globalization and patriarchy !!

In solidarity with all small and big efforts.
Best Wishes
GLRF Team