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MRA State Process
Gargoti Convention
It is very important for bringing women in political mainstream and involve them in decision-making process. However, in reality, women are considered subordinate and used as mere puppets of political symbolic representation. The scenario will only change when the society will realize about an equal importance of men & women in life. The orientation of all sectors not only the men but also female have to be come out of the traditional frame of the social, cultural structure. Till date, thousands of women have entered in the PRI sector to be a part of village development & decision making process. They have come across lots of basic issues like corruption, delay in administration, negative mindset of bureaucracy etc. They have gained kind support from SHG women & their family to some extent
Keeping in view these emerging issues and processes, MRA in the seventh year of its existence has organized its fourth Bi- Annual State Convention at Gargoti in Kolhapur District on 22nd March - 25th March 2007. Almost 10, 000 participants including the network partners, village level women activists, alliance partners were present This Convention has focused towards strengthening the already existing, mass base of the Andolan and building cross section support for women in governance.
The Convention would determine the future strategies of MRA on the following lines.
- To strengthen already existing mass base of the Andolan.
- To strengthen the process of policy advocacy for addressing the issues of women representatives in PRIs.
- To look for sons of Jyotiba Phule, sensitive & supportive male partners in women's struggle, who are trying to establish equal ownership of women in all types of opportunities, power centers and property
- Working for Atrocity free Maharashtra
- Effective participation of networks for strengthening alliance building process
- Sharpen & develop political identity of Mahila Rajsatta Andolan
- To initiate facilitation of value base politics & intervention in social change process through a larger women's movement
The Gargoti Convention was Special in many ways firstly the Mahila Sarpanch Sanman Motor Bike Rally organized was as a major event of the State Convention -Gargoti, Kolhapur. The rally started from Naigaon, which is the Birth Place of Savitribai Phule, the Inspiration of Mahila Rajsatta Andolan. The two-day rally was one of its kinds as nearly 100 people including both men and majority women participated from all over Maharashtra. Riding on 22 two-wheelers and 5 four-wheeler- vehicles, the rally traveled through 28 villages of three districts i. e. Satara, Sangli, and Kolhapur.
This was also different in terms women from different sections of the society with Sarpanch, MRA activists, volunteers of local NGOs like CORO, Maharashtra Mahila Parishad, MAVIM, Alochana etc participated as participants, volunteers and as supporters of MRA and distance covered was nearly 270 kilometers.
Secondly, MRA State Convention started with the Mashal lighting by Ms. Rajanitai Satav (Chairperson, State Women's Commission), wreath the picture of the Savitribai Phule, and followed by the guest welcome. This was the beginning the two-day State Convention program at Gargoti.
Around 2500 women turned up for the first day of the State Convention. Mr. Ravi Desai the local organizer gave the introductory speech. Then Prof. P.B. Patil (PRI Expert) gave the most appreciated speech among the guests. He clearly said that MRA should look to compel the government to implement his report that was written about the Panchayati Raj Institutions. He clearly pointed out the benefit of the decentralization, attacked the core issues in the Panchayati Raj Institution like non-implementation of the eleventh schedule, lack of funds, and unwanted administrative structures.
Ms Rajnitai also appealed to the women to be confident on their own to impose their due rights in practice. She said that women should make them firm & confident in every sector. The Panel Discussion of Women Sarpanch helped in understanding the gains & pains in PRI while implementing their rights as EWRs The main issues put forward by the participants were about the no confidence motion against Women Sarpanch, implementation of various programs like Van Vikas Yojana, Jalswarajya, Sant Gadge Maharaj Swachta Abhiyan, water crises, SHG, and others. In all these issues, most of them had explained how Men and the existing power holders of the society created troubles in the village but they still fight it out. Almost all the presentations were reflective and appreciated by people a lot.
Ms Rajnitai also appealed to the women to be confident on their own to impose their due rights in practice. She said that women should make them firm & confident in every sector. The Panel Discussion of Women Sarpanch helped in understanding the gains & pains in PRI while implementing their rights as EWRs The main issues put forward by the participants were about the no confidence motion against Women Sarpanch, implementation of various programs like Van Vikas Yojana, Jalswarajya, Sant Gadge Maharaj Swachta Abhiyan, water crises, SHG, and others. In all these issues, most of them had explained how Men and the existing power holders of the society created troubles in the village but they still fight it out. Almost all the presentations were reflective and appreciated by people a lot.
It is important to note that the entire historical background of the women's movement is a mixture of both male & female perceptions. Many a male social reformers have tried their best to aware the society on the evil of patriarchy & its reverse effect on women from all castes & classes. This valuable capital of our own should be used by us by honoring those male personalities who are actually on ground want to share all types of rights with their female companions.
The summing-up session was the best summary program. All women leaders prepared a special ending session where all the women were made to stand up along with a "Sum up Song" and a Cultural Dance with a step ahead, mixed with the song. This was the highest energy session, converted into a collective synergy or the state Convention. This Synergy is long lasting for those, who are fighting the battle against the stream. All 10, 000 women and 800 men became "ONE", to fight against all odds to mainstream the politics for Elected Women Representatives (i.e. women, weaker and worker) of this state.
The Convention was able to attract alliance not only from political front but also from Government and non-government sector. The Convention was able to present the PRI front very strongly. Apart from that it has been noticed that women came in Convention were under least guidance of their husbands which was not the case in the earlier Conventions. Overall, the Fourth State Convention has enriched the process of women's participation & strength in politics.
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