Dateline ACT

India 02/07

Gender justice


Rina Chunder, LWSI-ACT International
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Capacity building and community-based disaster preparedness programs in India

By Rina Chunder, ACT International

Ayyampettai, India, February 20, 2007— Lutheran World Service India (LWSI)—a member of the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International—has been involved in capacity building and disaster preparedness activities with communities affected by the tsunami in Tamil Nadu for some two years now.

The activities have been conducted at the same time as LWSI have been implementing its relief and rehabilitation programs in response to the catastrophic events of December 26, 2004—hosting orientation and training programs to empower women, ensure better health and sanitation, and assist communities in being better prepared to deal with disasters.

Another key activity in raising awareness and focusing on people's resilience has been LWSI’s role in facilitating the creation of group funds, assisting self help groups (SHGs) in opening bank accounts and encouraging micro credit operations among the women in the communities.

With support from DanChurchAid (DCA)—also a member of ACT—LWSI has initiated livelihood support and community-based disaster preparedness (CMDP) programs in 50 tsunami-affected non-ocean fishing and dalit communities in the Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts of Tamil Nadu state. Women in particular, because of their vulnerable status—are to receive special attention to enhance their opportunities and empower them for alternative livelihood options through vocational training.

A report by DCA, (*Program Strategy Paper: Post-Tsunami Disaster Mitigation/Prevention and Livelihood Programs in India, Cuddalore) highlights the pivotal role women play in disaster response, rehabilitation and preparedness. "Experience [however] shows that women are allowed little say in the decision making process, [and less] so in traditional social settings.

"Interactions with women folk in fishing communities have revealed that they are virtually excluded from the community decision making process, though in [some] places they have their own groups which meet separately."

Mrs. A Mala, from Ayyampettai village in the Cuddalore district refers to the general lack of freedom that women had when she says: "Before the tsunami we did not come out of our houses. But now there is a great change. We have the confidence to come out, talk and even fight for our rights." Ayyampettai is one of the villages where LWSI has been implementing its post-tsunami projects, including its capacity building and women empowerment programs.

Also from Ayyampettai is Mrs. R Shanthi. She believes that women are better informed now. "During meetings women are told to sit in the front and share their views," she says.

The overall feeling is that by being part of the self help groups, women have gained the confidence to meet with government officials and NGO staff to advocate their own causes. At a family level as well, they are now able to explain matters to the men folk, and feel that their points of view are better understood.

Even among the men, the level of acceptance has gone up. "Before they would not have allowed us to come out and participate in meetings. Now they encourage us to attend even if they are unable to, so that they can get the information being shared. A very positive attitude is noticeable among the men," says Mrs. M Danamani.

Many of the women are involved in a candle-making unit being run by a local NGO. They earn Rs 20 (about half a dollar) a day. Since more women were interested in joining, a soap-making unit was set up. And with the families’ incomes being supplemented—even if only by small amounts—the women say that their husbands are happy too.

"Though the tsunami was a disaster, it brought some positive changes also," says Mrs. Mala.

But not all the women and men are sensitive to gender. Discrimination still occurs. There is the issue of the dowry system. Alcoholism and domestic violence remains a problem. A lot of work is still needed to sensitise people to gender related issues. But for someone like Mrs. Shanthi, a beginning has been made. She says, "I will not force my daughters to marry. I want them to do what they want. A mother should be a friend to her daughters."

(ends)

[*Additional quote from the DCA paper: Very few NGOs have so far offered rehabilitation packages specifically targeting women, even though arguments can always be made that women also benefit from benefits received by their men. The issue here is not one of benefit, but of gender justice; it is one of ensuring ways in which women can be empowered to play a bigger role in the process of recovery. It deserves special mention that the non-fishing women folk play the most important social as well as economic role within the family and the community. It also needs to be kept in mind that many dalit communities have a good number of women headed families who deserve special attention. The fortunes of these women could look up with gender sensitive intervention—Program Strategy Paper: Post Tsunami Disaster Mitigation/Prevention and Livelihood Program, India: DanChurchAid—India/Cuddalore.]

*The ACT members in India are Churches Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), Lutheran World Service India (LWSI) and United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI).

Rina Chunder is the Information and Documentation Officer for LWF/DWS in India. LWF is a member of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International.