The situation of Dalit, tribal & marginalize women in needs special attention. They are one of the largest socially segregated groups anywhere.  However, women facing multiple oppressions that violate their fundamental rights. Now the real situations of Dalit, tribal & marginalize women are threatened by rape as part of collective violence by in physically, socially politically and economically. However, today this violence is increasing in society. And these women are ignorance to accesses their rights of life, livelihood and dignity.

Our country is a Part of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Civil and Political Rights. & also a Part of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). This treaty not only identifies a range of economic, social and cultural rights, but it also requires that all peoples enjoy these rights, without discrimination.

But the ground reality that the women face sees a complete negation and violation of women’s human rights. These women are the poor, illiterate and powerless with neither access nor control over land & natural resources. They have been victims of structural and social violence making them easy targets for sexual harassment. Atrocities and violence against women are both a means of sustaining systemic discrimination, as well as a reaction when caste and gender norms are challenged.

Prospective of women land rights

The principle in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 10, 1948) that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. World without poverty, inequality and social injustice; where all individuals are free and empowered to live in dignity and peace. This is mining less for women without land rights. Land ownership is the only way to women empowerment, dignity, social security, livelihood & human rights.

Discrimination and women Rights over land & natural resources is one of the most complicated issues that are today faced with. As such this is not a new question; however the current format is a relatively newer one. There are specific reasons and compulsion for raising this question at this juncture of history as the betrayal of the betrayed continues for centuries unknown till today. Dalit, tribal & marginalize Women have been active throughout history.  They were actively involved in the land & forest protection Movements & today also they are the strongholds in thousands of villages. They continue to play a critical role in the movements for land rights. For them, land, forest is not only property it is the identity & relationship of the human and mother earth. They have been 78% participation in the land protection, promotion & agricultural production. Which is a great contribution on GDP growth .but However, they are unable to put an end to the structural discrimination and exclusion.  And impunity is used to keep them in their place. It has caused them to start building their own praxis, identity and agency, and build an effective nonviolence struggle to restoration of their relationships with land &forest. That is clearly need in its place is an articulation base on the consciousness of the mother land.

Women need to develop a wider understanding and proper perspective about the diverse dynamics of women rights. One needs an understanding of the logic of the underlying forces that govern the current pattern of ownership. Access to land entitlement is deeply important for Dalit community especially women, where the incidence of poverty is highly correlated with lack of access to land are also an imperative for food security. Without land security and land Bess livelihood efforts to use natural resources in a sustainable manner may not be fruitful. Land ownership is a powerful tool that allows the Dalit community to escape extreme poverty especially women. Secure land right to increase nutrition, school enrolment and reduces the conflict of the community. Hence the crisis of Dalit women and rights over natural resources has to be understood in its historical perspective.

Why this campaign

In the process of life struggle, women were realized their relationship with land and forest. and the obstacles of women empowerment  so they are being initiated in the country by various land rights movement in the women’s perspective.  Govt. also takes some important decision in fever of women like joint entitlement. But in reality it was the partnership not to ownership. Also that not to be changes of the mindset of the society and system also the policy of land reform & women empowerment in women prospective of security & dignity.

So there is a strong need to space for women’s perspective and leadership for land and natural resource rights to consolidate our strategies toward claiming, retaining, distribution and development of land ownership in the name of women for the future generations. As women we have a greater responsibility towards achieving this cause.

The national task force initiated by the government of India is in place for addressing the land question in India. The process is already started. Perhaps this is an opportunity for all of us & the right time to share women’s perspectives with the government of India & state govt. to addressing the land rights in name of women. We shall have more information & experience on women land rights struggle which we send our recommendations and demand about women land rights in ground level women opinion.  Also take as an issue in coming election.

ODWF Action in Odisha

Odisha Dalit women forum is a collective power of Dalit women in Odisha, an initiative to strengthen leadership of dalit, tribal & marginalize women and to build their capacities, knowledge and skills. Which raise their voice & concerns, on security, livelihood and dignity with campaign on women land & natural resources rights in a nonviolence action process ODWF create a mass opinion against violence, discrimination on cast, class, and gender.

As the continue process of our women land rights campaign it is a opportunity for ODWF  to initiate this mass awareness about the recommendation to national taskforce process for land reform policy to get more accountable of govt. for women dignity and security. So ODWF group decided that initiate this mass campaign for more participation of women in this national policy intervention process.

Objective of the campaign:

• Create awareness about Importance of Land Rights among all women.
• To reduce conflict in the society by enabling women to gain access and ownership over mother earth and natural resources.
• To create awareness among the tribal, Dalit women on their rights over life and livelihood and sensitize the people on different legal aspects related to land, forest and natural resources.
• To build up a relationship of women for their common action to achieve land rights.
• To make accountability the Government for proper implementation of the women Land Rights Law & sensitize the administration.
• Awareness to Collection of signature and demands for women land rights and to send the national and state govt.

This programme will sensitize to understand the land and mother relationship and linkage established with state, national and global movement and generates a support for women land rights prospective. This understanding will help to develop sustainable livelihoods of society to peace and justice that build to protect towards both, violence as well as the Risks of Globalization.

ODWF Coverage area

ODWF also collaboration with other women forum for this campaign and send their recommendation to stat & national govt. from their respective area of Odisha.

Campaign Action

Organize rally, awareness yatra, foot march, mass meeting, signature campaign, media mobilization; give memorandum through local authority to stat CM & PM of India

Appeal

At this occasion we welcome & appeal all the women and community to come together and articulate a clear demand and peoples plan for achieve the women land rights ,for secure our mother, family community &Society.

Mother earth call to mother come together achieve to rights over me for security, dignity& empowerment of mother hood.  We believe change the world.

                  JAY BHEEM

                                                Sandhya Devi

                             ODISHA DALIT WOMEN FORUM

                        At- Banpur, Dist- Khurda, Odisha, 752031

                      Ph- o6756-223439 (o), 9437140550, 8280056895

             Email-odwforissa@yahoo.in  & savetribal@yahoo.com

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