Campaigns And Networking

Campaigns

Campaigns have been used as a tactic by the Sangathans, with support from ANANDI. Campaigns are issue based (violence against women, access to government schemes, etc.) and generally seek to raise awareness about these issues within the larger community and region. Campaigns are generally organized at the Block and District level of the state. The campaigns are carried out in highly visible public spaces, such as markets or meeting grounds, over a period of time. The campaign tactic used by ANANDI differs from others, in that it is carried out over a longer stretch of time and targets the general community. Within the campaign tactic, ANANDI has used participatory tools and exercises to catch the attention of community members and engage them in dialogue about the identified issue. When organizers are able to obtain a sufficient audience they generally carry out workshops and break-out sessions where community members can voice their opinions and brainstorm ideas.

Campaigns often include local leaders as speakers during the public campaign. ANANDI has been able to leverage its relationships to have police officials, local government officers and prominent activists speak or facilitate workshops. This tactic is used to gain the attendance of a larger number of community members and to legitimize the campaign in the eyes of the community. For example, during a campaign to end violence against women, ANANDI used its relationship with Professors from a local law college to develop and implement legal awareness workshops.

Campaigns are also a way for Sangathan members and community organizers to gather information about women’s experiences, to identify gaps in services, barriers to services and entitlements, and to identify emerging issues such as a rise in domestic violence or caste based discrimination in a particular region or village. Considering that campaigns often involve government stakeholders, gathering information from attendees during the campaign itself, regarding their experiences of a specific issue, is an effective strategy to increase official recognition of a problem and request accountability.

SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT CAMPAIGNS CARRIED OUT

DEVGADH MAHILA SANGATHAN :

Roji Roti Lok Jumbesh – campaign to focus on Right To Food and work , social security,
Violence Against Women – focuses on diverse topic such as awareness around new laws passed such as the PWDVA – Protection of Women From Domestic Violence, or on the need to change the community perception about violence as in the case of witch branding so that it is not debunked as superstition but recognized as a form of violence against women.
Forest rights, land rights – Seeking implementation of laws passed by creating awareness around procedures required to access the entitlements
Promoting Women’s participation in Gram sabha – the general village council that consists of all voters to ensure that their demands and resolutions are put on record for action.

PANAM MAHILA BACHAT ANE DHIRAN MANDALI :

Roji Roti Lok Jumbesh campaign to focus on Right To Food and work , social security
Promoting Women’s participation in Gram sabha – the general village council that consists of all voters to ensure that their demands and resolutions are put on record for action.
Violence Against Women – focuses on diverse topic such as awareness around new laws passed such as the PWDVA – Protection of Women From Domestic Violence, or on the need to change the community perception about violence as in the case of witch branding so that it is not debunked as superstition but recognized as a form of violence against women.

RATANMAHAL ADIVASI MAHILA SAJEEV KHET UTPADAK MANDAL :

Establishing Women farmers’ rights and entitlement,
Promoting agricultural land rights in the name of women
Promoting sustainable and organic farming to ensure food security

MALIYA MAHILA SHAKTI SANGATHAN :

Promoting Women’s participation in Gram sabha – the general village council that consists of all voters to ensure that their demands and resolutions are put on record for action.
Violence Against Women – focuses on diverse topic such as awareness around new laws passed such as the PWDVA – Protection of Women From Domestic Violence, or on the need to change the community perception about violence as in the case of witch branding so that it is not debunked as superstition but recognized as a form of violence against women.
Campaign to focus on the Right to Food Security and addressing malnutrition,
Ensuring Women’s land rights and housing in the name of women

AZAD MAHILA MACHIMAARI MANDALI :

To create a distinct identity as fishing women to access entitlements
To establish their right to livelihood

MAHILA SWARAJ MANCH :

Promoting Women’s participation in Gram sabha – the general village council that consists of all voters to ensure that their demands and resolutions are put on record for action.
Violence Against Women – focuses on diverse topic such as awareness around new laws passed such as the PWDVA – Protection of Women From Domestic Violence, or on the need to change the community perception about violence as in the case of witch branding so that it is not debunked as superstition but recognized as a form of violence against women.
Ensuring Women’s land rights and housing in the name of women
Activating the various committees of the Gram Panchayat – the village level decentralized governance mechanism such as the health committees, school management committees and the vigilance committees to oversee the public distribution system.

Networking

This is a crosscutting strategy with the purpose of strengthening accountability mechanisms of relevant institutions (state and non state) to take special cognizance of women’s rights. ANANDI believes that issues from the field can be linked through research, networking and advocacy related work in regional, national and international debates to mainstream gender concerns and influence policy. It does this through the following strategies:

Collaborate with peoples/ women’s movements in urban/rural settings
Create an inter-disciplinary network with state and non state actors as part of gender inclusive cities and access to basic entitlements
Ongoing policy and media advocacy
Collective leadership within autonomous women’s groups