NEWS

The areas in which I.S.W. works, are all extremely poor and backward areas. These are totally in the grip of popular ideas if gender roles which demand total subjugation of exploitation of women. Conducting surveys in these areas I.S.W. has come mane shocking cases and tried to bring redress as much as possible. Four representative cases are narrated below. To report them all would have taken volumes.

Seema Naskar - Abandoned and homeless

Seema, now 27, was born in Baikunthapur in a very poor family comprising six sister and three brothers. Her father was a landless labourer working in the fields of other people. Because of extreme poverty, she was allowed to go to school for two years only, after which she was taken out to do household works and to look after her siblings. At the age of 15, she was giving in marriage to Sanatan Sarkar, a temporary worker in a press. Her elder son was born a year after the marriage, when she was 16.

Sanatan was a violent man who was also a drunkard and womeniser. He used to spend whatever he earned in drinks and other women and used to beat up Seema violently. They spent seven years in this way. Seema had another son, and was carrying for the third time when Sanatan left her without an explanation. They were staying in a rented house which she had to vacate. She lived for some months with different relatives on charity and had her daughter. Then she came back to her father's place. Her father was then dead. The brother allowed to stay as they considered her a burden. At present Seema is working in four houses of the village as an ayah. She feeds herself and her children with her meager earning, and has put two elder children in school. She wants to put her daughter in school, too in next January.

However, now a new problem in threatening Seema. Her brothers have ordered to vacate the room. Seema has no way to find any other shelter for herself or her children. Totally bewildered, she turned to I.S.W. for help. I.S.W. has taken up her case and is trying to find a shelter for Seema training scheme for training in the art of weaving, after which she will be able to work in the weaving center of I.S.W. in Baruipur and thus stand on her own feet. Seema's children, too will continue their education in the school run by I.S.W. in Baruipur.

Goto Top

Sakha Roy - abandoned and left to die

Sakha Roy, now 35, was born in family of a poor gharami with seven children. She attended a local school upto Class IV. At the age of 15 she was given to marriage to Panchu Mondal.

Panchu was a mentally unbalanced man. He worked as a helper to mistri and had(still has) 4 bigha of land of his own. But he was a violent man who used to beat up Sakha without any provocation. He never even gave Sakha enough to eat. Then she became ill and as her husband did not take any care of her, she had to come back to her parents. It was about 2 to 3 years after her marriage. At that time, she had a daughter whom she brought with her.

After some time(about a year) the daughter died of sudden illness. Panchu never took his wife of daughter back, but he used to visit them sometimes. Sakha conceived again, but the child was stillborn. It was all in her parents place. After about 3 years Sakha's coming back to her parents' place, Panchu married again, without ever divorcing her. He is now living happily with his wife and a grown up daughter.

Sakha worked for 3 years at Baruipur weaving center.But she was very weak for malnutrition and ultimately had to stop working. She has been unployed for last eight years. Meanwhile, it has been detected that she has T.B. But because of extreme poverty, she cannot even get medicines for it.

Sakha's parental family now looks at her as a total burden and weak in incapable of working is complexity without any way to live. Now, I.S.W. has taken up her case. It will arrange for her treatment and when she is better, work will be provided for her in the weaving center run by I.S.W. in Baruipur. I.S.W. will also see if any legal redress can be provided to her for what has been to her by her husband, though the fact that Sakha, who did not even know that bigamy was illegal for a Hindu., did not make any protest in all these years makes it very different now to get a redress.

Goto top

Julekha Khatun - handicapped but trying to build up a life for herself.

Julekha, now 15 years old, had been bore in a family of 6 sisters and 3 brothers. Her father is a drug addict who spends all his earning in drug. Three sister and one brother, all younger other, are in school, and another sister does some stitching work. One brother works as an apprentice with a relative. Two brothers, one sister and Julekha herself are completely unemployed.

Julekha has suffered from a severe attack of polio when she was an infant and as a result legs is completely crippled. She works with difficulty with a crunch.

She has studied in a local school upto class VI, then gave up because o incentive. Because of her father's drug addiction and because of her family being so large, they have serious economic problem. Julekha being handicapped her family does not hope to be able to get her married and is already looking at her as a burden. Her brothers some times even say that after the parent's death, they will not provide for Julekha. Being seriously handicapped and unable to get up any job because of that, Julekha despaired about future.

Now, I.S.W. has taken up Julekha's case, she has been recommended for a training for leather work. This is a training which will be possible inspite of her handicap and she will be able to work in this profession after the training is over and to look after herself. I.S.W. has also provided Julekha the opportunity to continue her education in its adult education center.

Goto top

Manjura Bibi - dead because she wanted to live a full life

Manjura Bibi, a young teacher of the non-formal school run by I.S.W. in Barasat, died of poisoning on June, 22. While the police has registered it as a case of suicide following torture by husband Manjura's friend and colleagues believe that it was a case of murder. Because Manjura told them repeatedly that she had to intention of committing suicide, as her domestic life is pure hell.

Manjura, a 27 year old mother of two children, had stepped out of the stereotyped role assigned to women by her community and became an active social worker of I.S.W. besides teaching in the school, she undertook various projects like oraganising plays and cultural programmes for children. This was not taken well by her in laws and she was continually subjected to torture. Kausar Ali, Manjura's husband, was a dic-hard gambler, and while torturing Manjura for working he himself spent time gambling and spending Manjura's heard-earned money.

On 21st Jun, he sold of 40 kgs of paddy which Manjura produced, by tilting a land given by her father to raise money for gambling. This virtually ensured that the family would not have enough food in near future. Then on 22nd, he again tried to sell 20 kg more. This time Manjura her foot down and stopped the sale. Kausar was furious. Later on the day, Manjura died of poisoning. It may be noted here that three weeks later, one more tragedy of exactly same kind happened in the same area-Anwara, another teacher working for I.S.W. and the mother of four month old boy was killed, too. Her husband, Md. Akbar used to torture her continually for stepping out of door and doing social work. But while Manjura's father lodged an F.I.R. Anwara's father was reluctant to do so. So police was reluctant to take up her case.

Manjura and Anwara are dead - they will not return any more. But, their colleagues of I.S.W. are determined to see justice done and to fight their case upto end. Manjura's husband is at present facing the charge of torture and abetting suicide and has been sent to lock up. This has created a salutary effect in the area where the prevailing idea used to be that any kind of torture can be inflicted on women with impunity. The local women can feel a change for the better.

Goto top