As part of our Meri Shakti Meri Beti project, which aims to stop sex selective activities, we formed the Community Watch Group (CWG) for Dabri project area at the Aganwadi Centre, on 10th May.

The CWG has been created so that vigil can be kept over the immediate society to help in curbing the declining sex ratio; ensure citizen participation in proper project implementation, to generate awareness at the grass root level about the negative consequences of female foeticide; and to increase awareness about the PCPNDT Act. CWG members have been selected from within the community, and include people from all age groups. They will counsel the high-risk families, newly-wed couples and parents of girl children.

The people present in the meeting were extremely enthusiastic, as they felt a sense of ownership at being involved in the project. They also expressed greater interest in the cause, after watching the “Satyamev Jayate” episode on female foeticide.

Through an animation film, role play, and a small talk on the provisions of the PCPNDT Act, the CSR team tried to provide a holistic perspective of sex selective activities. Efforts were made to sensitize the CWG regarding the declining sex ratio and to make them realize that they can make a difference in their immediate society, if they resist sex- selective abortions.

Dr. Manasi Mishra, Head of Research Division at CSR, voiced that women can play a catalystic role if they protect the rights of other women members of the family and respect each other. The CWG members were provided materials regarding sex selective activities, along with the contact details of people, who can be informed in the event of such activities taking place in the community.

The CWG members promised that they shall make all efforts to stop such sex selective activities in their community and shall contribute to the successful implementation of the ‘Meri Shakti Meri Beti’ project. The formation of CWG is considered important for the project as it requires that the citizens take charge of the social change, and ensure long term sustainability of the project.

By Ranjani Raghunathan, Intern – Media & Communication Division

Satyamev Jayate. An extremely ‘in thing’ to converse and debate about today. At a more macro level, the issue of celebrity endorsement of social causes is also becoming an increasingly talked about subject. Some support it, some speak out against it- the verdict is mixed.

But before reaching a conclusion of any sort, let us imagine two situations. One, wherein social activists, who has been working for victims of domestic violence, for decades, are speaking on national television. They have years of experience behind them, have all the facts and figures correct, and are doing constructive work towards helping the affected people. In the second situation, we have Aamir Khan, talking about domestic violence on national television. He also has his facts and figures correct, courtesy his research team. Which of these two people, would an average television viewer prefer to see? Chances are the latter.

In an age where attention spans are decreasing by the minute, keeping the audience glued to the television is a Herculean task. The principle for a show on social causes is similar to that of companies which use celebrities to market their products- the reach of a show featuring a celebrity, especially one with the popularity of Aamir Khan, would be exponentially higher than a show which features only subject matter experts.

Instead of going all out in criticizing celebrities for superficially endorsing social causes, it is important to understand that the outreach of a celebrity cannot be argued with, and their ability to instantly connect with an average viewer should be used for the benefit of society, in whatever way possible. Satyamev Jayate should be lauded for its attempt to bridge the gap between a known celebrity, and an unknown subject matter. While Aamir is the face and the voice of the show and the causes it espouses, his team has ensured that they are backed at every stage by subject matter experts, and people who have worked with the issues at hand. While the first episode had case studies backed with expert opinions of doctors and reporters, the second episode brought in facts and figures obtained from a nationwide study on sexual abuse, along with the expert views of Anuja Gupta, Director of RAHI, a centre for the prevention and healing of incest/child sexual abuse. The website of the show links each episode to certain organizations, who work towards the cause which was discussed during the show. This shows that the research team has not only worked on the cause per say, but is also presenting to the audience the work which is being done on the issue by various organizations. It is important to understand that the show is not a frivolous attempt to place before the audience some social issues- the makers have backed each episode with facts and statistics and real life examples, along with bringing in subject matter experts, so as to lend more credibility to their attempt.

Shows and platforms such as Satyamev Jayate, which brings together the outreach of a celebrity along with the expertise of people who are in the concerned field, should be appreciated for their efforts, and more such initiatives must be undertaken and encouraged. Such initiatives will only leverage the work of organizations who are already working on social causes, by attaching a famous name to a cause, and thus increasing the connect of a common man with a social cause. At the end of the day, it will end up doing more good than harm. So let’s stop being pessimistic and look at the benefits of celebrity endorsement of social causes!

This piece is part of collaboration with Breakthrough and Halabol, on Celebrity Involvement in Social Causes. Its companion pieces can be found at:

Breakthrough: http://www.bellbajao.org/?p=6240
Halabol: http://voices.halabol.com/2012/05/15/satyamev-jayate-not-eye-wash

With decades of experience in addressing pre-natal sex selection (previously termed “female foeticide”), CSR implemented Meri Shakti,Meri Beti (My Daughter, My Strength) project in 2007 in the three lowest sex-ratio districts of the Delhi namely Najafgarh, Narela and Punjabi Bagh with the support of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India. Due to the continuing support of the government, and additional backing of WomenPowerConnect (WPC) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Meri Shakti, Meri Beti (MSMB) has since been implemented in the urban (May 2009 – April 2011) and rural (October 2010-August 2011) areas of Ambala and Kurukshetra districts of Haryana. MSMB was an action-based research project, which initially aimed to conduct a situational analysis on the basis of action taken by existing agencies on the issue of pre-natal sex selection, to identify an impact assessment of existing educational materials about and awareness of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostics Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, and to generate further awareness of the issue. The findings from the previous study are then used to determine and create best practices for the implementation of MSMB II in the South-west districts of Delhi where the situation is one of the worst with the child sex ratio of 846 girls per 1000 boys. Hence, to arrest the declining sex ratio through an action research project, CSR is currently implementing the action project with the support of the German Embassy.

Download Action-based Research Project: “Meri Shakti Meri Beti”

On 3rd May 2012, CSR visited the Aanganwadi Choupal at Kishangarh, for the formation of the Community Watch Group (CWG) as per the project implementation methodology.

The objective of formation of the CWG, was to create a body at the local community level to keep vigil over their immediate society to curb declining sex ratio; generate citizen participation in proper project implementation, to generate awareness among the grass root level about the negative consequences of female foeticide; and to increase awareness about the PCPNDT Act. The aim is to ensure long term sustainability of the project, even after its completion.

The present CWG at Kishangarh is constituted of twelve women from the community of various age groups varying from 25 years to 70 years of age. They were Sarla, Santara, Kamlesh, Smita, Sheela, Sunita, Maya Devi, Anita, Meena, Sabho, Shanti and Sunita. The field motivator for the area is Ms. Anita, who is also an Aanganwadi worker.

The session began with the screening of a short animated film, which spoke about sex selective activities. Then a role play was conducted, which delineated the negative consequences of decreasing sex ratio, the PCPNDT Act and the need for citizen participation and their role as a CWG member in reducing the practice of sex selective abortions.

A discussion was then initiated with them regarding the causes and consequences of female foeticide, wherein the CWG members voiced that dowry is the major reason behind female foeticide, but the mindset of preferring sons over daughters is deeply embedded in our social structure. The members all pledged to contribute to the success of the project by identifying high risk families and increasing awareness in their community regarding sex selective activities and PC/PNDT Act. Finally they were given leaflets (IEC material) – which clearly defines problem and solutions. They were also given placards which has the phone numbers of authorities who can be contacted in case of any sex selective activities going on in the community or in the neighbourhood.

Dr. Manasi Mishra, Head of Research Division at CSR, said “Formation of CWG is crucial for the implementation of projects on female foeticide as the members of CWG keep a constant vigil over the immediate community which is otherwise not possible, to check further incidences of female foeticide.”
The meeting with the CWG is an important step towards the successful implementation of the Meri Shakti Meri Beti project, as it entails that citizens take charge of ensuring social change within their community.

Recent work done by csr against female feotocide : Prenatal sex selection
For detailed information on our work against female feotocide please visit : Meri Shakti Meri Beti  and Meri Shakti Meri Beti 2008

प्रो. आनंद कुमार – बीएचयू छात्र संघ के पूर्व अध्‍यक्ष व प्रोफेसर

यह महामना मदन मोहन मालवीय की 150वीं जयंति का वर्ष है. देश के स्‍वतंत्रता आंदोलन से लेकर शिक्षा के जरिए राष्‍ट्र निर्माण तक मालवीय जी की अनेकों अविस्‍मरणीय सेवाएं रही हैं. काशी में 1916 में एक राष्‍ट्रीय विश्‍वविद्यालय की स्‍थापना उनका देश की शिक्षा यात्रा में सर्वोत्‍तम योगदान माना जाता है. इस विश्‍वविद्यालय के साथ दो वर्ष पहले दो परस्‍पर विरोधी बातें हुई हैं. ‘इंडिया टुडे’ और ‘नेल्‍सन’ के राष्‍ट्रव्‍यापी सर्वेक्षण में इसे देश के सर्वोत्‍तम विश्‍वविद्यालय के रूप में चिन्हित किया गया है. जवाहरलाल नेहरू विश्‍वविद्यालय, दिल्‍ली विश्‍वविद्यालय, कलकत्‍ता विश्‍वविद्यालय, मद्रास विश्‍वविद्यालय और बंबई विश्‍वविद्यालय से भी इसको श्रेष्‍ठतर पाया गया है. लेकिन उसी वर्ष कुछ अस्‍पष्‍ट कारणों से मालवीय जी की इस धरोहर के अत्‍यंत महत्‍वपूर्ण अंग टैक्‍नॉलॉजी संस्‍थान को इससे तोडकर अलग करने का भी एक विधेयक (इंस्‍टीट्यूट ऑफ टैक्‍नॉलॉजी संशोधन विधेयक) के रूप में लोकसभा में मानव संसाधन विकास मंत्री कपिल सिब्‍बल द्वारा पेश किया गया. सदन की चर्चा के दौरान यह दिलचस्‍प बात रही कि बीएचयू को विखंडित करने के इस प्रस्‍ताव के बारे में भारतीय जनता पार्टी और राष्‍ट्रीय जनता दल से लेकर समाजवादी पार्टी और बहुजन समाज पार्टी तक ने इस कदम को गैर-जरूरी और संदेहास्‍पद मानते हुए इस विधेयक को वापस करने के लिए एक स्‍वर से आग्रह किया, लेकिन सिब्‍बल ने यह दावा करते हुए कि बीएचयू से टैक्‍नॉलॉजी संस्‍थान को अलग करने के लिए विश्‍वविद्यालय की कार्यकारिणी समिति ने खुद आग्रह किया है और एक विशेषज्ञ समिति का भी ऐसा ही सुझाव है, दलबल के आधार पर पारित करा लिया. अब यह विधेयक अंतिम रूप से कानून बनकर बीएचयू से टैक्‍नॉलौजी और इंजीनियरी की पढाई अलग करने लिए राज्‍य सभा के विचारार्थ प्रस्‍तुत होने जा रहा है.

केन्‍द्रीय सरकार के इस अजीबो-गरीब तोहफे को लेकर बीएचयू से जुडे वर्तमान और पूर्व विद्यार्थियों से लेकर समूचे उच्‍च शिक्षा क्षेत्र में अनेकों तरह की आशंकाओं पर चर्चा हो रही है. बजाय बीएचयू की 2016 में आ रही शताब्‍दी के लिए कोई नया विस्‍तार करने के उसके अंग-भंग की यह अचरज भरी योजना देश को समझ में नहीं आ रही है. भारतीय उच्‍च शिक्षा के क्षेत्र के नए विस्‍तार की जरूरतों पर देश को दिशा देने के लिए स्‍थापित सेम पित्रौदा आयोग ने यह सुझाव अवश्‍य दिया है कि अमेरिका और चीन के मुकाबले में खडे होने के लिए भारत में कम से कम एक हजार नए विश्‍वविद्यालयों की मौजूदा दशक में स्‍थापना करनी चाहिए. विज्ञान, तकनीक, इंजीनियरी और प्रबंधन के उच्‍च संस्‍थानों के बारे में गठित प्रो. यशपाल समिति ने यह सिफारिश भी की है कि तकनीक और इंजीनियरी के मौजूदा सभी उच्‍च शिक्षा संस्‍थानों को शीघ्र विश्‍वविद्यालयों के रूप में विकसित किया जाए जिससे दर्शन, साहित्य, इतिहास, समाज, भाषा और राजनीति की जानकारी और समझ भी तकनीक में आगे बढने वालों के ज्ञान भंडार का हिस्‍सा बनाया जा सके. लेकिन किसी भी आयोग या विशेषज्ञ समिति ने यह सुझाव तो कहां दिया है कि भारत ही नहीं, एशिया के ऐतिहासिक उच्‍च शिक्षा केन्‍द्र को खंड-खंड करने का कार्यक्रम शुरू किया जाए?

यह दिलचस्‍प बात है कि भारतीय संविधान में जिन तीन विश्‍वविद्यालयों का नाम लेकर राष्‍ट्रीय महत्‍व के संस्‍थान के रूप में उल्‍लेख है, उनमें दिल्‍ली विश्‍वविद्यालय और अलीगढ मुस्लिम विश्‍वविद्यालय के साथ बनारस हिंदू विश्‍वविद्यालय का नाम 7वीं अनूसूची की धारा 246(63) में शामिल है. यह तथ्‍य हमारी संसद के मार्गदर्शन के लिए पर्याप्‍त होना चाहिए था. वैसे तो केन्‍द्रीय सत्‍ता व्‍यवस्‍था के निशाने पर यह विश्‍वविद्यालय पहले भी आता रहा है. 1921 के असहयोग आंदोलन में गांधी जी के आह्वान पर यहीं से आचार्य कृपलानी के नेतृत्‍व में अनेक लोगों ने शिक्षक और विद्यार्थी के रूप में राष्‍ट्रीय आंदोलन के लिए अपना सर्वस्‍व समर्पित किया. 1942 के भारत छोडो आंदोलन में यहां के अध्‍यापकों और विद्यार्थियों ने समूचे हिंदी पट्टी के आंदोलन की ऐसी अगुवाई की, कि परिसर में ही ब्रिटिश राज को सेना की छावनी बनानी पडी. राजनारायण से लेकर राजेश्‍वर राव और सुचेता कृपलानी जैसे साहसी लोग उस दौर के युवाओं के नेता थे. फिर आजादी के बाद यह आचार्य नरेन्‍द्र देव के बौद्धिक आभामंडल से प्रभावित लोगों का विद्या केन्‍द्र बना. इसे क्षत विक्षत करने के लिए 1958 में केन्‍द्रीय सरकार ने न सिर्फ छात्र संघ भंग किया, बल्कि संसदीय कानून को स्‍थगित करते हुए अध्‍यादेश राज 1966 तक चलाया, फिर आपातकाल के दौरान भी यहां के विद्यार्थियों और अध्‍यापकों को बडी तादाद में जेल में रखा गया. अभी हाल में राहुल गांधी के हस्‍तक्षेप पर बरसों बाद छात्र संघ की फिर से स्‍थापना की गई है. अध्‍यापकों और कर्मचारियों के लिए अभी भी लोकतांत्रिक संगठन का अभाव जारी है. लेकिन गुरूदेव रवीन्‍द्रनाथ टैगोर की 150वीं जयन्ति के उत्‍सवों में विश्‍व भारती और शांति निकेतन के लिए जैसे विशिष्‍ट कार्यक्रमों का सिलसिला बनाया जा चुका है, उसको देखते हुए यह आशा की जा रही थी कि महामना मदनमोहन मालवीय द्वारा स्‍थापित इस गौरवमयी विरासत वाले विश्‍वविद्यालय के लिए भी कुछ शानदार प्रस्‍ताव भारत का शिक्षा मंत्रालय ले आएगा . लेकिन 24 मार्च 2011 को लोकसभा में हुई बहस का उन पर कोई अच्‍छा असर नहीं दिखा.

बनारस हिंदू विश्‍वविद्यालय की पहचान उसकी व्‍यापकता की वजह से है, उसे खंड-खंड करने का प्रस्‍ताव निश्‍चय ही भारतीय उच्‍च शिक्षा व्‍यवस्‍था के लिए आत्‍मघाती साबित होगा. इस विखंडन से विभिन्‍न अनुशासनों के अध्‍यापकों और विद्यार्थियों का पारस्‍परिक आदान-प्रदान और संवाद बेहद कमजोर पडेगा जो किसी भी अनुशासन के लिए सकारात्‍मक नहीं होगा. एक परिसर में दीवारें खींचना ज्ञान की परिधि को संकुचित करने का ही काम करेगा जो किसी भी दृष्टि से श्रेयस्‍कर नहीं है. अगर यह विखंडन मान्‍य होता है तो चिकित्‍सा, विधि और कृषि विभागों द्वारा स्‍वतंत्र संस्‍थान बनाए जाने की विघटनकारी मांगों के पूरे होने की संभावना को नकारना मुश्किल होगा. क्‍या यह आशा करनी चाहिए कि अब राज्‍य सभा के माननीय सदस्‍यों की तरफ से इस पर अपनी प्रतिक्रिया देने के दौर में बीएचयू के बारे में इस विश्‍वंसात्‍मक नीति पर पुनर्विचार संभव होगा? बनारस समेत देशभर के सजग नागरिकों को केन्‍द्रीय सरकार से रचनात्‍मक दिशा में बढने की आशा है.

By Ranjani Raghunathan, Intern – Media & Communication Division

India, by character, is and has been a patriarchal society. In every domain, it is the men who have ruled the roost. Politics has been no exception. However, while the number of men has outnumbered women in every phase of politics in India, women have played a significant role in the Indian political scene, right from the freedom struggle to the present day.

During the 1857 uprising, women from the ruling class joined hands with the men to protest against the British. Later on, they participated in the Swadeshi movement, and boycotted British goods. Some of the prominent women who were a part of the Swadeshi movement were Sarojini Naidu, Urmila Devi, Durgabai Deshmukh, S. Ambujammal, Basanti Devi, and Krishnabai Ram. When Mahatma Gandhi began the Non-Cooperative Movement, women such as Kasturbha Gandhi, Kamala Nehru, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Sucheta Kripalani, Sarla Devi Chaudhurani, Muthulaksmi Reddy, Susheela Nair and Aruna Asaf Ali joined him. He was also joined by Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, who in 1936 after becoming a member of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, became the first Woman Cabinet Minister of India in 1937. The Indian National Army, which was set up by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, recruited around 1000 women for its Rani of Jhansi regiment, who were given the same training as men. This regiment was led by Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan. Women also played in a role in various armed rebellions, such as the Kakori Train Robbery. Thus there was considerable presence of Indian women in the various violent and non violent movements associated with the freedom struggle.

Since then, Indian women have made their strong presence felt in the political arena. In 1966, Indira Gandhi became the first Indian woman Prime Minister, and held this post for three consecutive terms. In 2007, Pratibha Patil became the first woman to be sworn as the President of India. Women such as Uma Bharati, Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, Jayalalitha and Sheila Dikshit as Chief Ministers have been prominent faces in the political area. Currently, there are 59 women members of parliament in the Lok Sabha (11%), and 24 in the Rajya Sabha (10%).

Despite the important role which women have played in Indian politics, there is a wide scope for greater female participation in Indian politics. Instrumental in this is the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, which will give 33% reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies. While this is at the policy making level, it is imperative for actions to be taken at all levels, to ensure that women’s participation in political activities increases substantially. Whether it is in the form of incorporating the idea of women leaders in the school curriculums, or creating more platforms for the engagement of women in political activities- the notion of women leadership must be inculcated in society, and concrete actions must be taken for this. The IWIL course is one such attempt to create powerful women leaders. Women’s participation is essential for the creation of a fair and just state, and thus, many more endeavours must be encouraged and supported.

By Ranjani Raghunathan, Intern – Media & Communication Division

Ask a group of people to think about leadership, and an array of characteristics will come back in return- charismatic, strong, dominating, ability to take charge, and many more. Next, ask them to name a few leaders, and many names from across the world will be spouted. Now, see how many of those names belong to women. Chances are, very few.

World over, leadership has traditionally been a male prerogative. In India, it has not been very different. While India has given birth to a number of women leaders- whether it’s Kasturbha Gandhi and Sarojini Naidu who played an important role in the freedom movement, or Kiran Bedi, the first female IPS officer or contemporarily, President Pratibha Patil, businesswoman Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, educationist Dr. Shyama Chona- the names are far and few, and often lost when we have to recount the leaders in the country.

In a UN conference in 2001, it was stated that “in the world as a whole, women comprise 51 percent of the population, do 66 percent of the work, receive 10 percent of the income and own less than one percent of the property”. While women constitute practically half of the country’s population, their representation in important leadership positions in the country remains alarmingly low. This is particularly true for political leadership. There are only 59 female Members of Parliament out of 545 total members in the 15th Lok Sabha and 25 female MPs out of 242 total members in the Rajya Sabha (less than 11%).

As more women step out of their houses in pursuit of goals, gender issues have come into the forefront like never before. Thus, it is important that women are given the right platform and leverage to emerge as leaders, in order to tackle the various issues which continue to plague women from across strata, and spheres. There is a need for leadership as a concept to be inculcated among women, so that more women leaders are created.

By Ranjani Raghunathan, Intern – Media & Communication Division

Leadership, cannot be said to be synonymous with politics. Leaders can exist in any sphere, in any capacity, and are defined by their ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve great heights.

Thus when we talk of women leaders in India, along with naming those who have created their own space in the political scenario, it is imperative to acknowledge those women, who have set up their own endeavours to benefit society at large.

There are many such women, who have led, established and sustained successful social organizations. One leading example is Dr Shyama Chona, who founded an NGO “Tamana”, which aims to promote a better life for the mentally challenged and autistic people. She also initiated the start of the “Anubhav Shiksha Kendra”, which brings quality education to disadvantaged children through afternoon schools. Both these organizations are highly successful and have benefited many through their work.

Then there is Dr Shelly Batra, who has been working to provide free medical treatment to slum dwellers since 1991, which eventually led to the creation of the founder of Operation Asha. The organization provides tuberculosis treatment and education services in 1412 slums spread over six states. Nikita Ketkar, left a high profile job with the civil services, to start Masoom, an organization which aims to improve the quality of night schools. Dr Amita Vyas founded the Global India Fund, a non-profit organization committed to inspiring global philanthropy by providing secure and transparent giving options to individual and corporate donors. Dr Ranjana Kumari, is the Director of Centre for Social Research in Delhi, which is one of the most influential and leading institutions working in the field of informed social action and action-oriented research, with a focus on gender issues.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are countless women, many who remain nameless, who are continuingly taking charge, and creating platforms for a society where every member is able to lead a fulfilling life. It is important for governments, and policy makers, to understand the need to educate and train more women to adopt leadership positions, so that society as a whole benefits from the advantages which their leadership offers.