Dear friends Greetings from north east India.
As Women’s Day approaches we would like to bring to your attention that women’s organisations in the state of Meghalaya are calling for a boycott of the event. This, as a mark of protest against insensitive and slanderous comments of the Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Mr. Bindo Lanong, who also holds a ministerial position in the Ministry of Social Welfare. On February 18,2010 the National Commission for Women held a conference of Women’s Empowerment at Shillong, which was attended by several women activists and interested individuals. The speech of the Minister portrayed women of Meghalaya as highly empowered with the exception of stray cases of violence against them. The Conference might have gone off smoothly had it not been for an observation made by an activist that if women are so empowered in the state how are statistics of vulnerability, discrimination, violence and abuse against women so high? She also remarked that if women were so empowered why is it that Meghalaya has never had a woman chief minister? Irked by these comments the minister’s prepared speech was put aside and heated arguments followed. A crisp article came out the following day in the Shillong Times by Patricia Mukhim, a noted political commentator and activist, depicting ground realities of women’s position in Meghalaya’s matrilineal society. She pointed out the indifference of politicians and the power structure in dealing with various women’s issues. The next day Mr. Bindo Lanong called for a press conference. He attacked the newspaper article and likened the writer to a poisonous seinpuh (snake) which destroys everything around it with its venom. In Meghalaya this term is an extremely derogatory one. He made the same comparison to those activists who had opposed his views. Sadly his comments imply that opinions of outspoken and articulate women of Meghalaya are detrimental to its society. What followed was a series of internal and formal meetings amongst women’s groups. It was decided that Women’s Day should not be celebrated as usual. Instead it would be marked as a day of protest and disapproval against the Minister’s apparent insensitivity towards women, which we fear, has and will further impinge on the implementation of pro-women schemes and state policies. To us good governance is the critical issue and indifferent leaders cannot bring positive changes for women in this state, even with pro-women policies. Thus, Women's Day, which we have always celebrated with hope will be used, this time, as a tool to express our solidarity. We believe collective strength of women at this hour should be articulated to call for state accountability over women's issues in Meghalaya. A public apology by Mr. Lanong over his vehement remarks against women would be appreciated. We feel we should share this with you and hope that women’s organisations, wherever they are, will add a statement about our concern when they organise meetings/gatherings on March 8th in different parts of the country. WIll be great if thismail can go to other pats of India to your friends and women's groups. In solidarity, Agnes Kharshiing, President Civil Society Women’s Organsiation, Meghalaya Aruna Biswa, President, Meghalaya United Women’s Welfare Organisation, MeghalayaMaryanne Pohshna, Jaintia Yuva Federation, Women’s Wing, Meghalaya Monisha Behal, North East Network, Meghalaya. the article Matrilineal Meghalaya stinks of hypocrisy Share<http://www.facebook.com/ajax/share_dialog.php?s=4&appid=2347471856&p[]=861570367&p[]=10150128478590179> Today at 13:18 | Edit note<http://www.facebook.com/editnote.php?note_id=10150128478590179> | Delete<http://www.facebook.com/notes/kamayani-bali-mahabal/matrilineal-meghalaya-stinks-of-hypocrisy/10150128478590179#> By Patricia Mukhim The National Commission for Women (NCW) in collaboration with the State Social Welfare Department, organized a one day seminar on Women's Rights. This is a laudable effort as the seminar brought together women activists from different states of the North East to deliberate on issues dear to their hearts - the different elements that input into the agenda of women's empowerment; the hurdles that prevent women from accessing their rights and strategies for collective action. One problem that we in Meghalaya have, at least a large section of our people do, is that we believe we are marooned in a beautiful island, nicely cocooned from the horrible sea of devastating patriarchal societies around us. What a silly image indeed! But we all seem to believe in this lie because we repeat it so many times. So when people visit this island we welcome them proudly and showcase our 'liberated, empowered women who ostensibly 'choose' not to get involved in the murky world of politics. Men believe their women are happy cooking in the kitchen and doing their own thing than soiling their hands playing dirty politics. But come election time and the women are summoned as if on cue to take charge of the electioneering business. Their task is cut out. They are to pave the way for male candidates to step in and romp home to victory. And how? By piggy-back riding on the frail shoulders of women. The women's conference which is supposed to give a sense of direction to the deliberations went off tangent right at the start when Deputy Chief Minister, BM Lanong literally threw his arms open to the women coming from across the region into this 'slice of paradise' called Meghalaya, where women apparently rule the roost and take charge of their husband's incomes. That was Mr Lanong's personal confession. Perhaps he is the last of the remaining faithfuls who lives under the misconception that since he gives his entire salary to his wife, she is a fully empowered woman. If only things were so hunky dory, then Meghalaya should, as Jarjum Ete, former Chairperson of Arunachal Pradesh Women's Commission and activist pointed out, have had a woman chief minister a long time ago. It is the duty of this scribe who is also an activist to critique the speeches of the two worthies, the chief minister and his deputy at the conference. Failing to do so would imply that we are as gender blind as they both obviously are and that we are happy to be patronised. Firstly, the conference was attended by some of the leading women activists/feminists, academicians and NGO leaders from the region. They know of Meghalaya and have seen from close quarters that our matriliny is a social order that does not of itself empower women. On the contrary, because 'abandonment' (not divorce or separation because these are legal terms) is so common women are doubly discriminated since they take on the burden of looking after their children. In a matrilineal society, children derive their lineage from the mother's clan so children literally belong to the mother. It is not customary for children to live with their father's relatives or with the father after divorce. This practice is an insidious way of reducing the social, political and economic mobility of women since they are expected to be custodians of their children, of their clan, of their elderly parents etc. In our matrilineal system it is the man who enjoys social mobility and therefore fits in well with the political system which demands a lot of time outside the house. The gender roles are as sharpened as they are in any patriarchal society. There is nothing extraordinary about matriliny and it is time that we stop eulogizing this social practice because it is a form of self deception. "Lanong later said no one can change customary practices. But retracted immediately, saying that that change will come only when people decide to bring in those changes. The problem with such statements is that they do not delve into the reasons why customary practices are so entrenched and so resistant to change. As of today customary practices across the seven states give unrivalled power to men. Women have no role in these traditional political systems." This conference had an element of surprise. Jarjum Ete rose to speak although she was not listed as speaker at the inaugural session. This broke the even tenor of the session. Jarjum made a pointed remark (which probably did not hit its mark) that although Meghalaya is touted as the paradise for women's empowerment, it was funny that there is at present only one woman MLA. Strategically, Jarjum made news by doing something different. She must have learnt through years of activism that the pedantic and the predictable does not always work. After Jarjum's sharp interventions one would have though that those speaking after her namely Messrs DD Lapang and BM Lanong would take a cue and abandon their patronizing speeches. But that was not to be. Mr Lanong boasted that 'there is no oppression of women in Meghalaya. There are only stray cases.' To the charge that women are invisible in Meghalaya politics, Lanong said there is no bar for women to enter politics. He however obfuscated his first point with the rider that insofar as traditional institutions are concerned they are dictated by customary laws and those customary laws do not envisage women as heads of the Dorbars or women as Syiems (chieftains). Lanong later said no one can change customary practices. But retracted immediately, saying that that change will come only when people decide to bring in those changes. The problem with such statements is that they do not delve into the reasons why customary practices are so entrenched and so resistant to change. As of today customary practices across the seven states give unrivalled power to men. Women have no role in these traditional political systems. In Meghalaya men decide what is good for the shnong (locality), for the Raij (cluster of villages) and for the Hima (chieftainship). Mr Lanong tried to give a simplistic explanation to the audience that the office of Rangbah Shnong (headman) is honorary, meaning that he does not get paid for services done. He implied that the office is too cumbersome for women since she might get a knock on her door at midnight and would that be proper? Mr Lanong, we all know that the Rangbah Shnong today is a rich man. He gets paid for certificates issued. He is the recommending authority for a plethora of state entitlements (LPG connection, electricity connection, ration card, passport etc) He is a contractor executing schemes from the MLA development fund which is channeled through his office. He gets a percentage out of all real estate transactions and trading licenses. He also gets money for issuing permanent residential certificates. That is why a Rangbah Shnong wants to continue to perpetuity. There must be a very strong reason for that. Maybe Mr Lanong is very far removed from the ground realities. Now, since the Dorbar Shnong and all the higher traditional political offices are male dominated, it is but natural that men will protect their turf. So when a man defends the customary practices it makes eminent good sense for him. But not for women! Is it not ironic that in a thriving democracy we allow an institution that is so exclusive, non-transparent and unaccountable to thrive and survive? And in the same vein we talk of inclusive governance? Mr Lapang was a shade more sensitive than his deputy. But he too refused to introspect into what Jarjum had hinted - the political invisibility of women in Meghalaya. Mr Lapang said, "We are always ready to give a chance to women to participate in politics. Let them come forward. We do not get enough women candidates applying for tickets". Those were his exact words. Mr Lapang should have looked around the room to see that not a single Mahila Congress member was present at that conference. Are they all gender sensitized? I know for a fact they are not. These are the type of sensitization programmes that women political activists should be engaging with. And this is true of all political parties. How many women do we find in the top echelons of the party? How many women take decisions on behalf for the party? So why are we surprised when so few women get into the hurly burly of politics? Men are happy to keep them at a certain level and allow them limited use of power. Power resides at the top of the pyramid and only very privileged women like Sonia Gandhi (because of her dynasty) have access to that kind of power. Few women have that privilege. In Nagaland women are fighting for reservation of seats at the Municipal level but are facing very stiff resistance. Nevertheless they are struggling to claim their rights. What are we women in Meghalaya doing? Men always caution us to tread warily when we speak of reforms in customary practices. The age-old alibi is that tradition is what defines us and makes us Khasis. If tradition changes we lose our identity. Is identity more important for us women than equal rights in the traditional structure? Should it be identity versus women's empowerment? We are told that traditional and customary practices that do not evolve will eventually die. It is time women got together to bring about this evolution so that we have a vibrant customary practices that moves with the times. Custom is not about the past. Custom is a practice that should suit the present. -- "After a war, the silencing of arms is not enough. Peace means respecting all rights. You can’t respect one of them and violate the others. When a society doesn’t respect the rights of its citizens, it undermines peace and leads it back to war.” -- Maria Julia Hernandez www.otherindia.org www.binayaksen.net www.phm-india.org www.phmovement.org www.ifhhro.org -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "humanrights movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/humanrights-movement?hl=en.
