Dignity March | Garima Yatra
March To End Sexual Violence against Women and Children In India

Andhra Pradesh to Chhattisgarh

While you read this update, listen to the Dignity March song Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai

The Yatra has covered 4,572 kilometers in its journey to end sexual violence against women and children. Along the way, we have met local organizations doing work on similar issues, interacted with  survivors from different geographies, adapted to different climates, seen the sea for the first time, tasted new food, and shared laughter and tears. Here are a few glimpses from our journey so far.

Andhra Pradesh and Telengana

Traveling across the Deccan Plateau, we arrived in Hyderabad for a press conference, that was well received by the local media. Civil society groups from Hyderabad were also in attendance. Shanta Sinha, ex chairperson, National commission for protection of child rights , who interacted with the survivors said, “There has been a deep silence in our country surrounding the issue of rape. Meeting the women of the dignity march has inspired me. In-spite of being insulted, humiliated and let down by systems, they continue to fight and seek justice. They have opened my mind to the urgent need for all of us to renew our commitment to end sexual violence. “ 


*With Bhumika Collective 


Our collaborators, Bhumika Womens Collective, run a 24 hour women’s helpline,for women in distress.  Satyavati, one of the founders of Bhumika, spoke about the continuous revictimization of survivors, after a rape occurs. Due to the stigma surrounding the issue, the woman is ignored, blamed and silenced, by the police, the court, and her family/community. She spoke of the urgent need to break the silence across the spectrum of sexual violence. With Bhumika collectives’ support, we traveled to various colleges in Rajmundry and Hyderabad to interact with students and young people on this issue.

On 5th January we held a Consultation on Media’s coverage of sexual violence and rape against women and Children in India at the Hyderabad Press Club, Somajiguda. Read more about it in the document attached to this mail.



Dr Shanta Sinha, Ex-chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights interacting with survivors 

Moving to Vijaywada, we were welcomed by the Vasaya Mahila Mandali, whose director, Ms. Keerti, spoke of the importance of the dignity march, as a platform and network of support for women who have faced violence. “As a survivor myself, I know how difficult it is to speak up about violence. The march provides a space for women to gain support, confidence and comfort, that they are not alone.”

Leaving Andhra and Telengana behind, we moved along the coastline, entering Vishakapatnam by early evening. For many of the women traveling on the yatra, this was the first time they had seen the sea. An evening was spent on the beach, gazing at the waves, digging our toes into the sand, and for some, even daring to venture into the sea!

The next morning, a rally was organized, by the Vishaka Forum for Child Rights, Geetham University, and Mahila Action, groups working for womens' rights. The joint commissioner for Vishakapatnam joined the rally to pledge her support, and renew her commitment to work toward prevention of sexual violence.


 *Rally in Vishakapatnam

 Orissa

Traveling into Orissa, we arrived in Nabrangpur, considered a ‘zero district’ because of its low literacy rates and lack of access to basic amenities. Predominantly a tribal area, the meeting organized saw representation from adivasi women from ten districts of Nabrangpur. Maa Ghara, an organization working on issues of trafficking, child sexual abuse and health hosted the meeting, which also saw attendance from ex congress MLA’s and adivasi leaders.

 *With the adivasi leaders from Nabrangpur, Orissa

 Chhattisgarh

We cut across to Chhattisgarh, reaching Mahasamund to address a meeting of government school students. The district collectors, block officers, and district education officer were present, and the discussion focused on child sexual abuse, as Kashi Bai, one of the survivors, shared her story. Her daughter was raped by her school teacher. Consumed by shame, she attempted suicide. She survived, and since then Kashi Bai has been fighting for justice. She has faced harassment at the hands of the police, medical officials and the court. But perhaps what has hurt the most is the boycott she has faced in her own village. “We are alone. There is no-one who supports the poor. The man who did this to my daughter, he is a pundit, he is powerful. It is all a money game. He has bought over the police. The village is to scared to speak against him. I am fighting this battle alone.”

 Jan Jagriti Kendra, our local partners in Chhattisgarh, introduced a new dimension to the yatra, bringing in the issue of bonded labour. Anita, a survivor, shared her experience of being captured for six months, tortured, kept in a ‘cage’ like structure, and routinely harassed, by a contractor who had sold them as bonded labor. Women face double the oppression, as alongside being labour commodities, they are also considered sexual commodities, for use by the contractor.

 We moved from Mahasamund to Raipur, where a late night meeting was arranged with the Chief minister, Bhupesh Bhagel. In a private meeting, we presented our demands to him: particularly to ensure that the ‘two finger test’ (banned by the Supreme court, it continues to be widely used to medically determine rape) is prohibited, and that cases filed under the POCSO act are expedited, and convictions secured within a year, as per the guidelines. The Chief Minister agreed to the demands and an order in favor of this is being formulated. He distributed gifts to the survivors and commended their courage and bravery.


*Naari shakti zindabaad

 Following this we conducted meetings in Pithora, before returning to Orissa to conduct rallies and meetings in Sambalpur, Boinda and Angul. Finally arriving in the capital city, Bhubhneshwar, for a press conference and meetings with students at Utkal University.

 As one group of survivors prepared to leave from Raipur, we asked them to share one experience or memory that had stayed with them, through the yatra. One of the survivors shared how the yatra had resulted in new friendships. “When we are in our villages, and something happens, we feel alone. Who is going to listen to our experiences, who will consider it important? But in this yatra, we have met others who have gone through the same experience. We understand each others pain and sorrow. I am leaving this yatra feeling less alone.”

Objectives of the Dignity March
End stigmatization, blaming and shaming of survivors of rape and sexual violence

State, non-state and social actors will publicly voice out their support for the survivor

Survivors, their families and other social actors will create a national survivor network to ensure participation in decision making on policies and implementation of laws and guidelines related to sexual violence

Citizen will pledge to support the victims of sexual violence and provide necessary assistance through a missed call on 7822001155.

 TO KNOW MORE
Website: www.dignitymarch.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dignity_March
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dignitymarchindia
InstaGram: https://www.instagram.com/dignitymarch/
--
Jan Sahas  
Field office – 40/2, Civil Line, Dewas 455001 M.P. India.  
Registered office –14, Mill Road P.O. Balgarh,  Dewas 455001 M.P. India.  
Telephone No. – 91-7272 – 408090, Fax No. – 91-7272 – 254490 
Mobile No. – 91- 98264 23634  
Email – jansahas@gmail.com, jansahas@rediffmail.com, 
Website – www.jansahasindia.org
 

Posted by Ashif Jan Sahas on Jan 19, 2019 | permalink