MAN-WOMAN RELATIONSHIP MUST BE DEMOCRATISED

Ranjana Kumari, director, Centre for Social Research, speaks to
Osama Manzar about violence against women

What exactly is the function of the Centre for Social Research (CSR)?
It is a women’s study centre which has been undertaking research, development and training programmes on gender issues. For me, gender issues do not mean to focus only on women, but also on the relationship between men and women. I have experienced that it has been a good way of looking at a problem and I feel It is a good conceptual shift that ne have accepted and agreed upon. Looking at oneself only is not a solution to women’s problem. So, I think it is more important to look at the relationship between men and women and think about how it can be democratised and how the basis of the relationship can he equal. That is the approach we have here at CSR.
What steps have you taken to combat the prevailing violence against women?
When the CSR was established in 1980 by some optimists from Jawaharlal Nehru University, we had started with the issue of “women and violence”. by building a strong base in rural areas, we have come to realise that village women encounter the maximum violence. We have many development programmes In rural areas to counter crimne and violence against women. We have 1 Mahila Swavilamban Samitl (PMSS), which acts as the voice of women from some of the most backward districts in India. Through the counselling centres of PMSS in the villages of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. where the Samiti is very active, the eases of crime and violence against women are received and reported to the police. We investigate into the matter and take legal help from lawyers on our panel. The victim gets all possible aid from us. We have an SOS service, too, in all our project villages where we handle all kinds of crisis calls on telephone.
What, according to you, Is the Intensity of violence against women In our society?
Enormous. I have my own experience in dealing with such violence and it prevails in every section of society, right from the uppermost class to the downtrodden. The nature of the violence may be different but it occurs across the board. In fact, over a decade, violence in terms of cruelty has become widespread and more common.
Torturing and hurting a girl or a woman in a household has become a frequent phenomenon. Gone are the days when girls used to face only satire, rebuke and scolding. Now they face physical torture. Tolerance is on the decline within the household, especially in Delhi. This has been revea through 15 yearb of field experience,
What Is the reason?
I think there is a lot of pressure on families these days. More significantly economic pressure. Men and women are not able to deal with this pressure. It is also because women are becoming more assertive, which men are not used to. Though media has played an appreciable role to create an environment of equality, our men are not accommodative to this change.
Would you say that the Government is not doing much to curb violence against women?
I would put it differently. Violence against women Is an issue that is prevalent in society and I would try to search for the answer within our society.
I have seen the police as being largely ineffective and rather cruel in their approach. A DCP once argued. “What can the police do?” as most of the violence takes place within the four walls of a home.
How did you-feel being selected to lead the Government delegation to the final prepcom meet In New York? Was it a compromise as you chose to be hi the Government’s delegation rather than accompany the NGO’s delegation?
No It was not a compromise delegation. Furthermore, I did not choose to go on my own; It was with the consent of the Women’s Front which consists of seven women’s organisalions. I was not In New York to put pressure on the Indian Government. We needed to pressure the world community as there was a clear divide between the rich and the poor nations. We raised the critical issues of transparency and accountability of the world financial institutions. We also managed to raise the Issue of comprehensive health care for women. Our job was to pressure the world community, especially rich countries, to commit resources for ensuring women’s equality.