Women Gaining Ground Consortium

ASS was supported by CREA, New Delhi for organizing “State Level Meeting with Stakeholders and Networks on Disability Rights and Movements” and “State Level Consultation on Landscaping of Advocacy Strategies with State and Non-State Actors.” The consortium was organized on 13-14 March’ 2022 at Hotel Red Valvet in Patna, Bihar.
On 13.03.2022, a State Level Meeting with Stakeholders and Networks partners was organized on the issue of disability rights and movements in Bihar at Hotel Red Valvet at Patna by ASS in a joint venture with CREA, Akili Dada, IWRA, YUVA, SRUTI Disability Rights and Gramonnati Sansthan- Mahoba. 58 stakeholders and network partners participated in the State Level Meeting successfully.
Throwing light on the subject, Bandana Sharma, Secretary of ASS said that ASS has been working without any discrimination with the support of CREA by taking every community and language together for the true development of society. She highlighted the need to work on the rights of adolescents and disabled women, their political identity, youth participation, and the sexual rights of Dalits and the marginalized in Bihar.
Representatives of CREA and NGOs expressed their views on Disability Rights and Movements in the Open Session/Debates. Further group discussions were arranged on two issues: (i) Gender-Based Violence and (ii) Political Participation of Young Disabled Women by framing up 2 panels.

Conclusions Emerged

• Lame, dumb, etc. names are given to the disabled by society. Sexual violence is also more with the disabled. The disabled are seen as a burden in the family. They have no respect.
• There is no scheme for the disabled in Sugam Bharat Yojana. It is also necessary to arrange separate toilets for the disabled. There is a scheme for pension only for the old person.
• Special disability schools should open up in every district of Bihar.
• Society is the real culprit for GBV. The life of a young girl (marriage, livelihood, education, etc.) is decided by males only.
• Most of the girls are harassed after marriage.
• The disabled are always suppressed. They should get their rights.
• The cases of violence happen not only with disabled women but also with women overall. If the husband beat her wife then she does not protest. The violence put women confined to the boundaries of their homes. The panchayat women representatives are also not spared by this.
• This evil (GBV) has been for centuries and we have to make a strategy with its changed form like gang rape, burning, accident of Hijab, etc.
• There should be no discrimination in society then real women empowerment will achieve. Every effort should be made to establish a safe society.

Future Strategies Formulated

• Inclusive movement and a united platform should be promoted
• Capacity building of Adolescents.
• Women’s Leadership Building and Mentoring..

On 14.03.2022, a “State Level Consultation on Landscaping of Advocacy Strategies with State and Non-State Actors” was launched. The guests were welcomed by Bandana Sharma. She expressed her happiness about the launching of the state-level program and said that we will work in partnership with the Government.

A 5 member team of the panelist was prepared. The team consists of the Representatives of NGOs, Govt. NGOs and Govt. Partner Organizations. The panelists expressed their views on different women’s issues, women’s leadership development, women’s socio-economic development, trafficking of women, govt. rescue and support programs, women’s equality to men, women’s rights, gender discrimination, education, legal rights, etc.

Charter of Demand on Political Participation and Gender-Based Violence