These women from Gangotri show what it means to create your own road
- Elderly and young women are building their own road cutting a hill with their hands
- These women show how important it is to not wait on others to do something for women equality or empowerment
FollowWhen political parties come for campaigning, they promise roads, jobs, freebies and the whole lot, when it comes to delivering, they turn the other way. The women in this Uttarkashi village of Daang, have learnt how to make these parties deliver. You can call it arm-twisting, but that is definitely getting the job done here.
This is the story from the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone. In the past the UPA government had notified that the 100 km stretch from Gomukh to Uttarkashi, comprising a 4179 sq km area, as an ESZ where no dams and HEPs would be allowed and only pro-people micro-level development can be undertaken.
The Notification has all provisions for people-friendly, sustainable development and in order to implement this Notification, the State was supposed to prepare the Zonal Master Plan in consultation with the 88 Gram Panchayats in the affected area to protect both the ecology and livelihoods of the locals. Women and Gram Sabhas/Panchayats are to play important roles in the execution of these works.
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But nothing of that sort was done. The villagers, especially the women, say not a single person came or consulted with them. They were not one to allow the village or their surroundings to be destroyed. According to a report in TOI, elderly and young women are building their own road cutting a hill with their hands. This is because another route the government proposed would be longer and involve chopping hundreds of trees they planted. These women won't vote unless one of the parties helps them build their road.
“We'll fight to save our forests and the Ganga. Our lives depend on these," one of them says. Apart from that they also have to face the threat of wild animals to their life and crops, but is the government listening, NO. This move, then by the women shows how important it is to not wait on others to do something for women equality or empowerment. All one needs is to pick up the axe or shovel and clear the path ahead for yourself.
Such people are what Bengaluru needs now. So use your strengths and your voices and do something about the issues that are plaguing your city which has become #NoCityforWomen. Asianet Newsable’s #Pinkaluru campaign is a step to make Namma Bengaluru back into the #CityforWomen, come join us in our endeavour.
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