Mangalore, Mar 18: In a gathering amidst trees, individuals from different walks of life converged on Tuesday and held an open discussion on issues related to women and their safety and other critical issues faced in the region, with an intention to collectively focus and contribute to the changes necessary to be made in the society through a people 's movement in the backdrop of the upcoming elections.
Speaking in a gathering organised by Forum Against Atrocities of Women (FAAW) at Balmatta Maidan here on Tuesday, Dr Corrine Kumar of Vimochana, Bangalore and International coordinator of World Courts of Women said that the voices of the ordinary citizens of the region and the voiceless had to be amplified and sent to local political representatives so that issues regarding women, students and others would be addressed by them once they were elected and came into power.
Seeking collective opinions from those present, she said that they had symbolically gathered under the branches of a tree to seek depth and wisdom from them, to convey the message to the ones in power and even to those who were powerless. “The trees speak to us of the local wisdom which has become invisible in the present scenario. From violence against women to their invisibilisation ' in every male-dominated sphere, we have to look at issues from the point of view of women, including absence of women in political sphere and discourse,” she said.
She said that the first agenda of the meeting was to voice out issues of importance in Mangalore which needed to be represented politically.
A female participant said that the reservation of women in the political parties was fewer than what was necessary. Parties do not give opportunities to women candidates and try to oppress them when they get a chance. The government should set reservation for more number of women in political parties, she demanded.
Shahnaz M of Anupama magazine said that the people of Mangalore did not want representatives who rattled off the mantra of development ' but instead would put an end to exploitation of women. “We do not need political parties, but a government under whom cases of violence against women are not sidetracked,” she said.
Speaking on the occasion, Marlene Martis of DEEDS pointed out that inspite of the existence of laws for the protection of women, the government lacked the political will to effectively implement them. It is the responsibility of the government to implement them on a priority basis. The police in this region are highly communal and also insensitive to women 's issues. The communalisation of the police system and politicians is increasing which is affecting the society and posing a problem to the safety of the women, she stressed.
Another participant Kamala Gowda from DK Education Resource Centre said that competent women should be chosen to represent the masses even in panchayats and grassroot levels. She also placed a demand for establishment of atleast two old-age homes for the elderly in each district by the government.
A senior citizen Olinda Pereira urged that the political representatives should focus more towards issues concerning women and the elderly, as they had not done enough in the past.
Other concerns such as students from other states studying in Mangalore being subjected to racist ' remarks because of their ethnicity and sex workers in the city being sexually exploited due to their gender identity were also brought up during the interaction.
All the opinions and highlights of the discussion were recorded, to be conveyed to the local political parties and put pressure on them through a protest action ' to be held by the Forum in the coming days before the elections.
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