Drksākshi was initiated as a response to the rapid and unplanned
urbanization resulting in "urban slums" around industrial complexes in the central Indian state of
Chhattisgarh. Urban
“slums” are typically
populated by the lowest
socioeconomic strata of society and remain uncovered by the safety nets
of the
state. Importantly, slum dwellers are deprived of basic rights to
land
(being vulnerable to eviction anytime), shelter, water, health, regular
employment or source of livelihood, and
education. Socioeconomic
vulnerability also prevents people from demanding such basic rights as
minimum
wages or equal pay for equal work.
where we work / our focus -- "the girl child"
The Bhilai
area of Chhattisgarh, in the
distict of Durg, hosts India’s
largest steel plant -- the Bhilai Steel Plant
(BSP). Drksākshi
operates in Dabrāpāra-- a
working-class neighborhood just off the Mumbai-Kolkata
national
highway (also known as the Great Eastern highway or GE road) within the
township
of Bhilai.
Durg is
one of the most
industrialized districts of Chhattisgarh with the highest rate of per
capita income
in the state and ranks second
among the districts in total population and
overall literacy rates. However, Durg district ranks thirteenth amongst
sixteen
districts in sex ratio and this is
significant for Drksākshi’s mission (Census
of India,
2001). A study
conducted
among the unorganized sector of the district population shows that the
majority
of people in this sector are “casual
laborers”-- daily wage workers
dependent upon itinerant jobs in construction and the informal economy. Low
"real
wages" compels all adults in a family to work outside the home, thus
leaving older children to take care of younger siblings
and household work.
The choice for this work is almost always the girl child.
The situation of
girls in such a context as Dabrāpāra remains
extremely vulnerable. A majority of the population in Dabrāpara lacks basic literacy. The
social "norm" of craving for a male child many times
leads to the sequential birth of multiple girls in families in search
of a
single boy child. The girls then remain relatively neglected compared to the
boy child. Girls as young as 7–8 years stay at home to attend
to their siblings and perform household work. This situation is
characterized
by lack of opportunities for her education, play, recreation, emotional
and
intellectual growth– in short the childhood of the girl.
Further, as they
are alone without any adult supervision or protection, many girls become
vulnerable to sexual harassment or rape. Finally, lack of access to regular and balanced food, leads to severe malnourisment with many children suffering from ailments including night
blindness.
Drksakshi
programs are designed to address this complex
reality with a special focus on the girl child and women
Mr.V.R. Raman (State Programme Coordinator of the MitaninProgramme and the Director-in-charge of the State Health Resource Centre (SHRC), Raipur,
Chhattisgarh. He is also associated with the People's Science Movements in India)
