NNAWG Conference ...

On the national front Sama continues to play an active role in the autonomous women’s movement. Sama is a part of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) of National Network of Autonomous Women’s Groups (NNAWG). Sama’s efforts have geared towards initiating debates and discussions on health in NNAWG.

Sama was involved in coordination of the National Women’s Conference held in September 9-12, 2006 at Kolkata after a gap of 9 years.

The main objectives of the Conference can be stated as:

  • To explore the various dimensions of how gender and caste intersect, the relationship between the caste –based movements, caste-based women’s groups and the women’s movement in general.
  • To explore the role that the autonomous women’s movement needs to play at this intersection.

Specific focal themes like Globalization, Fundamentalism, Patriarchy and Violence were discussed under the larger theme of ‘Towards a Politics of Justice: Affirming Diversities, Resisting Divisiveness’. A number of workshops and parallel sessions were conducted to bring forth the issues raised under these focal themes. For members of Sama, the conference provided an opportunity and platform to gain knowledge of history of the previous conferences, the changing nature of women’s movement as reflected in issues as raised within the movement. The conference provided a common platform for women from all over India to engage in debates, voice their opinions on different issues.

Sama along with Saheli coordinated the one day identity based workshops, ‘ Caste-based Identities, Discrimination, Struggles and Challenges’ on 10th September 2006. This was one of the twelve parallel identity based workshops and included a morning plenary followed by four parallel sessions on the following themes:

  • Caste, Gender and State Policy: Development, Health, Livelihoods and Economic survival
  • Caste, Gender and Public Image: media stereotypes and creative counter expressions
  • Caste, Gender and Sexuality: control, conflict, violence and autonomy
  • Caste and Women’s citizenship: democracy, reservation, education and rights

Another plenary on Resistances and Strategies was coordinated by Sama, Akshara, and Jagori focusing on globalization and its impact on health and livelihood of women, in particular. The conference also held a Workshop on Confronting Globalization: Struggles and Alternatives.