“If one wants to, one can.” – Mother Emilie Dorman (Co-foundress – Sisters of St. Ann, Luzern)
It’s more than a decade into the 21st Century, and women in India are still trying to have their voice heard. They do not have equal status rights, and are paid lesser than their male counterparts. Due to their perceived “low” status in villages and poor communities, young girls and women sometimes suffer from malnutrition,
or domestic violence, or dowry killings, or rape,
and molestation. The Sisters of St. Ann – Luzern (SAL), work with these women in villages and poor communities to uplift themselves and make a difference.
One of the key points towards this endeavour is financial stability. Six self-help registered group centres have been established by SAL, and 14,000 women in total have been registered with these centres. What do these centres do? They encourage women to save money , or take minimal interest loans to start small scale businesses like petty shops, food production etc. These group centres known locally as cooperatives are located in:
A. Ajithsing Nagar
B. Avanigadda
C. Jaggayyapet
D. Nunna
E. Rajavaram
F. Tiruvur
SAL also plays an active part in widow participation in society and Widow Remarriage. In all these centres, two-way gatherings are held. This is done to increase the morale of these widowed women, to make them confident, and at the same time take the opportunity to understand what difficulties they face. Many a time, these women are jeered while going to work making them fearful. Sometimes being single and financially unstable they are exploited by male members of their own family. SAL looks to change this by encouraging them to be self-sufficient and take up employment.
A self-employment unit has been established by SAL in Jaggayyapeta which employs at the moment 8 women, but the Sisters are looking to expand in the near future.
The Sisters also work with various government agencies to involve training the women to produce local handicrafts and acquire other skills such as:
- Ethnic sari embroidery designs like ‘Maggam’ which is a unique design from Andhra Pradesh’s lore.
- Screen painting
- Stitching model blouses (tailoring)
- Beautician courses
- Four wheeler driving classes etc
These government agencies provide many courses, but it is difficult and considered a bit taboo for these single women to venture out to these agencies by themselves. SAL acts as a liaison between the widows and the agencies to provide training in establishments where women only attend.
SAL also provides educational relief to the children of these widows given the fact that the widow is a single parent who has the burden of her extended family as well as her children.
Even in the 21st century, the curse of Child Marriage exists. By organizing CBOs (Community Based Organizations), SAL works to promote self-awareness to stop this archaic and cruel practice, and motivate women to educate the girl child. They also provide educational relief for the girl child so that parents do not get rid of the child thinking that they have the additional financial burden of educating them.
The Sisters also try to create/intuit awareness within women to take a more active role in the village administration through the local Panchayat (village council). Many women are unaware of the possibilities that await them in these roles and the development they can contribute to. SAL imparts training to groups and group leaders so that they can take on the responsibilities when the time comes. This training also helps them to become good leaders in their own households making decisions in terms of finance and development.
Women are also encouraged to take part in the Independence Day ( 15th August), and Republic day of India celebrations (26th January) by hoisting the Indian flag. This makes them feel like patriotic and responsible citizens.
