Be it be a fight against the illegal arrack sellers or taking on the local landlord, these women village heads are battling it out on their own just to make life better for their respective societies.
Thirty-four year old Kalasamma of Heggadapura village in Mysore when she realised the harm that the local illicit liquor was doing in the lives of the people decided that the illegal arrack shop had to go from the village. But the liquor shop was managed by the local gangs, still undaunted Kalasamma, who was working for the village council organised the women into seven groups and thus everyday they began to hold meetings before the arrack shop.
It thus also proved to be an eye-opener for the other women of the village, who daily began to witness the miserable scenes of the liquor shop. Finally one day they decided to take a firmer course and thus launched a drive that today has resulted in the closure of that particular illegal arrack shop.
Kalasamma says that the victory instilled a sense of confidence among the women in the village, as for many it was the first time in their lives that they so openly were protesting against an evil that has been gnawing their lives for years.
The women in villages are coming to realise that they also have the strength to challenge what is unjust and have understood that their rights are same as for men. While these uneducated women also are coming forward to send their girl child to school, she says.
In villages across Karnataka, it is these uneducated women, who are shielding the light of education and making it spread into the lives of the young children. Geeta, a mother of two was forced to drop-out when she was in class third, however, she says, after being elected to the panchayat, her first step was to work towards literacy.
She says, "Though I have become a local leader still the lack of education is something that still pinches me. Hence my priority in to ensure that all children in my village should get education."
To make a living, Geeta roles beedi in her free time, however, her humble life didn't stop her to take on the local landlord, who had encroached on the land meant for the school building. Even when the local police threatened her, courageously she filed a law suit against the landlord and today the local "Aganavadi" classes are held in that school.
Whether it is education or health, these women are able to bring in vital changes because their understanding of the issues is heartfelt and so their dedication is complete, therefore the work is fruitful, says Yamuna KN, an activist working who works with a Mysore-based NGO.
While in a major boost, their stories of struggle and hardwork has been incorporated in a book as well.
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