In a quiet but firm demonstration of grass-roots democracy, hundreds of poor and illiterate women have taken control of several villages in northern Bangladesh.
The women’s manifesto consists of issues that affect them most: Tin Talak (oral divorce, an illegal practice that is still common in this Muslim country) is unacceptable; every marriage must be registered, and dowry and harassment of women must stop.
In 10 villages of Muktinagar Union (a union is an administrative unit of several villages) in Gaibandha district, one of the most impoverished areas of Bangladesh, poor women have formed associations to fight for these rights. Each headed by a coordinator chosen by ballot, the associations are joined together in a council, Grameen Unnayan Parishad (GUP) or Rural Development Council, that is headed by an elected chairwoman.
Aumicha Begum, a maidservant in her village not long ago, is the shabapoti or chairwoman of her GUP at Muktinagar Union. Representing 1,717 poor women from 10 villages, she wields a lot of power. Even the elected chair of the Parishad (the governing council of the union) has come round to consulting her.
“The chairman listens to what I say because I have all the poor women behind me,” says Begum, 47, a smile on her rugged face.
She is right. The Parishad chairman cannot settle issues related to women without her consent.
At first, Chairman Aziz Mustafa was skeptical about the women’s intentions. The local elite put up obstacles, and religious leaders accused the women of violating the rule of Purdah. (Purdah literally means wearing the veil but also involves restrictions on women’s mobility, work and social interaction.)
Gradually, the authorities realized that the women are in fact helping the local administration to implement a number of beneficial laws.
“I welcome these types of groups,” says Mustafa. “They help me in taking correct decisions on issues concerning women.”
It was the Udaiyan Shabolombi Sangstha (Dawn of Self-reliance Organization), a non-governmental organization, that initiated the effort to organize poor women in such associations. Its first test project was launched in 1994 at Muktinagar Union, and a total of 1,717 poor women, representing 120 groups from 10 villages, are now GUP members.
Begum explains why women joined the GUP so readily. “We had been deprived of our rights and repressed by men for ages. We were looking for a way out. We wanted to take decisions independently and solve our problems ourselves.”
Under the GUP, each village group has a coordinator and other officers. The village representatives meet twice a month to discuss their problems and the progress in their activities. The meetings take stock of the overall situation in the villages.
The groups encourage savings, with each member contributing two taka (about 5 cents) every week. The money is pooled and used for micro-enterprises. Two-thirds of the people of Muktinagar Union live in poverty, and income generation is naturally a priority.
In solving social problems, the GUP women use their own hierarchy. First, they discuss the problem within their concerned group. If the group leader fails to settle the dispute, the village representative takes it up. If she fails, then it goes to the GUP shabhapoti for an amicable solution.
“Organizational activities both assist the process of realizing the rights of women and encourage consciousness-raising,” says Begum.
In a telling narration, Achhatan Begum, 35, of Chakchakia village, describes the difference: “There was a time when we used to stand aside if a man came along . . . but no longer. We are independent now.
“One day I was going to a neighboring village when a maulana (Muslim cleric) stood in my way and accused me, saying, `You have become bepurdah (given up the veil).’ I gave him a befitting reply. I said, `What’s the point of the veil if your wife and daughters have to relieve themselves under the open sky?’ “
With awareness among these uneducated women growing, no one can divorce his wife at will, and the rate of divorce in the area has dropped remarkably.
Amichha Begum says: “If anyone, in or outside our group, wants to divorce his wife unilaterally, we unitedly resist him and try to make him understand. If he sticks to his decision, we warn him of legal action.”
Khukhi Begum, an elderly woman of Bharatkhali village, describes as incident: “My son-in-law tried to divorce my daughter for a minor dispute. We tried to make him understand that it was a wrong decision, but found him adamant. Then we took him to the GUP shabhapoti for reconciliation. Later, my son-in-law realized his mistakes and apologized.”
A gradual change is also visible in the marriage system. By law, marriages are to be registered with the kazi, the marriage registrar. But frequently this does not happen, which is potentially more injurious to the woman. If a divorce takes place, the lack of registration would deprive her of legally mandated benefits.
The GUP has motivated women to register their marriages. Now it is mandatory for all to register their marriage deeds.
A day laborer of Kachua village, Afzal Hossain, narrates: “A huzur (Muslim religious teacher) of our village had refused to register the marriage deed of my sister, but we forced him to do so.”
In another incident, a bridegroom’s family declined to register the marriage, but the GUP members compelled them to do it.
Instances of polygamy and marriage of minors have also fallen. A member of the union once secretly made an arrangement to marry off her teenage girl, 7th grader. When the GUP members heard of it, they persuaded the mother to stop the wedding.
The Udaiyan Shabolombi Sangstha helps the village groups and the GUP members manage their small enterprises. The GUP has accumulated reserves and invested the money in income-generating programs like fish farming and cloth trading.
Achhatan Begum, who manages one such enterprise, says they had invested 1000 taka ($25) in fish farming and earned 3,050 taka ($76). Altogether, they made a profit of 7,025 taka ($175) in the last two years.
To encourage growing of trees, Udaiyan Shabolombi Sangstha has set up a nursery where GUP members can buy saplings for one taka. With the help of other organizations, it has opened a clinic where doctors are available for regular consultation. GUP members have also been advised to restrict their families to two children.
