Over 80 Adivasi women from nine States are here to participate in a three-day conference of National Consultation of Adivasi Women which began on Tuesday.
The conference will debate on the need for Adivasi women to articulate their problems, implementation of Forest Rights Act, encroaching on Adivasi lands, mining, lack of development and the problems of Adivasi women from AP, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra and TN.
“The Adivasi movement is happening across the country concerning the identity and rights of aboriginals,” said K. Bhanumathi of NGO Dhaatri, resource centre for women and children’s rights, adding that the idea behind the conference was to provide a common platform for Adivasi women to share their issues with one another and have their collective voices heard.
There are several emerging voices of Adivasi women from these movements.
“The idea behind this conference is to give a common platform to Adivasi women to share their issues with each other, get together and make their collective voices be heard.” said K. Bhanumathi of NGO Dhaatri, resource centre for women and children’s rights.
Across India, Adivasi women voices are suppressed and there is lack of awareness about the laws which are meant to protect their interests, especially their rights on their lands, she added.
As part of the conference, a field visit was organised to Dalapalli, where the Adivasis are protesting against tourism project.
Representatives from other States said the platform gives them a chance to break the silence and make the voices more assertive. Mamta Kajur, chairperson of Adivasi Mahila Mahasangh and member of Adivasi Ekta Parishad (Chhattisgarh) said legal awareness camps are being held for Adivasi women in Chhattisgarh to make them aware of their rights.
“In the name of development, Adivasis are being pushed out from land they have lived on for generations. Economic development cannot happen by ignoring the rights of Adivasis. There should be a holistic approach towards any kind of development,” she said.
