Les organisations féminines en Inde

Abstract

Community development projects in India during the 1950s and 60s viewed women as beneficiaries but in fact few women benefitted measurably. The realization among field motivators of the necessity of improving the status of women prompted formation of womens organizations based on the participation of women in development. Non-government organizations and militant organizations have had greater success than government sponsored organizations in creation of employment for women. Some employment-generating organizations directed by high caste women or by men merely continue the oppression of poor women providing abysmal pay for long hours but a womens cooperative serving textile workers in Bombay has been successful because of the large number of unaccompanied males migrating to the city who desire reasonably priced home-cooked food. Other organizations have attempted to mobilize women to allow them to benefit from development. Struggles of women in the electronics pharmaceutical textile mining clothing and other small scale industries have been supported by womens organizatinns. Rural womens organizations have forced village authorities to provide drinkig water and have demanded creation of employment for unemployed rural workers. The Self-Employed Womens Association supports negotiations of such women in their respective professions and others struggling for womens rights have also undertaken development projects in health education and employment with a view to increasing womens independence. Some organizations provide child care services and others assist women in obtaining credit. Numerous cooperatives for food and housework have been formed but their ultimate effect on the distribution of power between castes and classes remains uncertain. Government sponsored cooperatives and womens organizations have benefitted mainly the intermediaries and have tended to use women as a source of cheap labor. A strategic plan for the emancipation of women should be based on 3 crucial domains: education employment and health. It is also very important that the direction of enterprises to benefit women be in the hands of women otherwise their interests will be neglected. The formation of womens sections in the labor unions should be undertaken as soon as possible.