March 2011
Dear Supporter,
My nane is Anjanatai Amrut Sagar. I want to tell you my story because I have gone from being discriminated due to my caste and because I am a woman, to becoming an elected member of the village council, with ambition to do even more.
As a woman and a dalit (lowest caste in Indian society), I was denied many things. people from other castes looked down on us and even made us do things like take our shoes off when we walked past them.
My life changed forever when I, together with a group of women from shirgaen villagewhere I lived in India, learnt to play Lazim (traditional band). Lazim was always reserved for men, but we wanted to lean this. We asked the teacher to teach us, but he refused. But our continued pressure and determination finally changed his mind. We went on to win awards and we inspired other wimen. We showed we could break traditional norms.
This was ahuge turning point, as I saw we could change much more. I helped to encourage women to form groups to develop ways to improve our incomes and to spread messages of equality. Because of my involvement in this, i was persuaded to stand for the village council.
I was elected! But I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what my roles or responsibilities as a woman sarpanch (leader). This is when ActionAid and you support of The next Step on India comes into my story.
ActionAid works with an organisation called Mahila Rajsatta andolan (MRA). Together, they came to my village to support women and tell us about our rights and our role in local governance. Iasked many questions and they said I am in the best position as a sarpanch to make changes, and they would support me.
One of the first things they didwas to arrange an event to acknowledge the supportof my family in my role as a sarpanch. many women cannot take leadership positions, as their husbands won't let them. This helped to encourage other families to give mothers, wives and sisters more opportunities.
MRA and ActionAid also helped me to form a district elected women's group. This brought women in leadership positions from Maharashtra state together. One of the key issues we wanted to tackle was free transport passes for women sarpanchs.
Many women in leadership positions cannot attend meetings, events and activities because we have no money. We would often have to get support from male colleagues to attend meetings, but this sometimes led to accusations of affairs. I know many women in leadership who have been beaten up, abused or humiliated while performing their duties. We wanted this to end.
With support from ActionAid and MRA, we drafted a policy to protect and support women in leadership. This is currently being circulated with different local goverment departments.
With better skills and knowledge, I have also been able to help cases of domestic violence to be addressed and resolved.
My personal ambition is to see Dalit women with a voice, so we can gain dignity, identity and our rights. MRA and ActionAid have shown me the path to help them do this. I will serve my entire life for these women.
Thank you so much for your support !
Anjanatai Amrut Sagar
PS . Sangita Malshe from ActionAid, who encouraged me to tell you my story, asked me to pick one photo to send to you. I picked this photo of me leading a rally of 7,500 Dalit women in 2009. This wa of of my prouest moments, as it showed how Dalit women are standing together to end discrimination we face.
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