Recasting Citizenship for Development - File UPI

The Sangha Mané 293
restrictive socially prescribed gender roles; (vi) to distil the empowering
aspects associated with the process of constructing and using the sangha
mané, whether possessing a ‘space of one’s own’ is empowering; (vii) to
reflect upon whether these processes have helped engender citizenship.
METHODOLOGY AND LOCATION
This study is an outcome of two felt needs expressed by the field staff, the
sahyoginis (fieldworkers) of MSK: ‘First, we feel that the sangha manés
are a key component in the empowering processes of the MS programme,
but we would like a clearer picture on the actual role. Second, we have
spent long years in setting up sanghas, conducting training programmes,
supporting activities, we now want to develop the skill to effectively research
and document our work.’ The response was a series of training
workshops, which would enable the sahyoginis to collect and analyse data.
A decision was taken to actually undertake a study rather than merely
provide inputs, which may or may not be utilised. In choosing the sangha
manés, the following selection criteria were adopted: new/old sangha,
multi-caste/unicaste sangha, problematic/smooth processes associated
with sangha mané construction, medium-sized/large village, and
exterior/interior village. Based on this, the following villages were selected:
Tuppanakhanahalli (Bellary district), Marakunda (Bidar district),
Agasanahalli (Bijapur district), Kudli (Gulbarga district), Kurukunda
(Raichur district), Dotihalla (Koppal district) and Banikuppe (Mysore
district).
A qualitative study was proposed as the focus was on processes. This
would yield insights, rather than statistical data. This chapter is largely
based on primary data, which the sahyoginis directly collected from the
women involved in the process. The main technique was focus group
discussions with the sangha women; the tool was a detailed guideline.
THE CONTEXT: THE SANGHAS
A brief introduction to the mahila sanghas will help contextualise the
processes associated with the construction and use of the sangha manés.