Recasting Citizenship for Development - File UPI

The Sangha Mané 317
The women’s influence has even spread beyond the village boundaries,
as in some cases they have become a source of inspiration for other sanghas
to embark on similar paths. Their own analysis indicates that their ‘new
way of being’ has made the women contributing citizens. It also reflects
local notions of empowerment. The women have been able to change the
trajectories of their own lives and the lives of people around them through
this process. The sangha mané can be concretely seen as a ‘stepping stone’
leading on to ‘potential’ citizenship. The ‘emancipatory’ effect of this structure
can be attributed to the fact that the women feel that the sangha mané
is a landmark, representing a space in which they are able to play out multiple
roles, externalise internal needs and become effective citizens.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This chapter represents more than a research study. It is the result of the collaboration
of many sources. We are grateful to all those who have partaken in
this process. We would first like to thank all the sangha women who delved into
the recesses of their minds to recreate events that occurred a long time ago. Their
narrative has animated the document. We would like to acknowledge all the
sahyoginis who requested MSK for training in research and documentation:
Renuka (Bijapur), Ratna (Raichur), Zairunbi (Bellary), Shanta (Koppal), Parvati
(Bidar), Deviramma (Mysore), Jyothi (Gulbarga) and Sidamma (Raichur). All
of them have enriched this study with their ability to internalise research concepts
and analyse the data collected in the light of these inputs. Special thanks are due
to the District Programme Coordinators of the seven districts for encouraging
the sahyoginis to attend the workshops and engage in data collection. We are
also grateful to the State Office team, Nagina, Kavita and Nagaratna, for their
able translation work. We would like to thank Dr Revathi Narayanan (erstwhile
State Programme Director, MSK) for commissioning this study. We are deeply
grateful to Dr Suchitra Vedanth (present SPD) for valuable inputs on the report.
REFERENCES
Glover, D. and C. Kaplan. 2000. Genders. London and New York: Routledge.
Oxal, Z and S. Baden. 1997. ‘Gender and Empowerment: Definitions, Approaches
and Implications for Policy’, BRIDGE Report No. 40, October.