CC_India

Tripura is intriguing because at one level it has promising
gender and development indicators, yet the National
Crimes of Violence Against Women statistics ranked
Tripura as the highest violator for the past few years.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The challenge of undertaking self standing CCs in very
diverse and plural situations (within the country and
across borders) while maintaining the integrity of WRN’s
common thematic focus and vision was sought to be
overcome by developing a ‘Master Questionnaire’ on
the basis of consensus in all three countries. However,
researchers were encouraged to creatively adapt to the
diverse contingent circumstances of these sites and
for most the Master Questionnaire came to be used as
indicating broad signposts. While there was considerable
variance across the India CCs in the nature of field
research components,the studies are based largely on
action research that is qualitative in nature.
The collection of primary data was done through a combination
of one-to-one interviews, town hall meetings
and focus group discussions (FGDs) with affected women
(and men). The structured seminar, town hall meetings,
interviews and FGDs were complemented by on site interactive
visits to specifically affected ‘remote’ rural areas
to be able to access their every day lived reality. Where
appropriate, interviews were held with elected local leaders
especially ‘political women’, government officials,
army officials and civil society leaders. Efforts were also
made to reach constituencies across faultlines i.e. spanning
state and nonstate violence survivors, inter-religious
and inter-ethnic communities. However, in some situations
as in the site of the anti POSCO struggle in Odisha,
the situation was so volatile that crossing faultlines and
talking to the pro POSCO faction would have been construed
as a ‘breach of trust’ and closed access. The studies
also drew upon secondary sources such as official and
independent NGO reports, court judgments, books and
articles. Most of the CCs were conducted over two — three
field visits amounting to 15-20 days intensive engagement
in each site.
The Odisha anti POSCO struggle CC was focused on a
territorially defined protest site and used a mix of FGDs
and in depth interviews with the women and children
in the forefront of the struggle. The CCs were animated
through an implementing partner, National Alliance
of Women’s Organisations (NAWO) — Odisha with the
active commitment of women’s rights activists Abha
Bhaiya and Bishaka Bhanja.
The Kandhamal CC focused on the gendered aftermath
of communal violence and particularly sought out the
survivors of sexual violence. Many had been displaced
and did not want to be found. It was made possible as
a result of the passionate dedication of legal scholar
activist Saumya Uma and the support of NAWO.
The J&K border study was flexible in design, seizing
opportunities for group interactions in homes in villages,
ziyarats, schools and universities (to supplement
the more structured town hall meeting), FGDs and in
depth interviews. An unanticipated limitation was the
absence of any significant presence of human rights
defenders, the exception was Kawaljeet Singh (Poonch)
whose case documentation was invaluable. Specific
constituencies were earmarked, e.g. students, professionals,
contractors, LoC traders, local representatives
and ‘survivors’ and victim families. Crucial to the success
of the CCs was the long years of experience and
access of the WRN members — Sahba Husain, Anuradha
Bhasin Jamwal and Rita Manchanda.
The Tripura study experimented with a mix of research
strategies — drawing upon a cooperative partnership
structure to hold a formal seminar, visiting an affected
village site, participatory research at a Tripura tribes
protest demonstration, one to one interviews and the
administration of a Tripura specific questionnaire to 10
respondents. The CC was steered by WRN core member
Binalakshmi Nepram.
CHALLENGES
In conducting the CCs, researchers faced several challenges
as regards access, ethics and risks. The CCs
hinged on our reaching out to women in the conflict
affected societies and whereas in some situations it was
relatively easier to listen to women’s voices, however,
specifically in the more militarised zones there were
constraints and evident more time would be required.
In Tripura and Rajouri — Poonch, we initially found ourselves,
‘going through the men’ to hear the women. The
chorus in the LoC districts was ,“The women are not
articulate. They do not know or think about these issues.
They are too shy to speak to outsiders”. Not one woman
came to the town hall meetings. The timing — Ramazan,
compounded matters. But on the second and third
visits, at the university,degree colleges and schools we
10 UNEQUAL CITIZENS: Women’s Narratives of Resistance, Militarisation, Corruption and Security