Jharkhand Mahila Manch : state level meeting

NAMHHR member Prerana Bharti (Jharkhand) successfully organized a two day state level meeting of the Jharkhand Mahila Manch on the 26^th and 27^th of August 2015.  The objective of this meeting was to revive the women’s movement in Jharkhand and to brainstorm on strategies to empower the women of Jharkhand to once again take up cudgels against the obstacles that continued to enslave them.   The occasion saw stalwarts of the women’s movement such as Dr. Rose Ketketta, Prof. Malanch Ghosh and Anjali Bose address a large gathering of over 200 participants representing the 78 members who form part of the Jharkhand Mahila Manch.  In their motivational speeches these senior women activists spoke about problems related to gender equality, gender stereotyping and patriarchal structures that encouraged detrimental practices such as child marriage, witch-hunting and trafficking of women to flourish.   The meeting also saw in-depth discussions and brainstorming on strategies covering four thematic issues - violence against women, maternal health and nutrition, livelihoods and women’s participation in local governance.  The chief guests who graced the occasion were Smt. Sampat Meena, (DG of Police, CID) and Smt Mahua Manjhi, President of the Women’s Commission, Jharkhand.