Evescape

  When a woman’s clothes are torn during a police crackdown, not just democratic protocol but basic human dignity is violated and shattered .  By Rajeshree Nagarsekar  / _____________________ Under statutory legal provisions, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines, etc; the state is legally bound to protect the modesty of a woman during crowd control operations. Most importantly the reference to the landmark Supreme Court judgments -- the Sheela Barse vs. State of Maharashtra has to be made. These judgments arising from Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated by independent journalist Sheela Barse are said to have drastically reshaped the interpretation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) by extending basic human rights, dignity, and legal protection to prisoners. It acts as a foundational constitutional shield and can be directly applied to safeguard the rights of female protestors who are detained or arrested by ...

Tokenism is no longer a viable electoral strategy. Therefore if the Congress party through its Goem Rakhan Yatra intends to stand as a genuine movement to "save Goa's identity", it must acknowledge that Goa's identity is fundamentally tied to its women. Converting the role of women, the frontline organizers of the yatra from mere campaign marchers to the larger role of legislative lawmakers by identifying their leadership qualities and giving them tickets is the most definitive way the party can demonstrate its commitment to a "progressive, equitable, and democratic" future for the state. The ongoing Goem Rakhan Yatra o f the Indian National Congress (INC) party currently held in Goa is highlighting a defining moment across Goa. The overwhelming and enthusiastic participation of women leading the campaign from the front lines including  AICC Co-In-Charge Dr. Anjali Nimbalkar, Mahila Congress Goa President Adv. Pratiksha Khalap, office bearers and grassroot v...

By Rajeshree Nagarsekar  Following a recent incident where a prominent Goan politician publicly used a sexist slur, EVESCAPE wrote an email to the leader strongly condemning the remark. However, in response to this persistent rhetoric, EVESCAPE has developed a public safety campaign aimed at challenging misogyny in public discourse, which will be rolled out shortly. Way too often have we seen some of our politicians (across party lines) thump their chest and bellow: “ Ami kaknam ghalunk na " (We have not worn bangles) -- meaning; we are not weak, fearful or passive.  Firstly, this old school rhetoric of weaponizing a traditional ornament as a synonym for cowardice is not only downright outdated but also illiterate to the core, politically self-defeating, and utterly  regressive, especially in a progressive state like Goa. Secondly, when politicians use this sexist rhetoric in their public discourse, they are insulting fifty percent of the electorate. In modern Goa, women...

Since the year 2011, the United Nations has been observing June 23 as International Widows Day. The day seeks to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows and to galvanize the unique support that they need. While commemorating this event today, WE, a newly formed movement for widow rights in Goa, is urging the government for action towards achieving full rights and recognition for these 'invisible women' in the State of Goa. Before a law is enacted, the movement seeks support of the civil society to revisit it's stance on these practices and liberate these women from the unwarranted restrictions imposed on them by the society. Herwad panchayat in Maharashtra"s Kolhapur district marked the beginning of a movement to outlaw regressive widowhood practices. Subsequently the movement started gaining traction in Maharashtra, with other panchayats following suit and the state government directing panchayats across the state to adopt similar resolutions to end t...

Despite several existing legislations, international and national human rights instruments, the Indian Penal Code (IPC), The Goa Civil Code and continued efforts to address gender inequality, and atrocities  against women -- women still encounter discriminatory practices in varied forms. In particular, to note here are cultural or customary practices such as widowhood or funerary practices, which is nowhere enjoined by any of the religions as an imperative duty - have continued to perpetuate the subordinate position of women despite all the progress that we have made as a State. Exclusion of widows is a stark reality that a few of our political leaders and sections of society are sadly in denial. Moreover, widowhood practices are a violation of women’s rights to dignity and non-discrimination guaranteed in the Constitution of India (refer Art 14, Art 21). Years after sati was abolished and years after The Commission of Sati (prevention) Act, 1987, Act no 3 of 1988 to provide for mo...

Currently engaged, alongwith a host of social influencers, policy and law experts, in drafting a resolution and creating a forum to draft a policy document to demand a law to end discrimination against widows, my task include talking to various agencies, stakeholders, constitutional experts and social  reformers to understand the nity gritty of the proposed law, the complexity of the issue at hand, and the way forward.  Among the many that I am in conversation with on the subject is none other than the social reformer from Solapur himself -- Pramod Zinjade whose small initiative in Kolhapur"s Herwad village has scripted a movement in Maharashtra, and its ripple effect felt in Goa too -- with more than four panchayats in Goa already adopting resolutions to end discriminatory widowhood practices and ensure dignity of life, equal rights and inclusiveness to the widow. The Herwad village which passed the resolution on May 4 to become India's first village to adopt such a resoluti...