Plans have been made by the Savisthri Movement together with the network organization "Womens Action for Social Justice" to implement a special programmes on the Womens Day which falls on 08. 03. 2009.
In view of the fact that the Women have been severely pressurized by the existing social, economic and political situation prevailing in the country, the objective of this programme is to draw the attention of those responsible to this issue and give an awareness to the masses to look at this process in an intelligent manner.
We analyse the pressures placed on women due to the following factors:-
Economic Process
· Inability to get a market for their produce.
· Women being relegated to the position of providing cheap labour in the garment, planatation labour sectors and as migrant workers.
· Deprivation of their independence by making them indebted through various banking systems and financial processes.
· Getting unemployed and joining the rank of the poorest of the poor due to the closure of garment factories in the face of the existing financial crisis.
· Inability to return to the village and commence work and stabilize themselves to eke out a living.
Social Process
· Severity of the mental pressures and agonies.
· Inability to get recognition in the society due to the existing social tendencies regarding women.
· Getting widowed in great numbers.
· Being cornered in the society due to lack of economic strength.
· Increase in the incidence of getting subjected to nutrition problems, anaemia and various other diseases.
Political Process
· In the decision taking process, less representation of women in parliament and other local bodies.
· As a consequence, the decisions reached do not favour women.
· Use of violence, harassment and thuggery against women.
· Blocking the avenues available for women to participate in decision making in the womens leadership that is being formed, by the use of wealth and thuggery.
· Policies of political parties not being firm and limitation of such policies only to paper.
· All women belonging to the ethnicities Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims in the country being subjected to mental pressures and physical harassments due to the war situation prevailing in the country.
· Tens of thousands of mothers suffering eternally at the loss of their precious children and children made disabled by the cruel war.
The naked truth is that a majority of women are pressurized in the face of these countless problems. It is also clear that no solution could be found to these problems by refraining from voicing their grievances.
It is only through awareness and getting organized as a body that attention could be drawn to the responsible authorities and seek solutions to these countless issues.
Today the responsibility of working for social justice is vested with the mothers, the women, who constitute 53% of the country's population. The time is ripe for women who count more than half the population in the country to stand together for the establishment of the right for all the people to live peacefully devoid of any differences, disrespect and harassment.
The network organization "Women's Action for Social Justice" (WASJ) has made arrangements to distribute a hand – bill which gives an awareness on the Womens Day ie on 08.03.2009. Hence, you who speak and always think of making better the situation prevailing in the country could participate in this programme.
Date - 08. 03. 2009
Commencement
· At 0700 hrs. opposite the Fort Railway Station.
· At 0845 hrs. to board the train leaving for Vauniya and get off at Kurunegala.
· Distribution of hand-bills in the Kurunegala Town (Family Relief Service Centre is scheduled to take action re. this matter).
· Plans made to have recitals (Virudhu / street dramas to create an awareness amongst the people).
In view of the fact that the Women have been severely pressurized by the existing social, economic and political situation prevailing in the country, the objective of this programme is to draw the attention of those responsible to this issue and give an awareness to the masses to look at this process in an intelligent manner.
We analyse the pressures placed on women due to the following factors:-
Economic Process
· Inability to get a market for their produce.
· Women being relegated to the position of providing cheap labour in the garment, planatation labour sectors and as migrant workers.
· Deprivation of their independence by making them indebted through various banking systems and financial processes.
· Getting unemployed and joining the rank of the poorest of the poor due to the closure of garment factories in the face of the existing financial crisis.
· Inability to return to the village and commence work and stabilize themselves to eke out a living.
Social Process
· Severity of the mental pressures and agonies.
· Inability to get recognition in the society due to the existing social tendencies regarding women.
· Getting widowed in great numbers.
· Being cornered in the society due to lack of economic strength.
· Increase in the incidence of getting subjected to nutrition problems, anaemia and various other diseases.
Political Process
· In the decision taking process, less representation of women in parliament and other local bodies.
· As a consequence, the decisions reached do not favour women.
· Use of violence, harassment and thuggery against women.
· Blocking the avenues available for women to participate in decision making in the womens leadership that is being formed, by the use of wealth and thuggery.
· Policies of political parties not being firm and limitation of such policies only to paper.
· All women belonging to the ethnicities Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims in the country being subjected to mental pressures and physical harassments due to the war situation prevailing in the country.
· Tens of thousands of mothers suffering eternally at the loss of their precious children and children made disabled by the cruel war.
The naked truth is that a majority of women are pressurized in the face of these countless problems. It is also clear that no solution could be found to these problems by refraining from voicing their grievances.
It is only through awareness and getting organized as a body that attention could be drawn to the responsible authorities and seek solutions to these countless issues.
Today the responsibility of working for social justice is vested with the mothers, the women, who constitute 53% of the country's population. The time is ripe for women who count more than half the population in the country to stand together for the establishment of the right for all the people to live peacefully devoid of any differences, disrespect and harassment.
The network organization "Women's Action for Social Justice" (WASJ) has made arrangements to distribute a hand – bill which gives an awareness on the Womens Day ie on 08.03.2009. Hence, you who speak and always think of making better the situation prevailing in the country could participate in this programme.
Date - 08. 03. 2009
Commencement
· At 0700 hrs. opposite the Fort Railway Station.
· At 0845 hrs. to board the train leaving for Vauniya and get off at Kurunegala.
· Distribution of hand-bills in the Kurunegala Town (Family Relief Service Centre is scheduled to take action re. this matter).
· Plans made to have recitals (Virudhu / street dramas to create an awareness amongst the people).
· 1530 hrs - End.