For gender equality

The Hindu recently published a fantastic article on EKTA's director, Ms Bimla Chandrasekar. Click on the link below to learn more about Ms Bimla's experiences, motivations, and goals towards achieving gender equality: http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/for-gender-equality/article4766059.ece

Child marriage programme

EKTA is currently developing a programme to combat child marriage in several districts of Tamil Nadu. This issue has been in the news a lot lately, here in Tamil Nadu and abroad as well, particularly in areas of conflict. The reasons perpetuating child marriage are many, and the harmful effects and consequences are widespread and long-lasting. Below are some statistics and stories from The Hindu to give some context to the issue. We will post updates on our specific programme as it develops. 

• More than 100 million girls in the developing world will be married during the next 10 years.
  
• Although the definition of child marriage includes boys, most children married under the age of 18 years are girls.
  
• While the practice has decreased globally over the last 30 years, it remains common in rural areas and among the poorest of the poor.
  
• In Southern Asia, 48%—nearly 10 million—of girls are married before the age of 18.
  
  
• In Africa, 42% of girls were married before turning 18.
  
• In Latin America and the Caribbean, 29% of girls are married by age 18.

Source

 Areas that experience high rates of child marriage are those with:

• High poverty rates, birth rates and death rates
• Greater incidence of conflict and civil strife
• Lower levels of overall development, including schooling, employment, health care

Consequences of child marriage:

• Large spousal age gaps
• Limited social support, due to social isolation
• Limited educational attainment and no schooling options
• Intense pressure to become pregnant
• Increased risk of maternal and infant mortality
• Increased vulnerability to HIV and other STIs
• Restricted social mobility/freedom of movement
• Little access to modern media (TV, radio, newspapers)
• Lack of skills to be viable to the labour market   

Source

The Hindu 1

The Hindu 2

The Hindu 3

Children's summer camp

EKTA recently hosted our annual children's camp in Kodimangalam. In the shade of coconut and mango trees, local children did yoga, played games, choreographed dances, and made up short skits with social justice-oriented messages (for example, one skit demonstrated the perils of child labour). 

Here are a few pictures from the summer camp:

Madurai Rising

On the 14th, EKTA and Lady Doak College's Centre for Women's Studies, along with our collaborating organizers (People's Watch, Department of Communication MKU, TNSF, Deepam, Koodu, WWSS, Vasuki Seva Nilayam, and the TN Handicapped Association-South Zone), successfully executed Madurai Rising as part of the global One Billion Rising campaign. This event has been a priority for the past several months, and we were happy to celebrate with participants from across the city, including several universities. Speakers included Our own Thirumigu Bimla Chandrasekar, director of EKTA; Thirumigu Anshul Mishra, IAS (District Collector, Madurai); Thirumigu Jacinthu Martin, B.L. (Madurai Legal Services Authority); Thirumigu R. Thirunavukarasu, M.Sc., B.L. (Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Madurai); and Thirumigu Dr. V. Chinnaiah, Co-ordinator, National Service Scheme, MKU, Madurai. We also enjoyed some wonderful cultural performances that definitely fulfilled the "dance" mandate of the One Billion Rising campaign! 

Finally, all participants joined together to release OBR balloons into the sky, followed by enthusiastic dancing, cheering, and singing. Through the event, we hope to have diffused knowledge, inspiration, and a sense of solidarity throughout the community, with a vision of a world free of violence against women. 

 

One Billion Rising short film

Here it is: our OBR short film, made by MKU students and EKTA! The video depicts some of the forms of violence that women often face in Tamil Nadu, but it also shows women standing up and joining a collective call for an end to violence against women. It's a powerful message. Watch below! 

With just two days until One Billion Rising, we are finalizing plans and gathering materials for a wonderful event at the Gandhi Museum on Thursday (from 3-6pm). Our plans include: distribution of handbills and stickers (featuring a pledge to stop violence against women and girls), a balloon release ceremony, the creation of a human chain, some cultural activities (put on by various colleges), and a candlelighting event. 

OBR short film release

Yesterday's event to launch the short film for One Billion Rising in Tamil Nadu was a great success. A diverse crowd which included journalists, students, academics, and activists attended and listened to impassioned speeches, watched the film for the first time, and honored the MKU students who wrote and produced the video. EKTA and OBR also received some great press -- you can read The Hindu's article here.
 

OBR short film launch - tomorrow!

EKTA will be releasing our One Billion Rising short film (made by students of MKU) tomorrow! We are very excited to share this video with everyone, so try and make it if you can! The event will be held tomorrow evening (31.01.2013) from 4-6pm at the YMCA Hall Madurai. Below is the official programme with detail events.