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The Women and Media Collective introducing the group to the media. Pix by Gemunu Wellage

The roar of rural women
A women-only independent group enters local council polls, says it understands problems at community level better
By Nadia Fazlulhaq
Fighting for equal rights is nothing new to women but the majority of Sri Lankan women, save those from ‘political’ families, generally steer clear of politics. For a country that boasts a high literacy rate and was one of the earliest to gain universal franchise with women winning the right to vote way back in 1931, women’s representation in Parliament stands at a dismal 5.7% or just 13 women MPs in the 225-seat assembly.

At local government level, too, the figures are not much better. In 1997, women’s representation stood at 3.5% in Municipal Councils, 2.6% in Urban Councils and a mere 1.7% in Pradeshiya Sabhas.

Higher women’s representation, many people believe, will help change the prevailing political culture in the country and also see a stronger focus on issues that women are more concerned about at community level.

Against this backdrop, it is heartening to note that an all-woman independent group has entered the fray to contest the upcoming local government elections.

Last Tuesday, the group comprising 28 candidates, came to Colombo to outline their vision and display their strong determination to create a new political culture.

This independent group is contesting the Kurunegala Pradeshiya Sabha. Some members of the group come from rural areas such as Bamunugedara, Mahiella, Boyagane, Ranawana, Malpitiya, Doratiyawa, Thorayaya, Wilbawa, Keliyagoda and Alakoladeniya but almost all of them are active members of various social groups such as death donation and women’s welfare societies within the Kurunegala Pradeshiya Sabha area.

L.P. Malani, leader of the independent group, is from Boyagane, Rathgalle.
An old pupil of Pothuhera Dutugamunu Vidyalaya, she played an active role in community projects after she completed her Advanced Level. She headed several welfare societies in the village.

Since her husband, a soldier in the Sri Lanka Army, was killed in action in Weli Oya in 1991, her biggest challenge has been raising their three children. Malani has worked with many war widows and in 2003 was the head of the Kurunegala District’s Ranaviru Seva Authority.

Having organized many workshops on women’s and children’s rights, Malani has wide knowledge and experience in communicating with village women. “In Kurunegala, 80% of the women actively participate in community workshops, but when it comes to decision making, men play the lead role. Men are usually unable to understand women’s issues and problems,” she says commenting on why there should be more women Pradeshiya Sabha members.

“In some areas pregnant women walk more than four miles to reach a clinic or several miles to reach a well. Situations like these arise because there are no women in the decision-making process at Pradeshiya Sabha level,” she says adding that women have a good sense of managing funds. “A woman knows to make the maximum use of money. A village woman has the ability to earn a hundred rupees, manage it so well that she can do things worth a thousand rupees.”

Explaining their campaign, Malani says this is their first step in politics and they are conducting the campaign without violence or resorting to any illegal practices.

The group’s deputy leader Soma Hettiarachchi says people in the Kurunegala Pradeshiya Sabha area are curious about our plans, “because we are quite different from other political parties and independent groups”.

“Even if we fail this time we’ll never lose hope. We will continue to train young women and make our group a force to be reckoned with,” she says.
Soma is a resident of Ranawana and has been active in political and social work for more than 30 years. She has been a member of the board of the local Samurdhi Bank.

Omar Fatima Dilsha from Keliyagonna is the only Muslim in this all-woman independent group. She says she must set a good example to all young Muslim rural women who tend to be more homely and seldom participate in social activities.

“If our groups can get at least one vote from one family unit, it will be a huge achievement for us,” Dilsha says adding that her entry into politics is not aimed at uplifting Muslim women alone but all rural women in general.
The group says they have no time to go campaigning because most of them rely on their daily wage to make ends meet. But determination and hard work have been their strength all the way.

The Women and Media Collective has been supporting the group in its bid to enter politics. The WMC members say they strongly believe that women’s representation in political institutions and the decision-making process is vital for the development of the community because women have a solid understanding about the needs at community level.

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