| Stories Of Change | |
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By-Centre for Social Research |
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RANJANA KUMARI is a prominent activist and a leading force in the women movement in India. She is actively involved in research pertaining to gender and women issues and participates regularly at various international fora. Her national as well as international experience concerning women's empowerment has given her a significant place in the women's movement in India.
At, present, Ranjana Kumari is the Director of the Centre for Social Research (CSR) a Non Governmental Organisation, which is working on the issues, related to Women's Rights. Ms. Kumari is the National General Secretary of the Mahila Dakshata Samiti, an all India Women's Organisation. She is involved in the research, advocacy, lobbying, mobilizing campaign and training for the protection of women's human rights. She is the Coordinator of the Joint Action front for Women (JAFW) consisting of 97 organization. She has been a member of the Task Force on Industrial relations for The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva. She is also the coordinator of South Asian Forum for Women's Political Empowerment. The widespread incidence of physical, sexual and psychological abuse perpetuated against women both outside and inside the family often with the knowledge and tacit approval of the other family members and the community at large has been the major cause of concern. The extreme form of such neglect and abuse is manifested in female foeticide and infanticide in India. Dowry or the perceived inadequacy of it, has been the cause of the harassment of the young brides in thousands of reported cases at times leading to death. Her work published in 1989, Brides are not for Burning, generated a lot of concerned response from women on the street to the parliament. Dr. Ranjana Kumari completed her doctorate in Political Science in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She was Assistant Professor at the University of Delhi during 1976-78. Her current interest is Women and Political participation. On this issue she has published books on Women in Decision making (1992), Women in Politics: Forms and Process (1992) and recently Women Parliamentarians: A Study in Indian Context(1994). Her latest published work is Gender, Work and Power Relations (1999). Within the CSR, together with a team of well-trained social scientists and experienced women organizers, she has taken a number of research studies. She has published numerous articles and books on issues like women - headed households, adolescent girl child, problem of dowry, on religious traditions and their role in identifying the status of women and institutional credit facilities etc. Some of her books that received wide acclaim are: Female sexuality and Bodily Functions in Hindu Religious traditions, Joint Women's Programme, New Delhi (1978) Brides are not for Burning- Dowry Victims in India(1989) Growing up in Rural India : Problems and Needs of Adolescent Girls(1989) Women Headed Household in Rural India (1989) The CSR is active in developmental action programme (Parivartan) in Northern India. These activities focus on oppressed groups such as Women and Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The attempt is to uplift their social and economic situation through income generating activities, training in technological skills and supportive activities such as healthcare and awareness building. Within CSR, Dr. Ranjana Kumari combines social and political activism with academic pursuit and gender training. The Centre collaborates with governmental and non-governmental organisations and other autonomous bodies. She has been instrumental in organizing several women's collectives, called Parivartan Mahila Swavalamban Samitis in North India. Other organisation supporated by her are: Mahila Sabhagita Sansthan, ( a Muslim women's organisation in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) Acharaya Narendra Dev Seva Sansthan in Banda, Uttar Pradesh Chotanagpur Mahila Chetna Samiti, a tribal women's front Ganga valley foundation in Uttar Pradesh She is also an advisor to the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation, Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She played a key role in Setting up of the National Commission for Women in India and based on her research, brought up the issue of women headed households on the national planning agenda. She campaigned for 33 percent quota for women in local level decision making bodies. In 1995 she as Vice President of Centre for Asia Pacific Women in politics, organised regional, sub regional conference on women in Politics at Beijing Conference. She represented the Indian Women's aspiration on Launch of Global 50-50 campaign. She has participated in several national and international seminars, workshops and conferences all over the world. She represented the Indian NGOs at the World Conference On Women in Nairobi in 1985. She was an Organising committee member of Women, Law and Development Forum, which later evolved as Asia Pacific forum for Women, Law and Development. Dr. Ranjana Kumari also delivered the key- note address at the annual conference of Evert Verneer Stitchting of the Dutch Labour party in Holland. She was a member of the International Organising Committee that hosted the Third World Conference on Human rights in India. She has been a member of the South Asian Caucus for the world Summit for Social Development. Award and Honors Received national and international recognition for working towards women empowerment · Delhi Commission for Women honored for working towards protection for the right of women of Delhi and improving their Quality of life. The award received on 18th January 2001 from H.E.Shri Vijay Kapoor, Lt. Governor, NCT of Delhi. · She is a recipient of the Sally Mugabe Memorial awards ( 1996) given for the women for making important contributions to humanity through their various careers. Received the United Nations Development fund for Women (UNIFEM) Achievement Award in recognition of CSR's role in significantly improving the lives of women in India The President of India, Gyani Zail Singh gave her Honour of the Nation award in 1990 for her contribution made towards the empowerment of women. Bharat Nirman Award for talented ladies in 1997 Sahaja Nand Saraswati award for women making contribution towards changing life of poor women in India 2001 -Membership of Professional bodies Coordinator of South Asian Forum for Women's Political Empowerment Vice president of Centre for Asia Pacific Women in Politics All India Women's Studies Association |
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