Dr. Charu WaliKhanna, Member, NCW visited Raipur District Chhattisgarh on 12 April 2013. She held discussions with State Commission for Women, Chhattisgarh, and present among others were Ms. Sheela Tiwari, Member, Ms. Jagrani Ekka, Member Secretary. She presented ‘NCW Wallet book’ and a set of publications on rights of women developed by NCW to the State Commission. Discussions were held regarding atrocities towards women, especially women being branded as ‘tonhi’. The State Commission informed the Member that the state has passed an Act - ‘Tonhi Pratarna Niwaran Adhiniyam 2005’, which is effectively being implemented and after the enactment of this law the problem has been curtailed. A woman is branded as ‘tonhi’ not due to the superstition but due to some ulterior motives e.g. land grabbing. The State Commission also informed the Member, NCW that Jashpur District is one of the most beautiful areas with high literacy level, but unfortunately afflicted by trafficking of girls /women. 

On 13 April 2013 Dr. Charu WaliKhanna, Member was Guest of honor at ‘Awareness Workshop’ organized by the Chhattisgarh Hastshilp Development Board, NGO Social Action Forum for Manav Adhikar (SAFMA) with assistance from Development Commissioner Handicraft, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India at Kondagaon, a naxal affected district where 40-50 percent of the district has been badly affected. 

Shri Shekhar Dutt, Hon’ble Governor of Chhattisgarh was the Chief Guest at the programme. 

At the programme the Hon’ble Governor said that the artisan, who is linked with handicrafts, is the real artist. The Hon’ble Governor said that the institution which is providing marketing facility for the handicrafts should make the consumer or the purchaser know that who has made the art piece. Arrangement should be made to provide brief description of the artist, including his name and address etc, to the product so that other purchaser could also reach the artist, he added. 

Hon’ble Governor said that the tradition of ‘Dhokra Shilp’, which has been from the ages, should be kept alive and it is also necessary to protect this Boudhik Sampada. Besides, he said, the artist should get proper value of the product. 

Mentioning the name of internationally famous artist of Kondagaon, Jaidev Baghel, the Governor said that he, has made the name of Dhokra art world famous. He advised the artists and craftsmen to use the new technology in their work. 

While expressing her gratitude towards the Governor, Shekhar Dutt, member of National Women’s Commission the Guest of Honour Dr. Charu WaliKhanna said, in the time of globalisation and the changing economic situation, all should join for the protection of traditional handicrafts. She said that Dhokra Shilp is world famous and this artistic skill is centuries old, but the artists who have been linked with this profession were not getting proper price. 

Dr. Charu WaliKhanna spoke on Economic Empowerment of Women. She said that it was necessary to encourage women artisans, since it has been observed that the economic empowerment of women increases their participation in the decision making process. She also distributed the publications of the NCW in the programme. 

Present on the occasion were Major Anil Singh, Chairman, and Shri S C Aggarwal, MD, Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board. State Awardee Meera Thakur, presented handicrafts memento to the Governor alongwith Rajendra Baghel, Sukhchand Khaduva, Sanjay Baghel, Ajay Mandavi and other. 

At the programme venue there was an exhibition cum demonstration, where Dr. Charu WaliKhanna met women artisans who had been living in naxal affected areas and their husbands killed by the naxalites. The women had been relocated and rehabilitated by the State Govt. from Abujhmad to Narayanpur, in addition to being given training in bamboo handicrafts so that they can earn their livelihood. 

Member also inspected the working of a SHG ‘Jai Ma Santoshi Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samiti’ at Dongripara, Kondagaon, accompanied by Shri Vipin Jain, District Officer and other staff of WCD Department. The District Officer Shri Vipin Jain informed that Ready-To-Eat (RTE) food is made and supplied to 1445 Aanganwadi Centers and 337 mini Aanganwadi Centers through 45 such SHGs. 

The Member, NCW inspected the process being utilized by the SHG to see the hygiene levels. She also inspected the proposal register, attendance register and cashbook of the SHG and was impressed with their working. The SHG comprises 10 women, who work from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm. The more educated women of the group have been trained by the State Electricity Board and involved in meter reading activities. All the women said that their life had improved after formation of the SHG due to which they were earning additional income. 

The procedure adopted by the State Government is transparent and technology is utilized to ensure accountability. The SHGs give their requirement and the wheat / supply allotted to them is put on the internet alongwith details from which PDS shop it has to be supplied and the quantity supplied is also uploaded on the net. 

In Kondagaon Dr Charu WaliKhanna, Member also inspected the working of the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) and met four women beneficiaries who had their first child at the age of approx 25-27 year. They all said that in their state women married after 21 years and had children after age of 25 years. This is a positive indicator and achievement for the State of Chhattisgarh that Child Marriage have been eliminated, since child marriage is not only harmful to the girl involved but it is the root of many other societal ills: poverty, disease, maternal mortality, infant mortality, violence against women. 

Member NCW also visited Rajim, District Gariabandh and held discussion with administration and police on problems faced by women in Chhattisgarh.

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