Challenging Norms: How Girls in Odisha Are Transforming Communities

A group of seventeen teenage girls from Ankul Padar village in the Rayagada district of Odisha set out on foot to go five kilometers to a nearby hamlet on a lovely December morning. They were both worried and eager as they started their journey. For the first time, the females from the Kondh tribal tribe will be playing block-level cricket in front of an audience. Their families were also present; the girls had found it difficult to persuade them to let them participate in any kind of sport. The girls from Ankul Padar organized the match, while the opposing all-girls squad was from the hamlet that was hosting it. Even though they were defeated in the competition that day, the latter gained something considerably more valuable: the ability to challenge prejudiced social conventions that limit their freedom. Though It Happens Slowly and Even Against Their Will, Change Is Occurring ~  When the girls got together in 2022 and formed a collective in the hamlet with all 17 members (aged 10 to 19), they became determined to positively challenge existing standards. Through speaking out against prejudice in their households about food distribution, being prohibited from leaving the house alone, getting married young, and pursuing higher education, the girls have come to understand the value of a collective, which they refer to as a "Kishori Dal" (girls' collective) in their native tongue. The group proceeded to the Gram Sabha office on January 26, 2024, and applied the village sarpanch for community bathing rooms and home toilets. The houses do have toilets, but they are not utilized because they do not have water connections. They have realized that fighting these battles alone won't yield many results. However, tackling these problems as a team will undoubtedly give them more strength and force the village to consider their demands. Jhili Kadraka, 16, had her father decline a marriage proposal for her just last month. He insisted, but she declined. Kadraka decided to go up to the 'Kishori Dal'. When the other sixteen girls and Kadraka arrived at her house, they discussed with her parents the dangers of marrying her so young and the challenges she would encounter in the future. In agreement, the father put off the marriage for the time being. However, how did they come to know that an early marriage is a societal evil? The girls get together twice a month to discuss these topics; once with a social worker from 'Living Farms', ~ a nonprofit that works with indigenous and forest-dwelling communities in Odisha's Rayagada district on matters of food security and natural resources, and again with the girls themselves. These conversations included talks about the types of psychological and physical issues that young girls who marry would experience. They debated the same issues in front of the elders. During such mobilization sessions, when discussions take place through participatory learning and action, the girls' notion of a collective was seeded. It's more like girls engaging in various activities like picture cards, songs, and stories rather than a lecture. These exercises aid in the development of their leadership skills as well! About seven or eight families have delayed child weddings in 20 villages in the Bissam Cuttack block of the Rayagada district for the past two months. Every one of these villages has seen the emergence of Kishori dala. One of the most important things they are learning from these sessions is how they are recognizing various types of gender discrimination and changing the way they view unjust behaviors that are common in society or at home that they previously believed to be "normal". Many stated that ever since they watched their brothers or other boys in the area play sports like cricket and 'Kabbadi', they had always desired to participate in those activities. Takeaway ~ Women's Rights Are Human Rights ~  Yet prejudice against millions of women worldwide persists: Legislation and regulations forbid women from having equal access to land, property, and housing. Social and economic inequality leaves women with fewer and worse options in life, which makes them more susceptible to human trafficking. In the world, gender-based violence impacts at least 30% of women. The rights of women to sexual and reproductive health are denied. Women who advocate for human rights are shunned by their societies and perceived as a danger to culture, religion, or honor. It is common to underestimate women's critical role in maintaining peace and security as well as the unique threats they confront during times of war. Furthermore, in addition to gender, some groups of women experience compounded types of discrimination because of their age, ethnicity, handicap, or socioeconomic condition. First and foremost, to effectively safeguard women's human rights, one must have a thorough awareness of the social structures and power dynamics that underpin not just the political and legal systems but also the economy, social dynamics, and family and community life. To recognize women for who they are—unique individuals with their wants and desires—rather than for what they “should” accomplish, harmful gender stereotypes must be demolished. It's not an easy struggle. A lot of girls receive a stern "ladki hoke itni zor se kyun bol rahi hai" (why are you talking so loudly being a girl) from their mothers when they complain about having to eat last and not receiving equal food at home. But undoubtedly, considerable progress has been made. The brothers of the girls have begun to notice their resistance and they defend them in a few houses. If there is just one egg, it is divided into parts for the siblings in other situations. It’s difficult, but at least the elders are listening to them. There are times when they don’t succeed, but they don’t feel bad. Instead, they think if they keep pursuing this, change will certainly come.