Within the Collective Journey towards Women’s Land Ownership, Access to Productive Resources and Sustainable Agriculture
with Women Farmers in Gujarat, WGWLO works under 3 major Thematic Area.
Overall Journey:
The issue of women land ownership is a social issue, which has a long way to go before women do not have to fight or claim for what is her right and tool for empowerment. Below is the brief glimpse of WGWLO's journey from its conception.
2003-2005
The workshop was followed with a ground based collective study on status of Women and Land Ownership in Gujarat, by all the member organizations,
conducted in 15 Tehsils (Blocks) of 10 districts, by the member organizations. The prime objective of this study spanning through the year 2003-04 was to understand the
status, common perceptions, processes behind women land ownership and thereby strategize the kick start of land related campaigns in the villages, accordingly.
The findings were shared in the first regional Sammelan (Meeting) on Women and Land ownership, in order to sensitize people with this issue.
2006-2013
This phase was the prime sensitization phase. The network started training and building a cadre of Paralegal workers for women land rights in
different districts. Capacity building and awareness trainings were organized for the village and district officials at Panchayati Raj Kendras and included in their
training syllabus. A perspective of 'Women Farmer and Land as a means towards Livelihood security' was gradually taking shape. This phase also witnessed a lot of
information, knowledge sharing and solidarity building in collaboration with Academicians, Researchers, Organizations, Partners within the state and the neighbouring states.
2014-2016
This phase witnessed the transition from perception building to carving a physical space with the launch of Swabhoomi Kendras (Centre for Legal Literacy)
in 12 districts of Gujarat. These Kendras were held at Panchayat office in some districts and the CBO's/ NGO's office in other districts. At the same time, a milestone was
achieved with the collaboration with the State Institute of Rural Development to conduct workshops of Elected representatives and Patwaris to sensitize them on the issue of
women and land ownership in 15 Talukas in Gujarat.
2017-18
A Women's growth is not limited to her own growth only, it extends to the larger biosphere around her. WGWLO initiated the circle of growth and
transformation, based on few real examples of women on ownership of land. The extension went beyond land ownership to sustainable agriculture practices, trainings and awareness,
linkages with government benefits, linkages with the market and finally mapping her socio-economic growth, starting with the land ownership. A sustainable agriculture Paralegal
worker was trained, to work along with the Land PLW, focusing on Women farmers. Further observing Women’s right to forest land is important for the enhancing their social
and economic status and their empowerment. The ‘rights’ agenda in the Forest Rights Act is reflected in the demand for participation of forest dependent people
especially women in the political decision making process, Network started to expand their thematic area introducing Women and Forest Rights wing in 2018.
2019-20
Land ownership leads to a social-economic conflict, even breaking of families, most of the times. Adding women to this already staunch Patriarchal social
system along with the bureaucratic processes and inaccessibility's, brought a lot of complex cases with intertwined social and legal limitations. A lawyer or an advocate sensitive
towards gender empowerment and land subject expert was needed at this point to cater to complex cases. This led to start of 'Legal Clinics' at all the 15 Swabhoomi Kendras.
Awareness campaigns and conventions at different levels such as, grassroots activities, government department visits, collaborations with non-government institutes
Engaging with men, regarding Government Act, policies and benefits with women empowerment perspective.
Increasing women’s access to productive resources and drudgery reduction tools.
Create Institutional Mechanism
Legal Empowerment of Paralegal Workers
Building Swa Bhoomi Kendra – Centre for land ownership
Counseling and enhancing women’s’ access to land/livelihood/productive resources
Policy Advocacy for women’s equal rights
Network with National level networks
Advocacy for women’s identity as farmers, inheritance rights and access to productive resources.
Strengthen systems:
Structured meetings with different tiers of administrations
Training of revenue officers
Establishing linkages with state level legal services, Authority, governances system
