When paranormal protests
over gang rapes, female infanticides and honour killings threatens to overthrow
governments in India, the Himalayan land of Lahaul - Spiti in Himachal Pradesh shows
the way for women respect and prosperity.
Although women in most of
the tribes have been treated equally, the valley has obtained distinction in
the safety and status of the women and the society as in whole.
By Alexander Dhissa
The naked & rugged
snow top mountains, people wearing warm clothes, tandoor
pipes releasing thick smoke, windows and doors shut closed, vacant roads and
rivers running out of water are all about the hard life of Lahaul-Spiti
district in Himachal Pradesh during every winter. But this hardest zone of the
earth also has the softest place its women in the country.
The
official record of the district further establishes that the female foeticide
is zero unlike any other parts of India. The immediate neighbouring states of
Haryana, Punjab and Uttarakhand have disappointing sex ratio with crimes
ranging from female infanticide, dowry killing, honour killing to sex crimes.
Not an unprecedented
result
This change is not abrupt and
must not come as a surprise to you. This land has a long history following of
treating its women no less than equal to men. “The ancient history illustrates status
of Lahauli women was better from in the society than that of the women in
general society over the centuries,” says Maheshwar Thakur, professor at
Kukumseri College, Udaipur, Lahaul.
Gathering, farming, singing,
dancing and the like has remained a part of everyday life of women. This
perhaps indicates that the women represented fertility, motherhood and were the
progenitors of the tribe.
“Although, women are treated
at par to the male members in most of the tribal societies of the Himalayas but
such fertility that Lahaul women have is not to be seen anywhere else,” says
Thakur.
Upfront on Education and Administration
Education forms the base for social developments and literacy is
on ever increase in the district. According to the Census 2011,
the literacy rate of Lahaul and Spiti is 73.10 percent, out of which female literacy rate is highly promising. In last few years, all the girls of the valley have enrolled themselves in the school.
the literacy rate of Lahaul and Spiti is 73.10 percent, out of which female literacy rate is highly promising. In last few years, all the girls of the valley have enrolled themselves in the school.
The society as in whole sees
the atrocity against women or female marginalisation against education and
property as a taboo. Hence, the dropout cases are not to be seen easily.
The local administration
post independence maintained robust infrastructure which had act as a platform
for social and economic prosperity. The district has a good college, eight senior
secondary schools, ten high schools, sixteen middle schools and more than 140
primary schools.
In the recent years, women have
got involved in the administration and politicics. In year 2012, a member of
Zila Parishad, Shashi Kiran, received a prestigious national award for pursuing
NREGA funds during the winter months for clearing the snow and actually having
them sanctioned. Every year Lahaul and Spiti is cut-off for six months due to
heavy snow owing to its latitude.
According to Shashi Kiran,
“We are proud that we have registered our efforts at national level. The participation
of women in the administrative works is expected to increase with the time,”
she says.
The political awareness among women is little higher as in the last
assembly elections women had cast votes more than men. The great protest in mid of 2012 by women against the government sanctioned
hydel project on Chenab again demonstrates their quest for liberty
and awareness.
The HIV negative zone
Tribals are
most prone to diseases and ailments as it is experienced from most parts of the
country. In a country where a million people are afflicted with sexually
transmitted diseases, it astonishes that there is no case of HIV case found in Lahaul
and Spiti. This is officially declared by the health ministry. Himachal Pradesh
as a whole has mounting number of HIV and AIDS cases.
Government hospitals and
NGOs’ health care centres coupled with public awareness has created a health
supportive environment. Although people of the valley, especially women who face
problems during their pregnancy in winters because of the restricted access but
the completion of the 9km long Rohtang tunnel in the coming years will sort out
this problem as well.
Share in Economic and Agricultural activity
Like every tribal society, women
in Lahaul and Spiti too look after most of the the field and household work.
They often work as a trader and mostly in the public spaces. And this is in
vogue since the region carried trade with Tibet in earlier times. Tibet
is closed now. These days women produced herb called kuth is traded to Kolkata
from where it is usually sent to foreign destination. The area remains
snowbound and landlocked for almost 6 months and the farming is possible during
the summers only.
The terrain is also famous
for seed potatoes, peas, hops and home to rare herbs. In the recent years the
apple production in valley is earning a big name in the domestic and overseas market.
Signs of a Healthy Society
The district is shut down
for six months due to snow as the Rohtang Pass, one of the world’s highest
motor able roads with the height of 13,000 feet that connects it to Kullu, gets
closed.
This time, people of 521
villages in the valley celebrate a series of festivals. Divorce is not common
in the community. Women can remarry easily. Yundamo or Ghyatan is what people
call to the head women of the family.
Sometimes marriages do occur
without the presence of male groom it can be solemnised by the way of
delegating authority to his sister.
There is a reverse dowry system among the tribes, in which a have
to pay a huge amount to the bride's family during marriage. This is one of the
most protective shields around the girls.
The average sex ratio is good in the
south to the Vindhyas that is the peninsular India. The women of this climate
and geography give birth to girls more than boys. Some say it is scientifically
proven. The states of Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Goa have good sex
ratio.
The performance of Lahaul and Spiti
district in the highest latitude on the planet is in complete contradiction to
the peninsular fact.
Highlight
In 1984, Indira Gandhi
announced construction of a tunnel to enable easy access throughout the year
but it’s still struggling for its completion due to delays.
During the period of
snow (December –May), state government offers a 50 hours helicopter service to
provide mobility and avoid isolation of employees and local people.
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Some Signs of Paralysis
Unlike other tribes in
India, Lahula tribe has a distinct feature in its caste stratification as our
constitution under article 5 does not recognise any class or caste
stratification among tribes.
This result in policy
paralysis as lower caste men and women are not involved in developmental
programmes. Social discrimination and untouchability remains a barrier.
JDU MP Rajya Sabha, Ali
Anwar Ansari raised this question in the Parliament.
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