ASHANA TRUST & BHARATIYA MUSLIM MAHILA ANDHOLAN
ANNUAL REPORT 2018
SEHER & UDAAN GROUP:
Ø 50 sessions with over 206 children. Sessions on Identity, Gender Sensitization game Lion & Goat played and role of power and gender explained in the training.
Ø Session on Child Rights with children and parents.
Ø 2 Exposure visit conducted for children: One visit to St. Xavier’s College at Church Gate with 22 children where film screening on “I am Kalam” followed by discussion and a visit to garden with 40 children.
Ø Along with 2 Students of TISS, conducted Gender Sensitization sessions for children of Shantilal Compound.
Ø Training sessions on Sexual Abuse were conducted. Each session was planned for one day. 163 children aged between 6-7 years were reached in the process. A movie was shown to them and discussion about good touch and bad touch was carried out. The program proved to be successful in initiating conversation among children regarding a sensitive and important issue.
Ø Visit to BKC Police Station with 14 girl children and Nirmal Nagar Police Station with 20 girl children for civil awareness and ways to avail services from Police.
Ø Visit to BMC Ward Office twice with girls and shared information of the functions of the i.e. safe and clean water, electricity bill, birth certificate, clean toilets etc.
Ø Session held to create awareness on the Muslim Personal/Family Law draft with children. Discussion held on the age of marriage, consent,amount of meher etc. 71 young children from the age group of 8-18.
Ø Activity and games played conducted for 22 children of Bharatnagar. Sessions held with the children on group/team building at Bharatnagar.
Ø Training session held at Bharatnagar with girls, aged from 12-17 years. 10 girls were present for the discussion on body and gender, sexual and reproductive health information.
Ø Meeting with the Udaan group (young boys) held at Bharatnagar on gender equality with 10 children.
Ø 3 summer session for the children held in the month of May one at Bharatnagar, Bandra West and Shatilal compound. The camp was attended by 30, 23 and 45 children respectively. Ball juggling techniques were taught to the children and were asked to practice followed by team building games played with the children.
ØSession on Child Abuse held at Shantilal Compound for 24 children (11 girls and 13 boys) of Domestic workers. Created awareness of the children on good touch and bad touch and also encouraged the children to dialogue with the parents when ever in trouble.
ØSession held on leadership held with 23 children (15 boys and 8 girls) at Bharat nagar. To short stories read on courage and sang songs.
Ø2 Session on child rights held at Kherwadi followed by games. Session was attended by 15 & 22 children
ØCricket Match organized at Bharatnagar. 3 teams of 11 children in per group, total 33 boys were part of the tournament. Trophy and gifts were given to the winners and best players.
ØTraining on child sexual abuse was organised at Shantilal compound in Golibar. There were 24 children who attended the training i.e. 11 girls and 13 boys. A film on child sexual abuse was shown to the students. Children were encouraged to speak up and report sexual abuse as the abuser is the culprit who is at fault and the child are only victims. They were told that they should approach people who they trusted. They should not hold themselves responsible for such incident.
ØRoshan BMMA is a three day Certificate Course on the topic of Innovative Leadership. Topics covered in this training were the qualities of Courage, Kindness and Innovation. The training was simultaneously held in Kherwadi, Bharatnagar and Shantilal compound. Total 110 children were awarded certificates.
ØSession held with 14 children on Good Touch & Bad Touch in Bharatnagar for the children between the age of 8-12 years.
TRAINING WITH WOMEN:
Ø Visit of the St Xavier College student through Bheramnagar (Bandra east) followed by a joint leadership sensitisation activity by Xavier college representatives for the BMMA area leaders and the students studying in Std XI. Total 31 people were present for the session.
Ø BMMA Area leaders meeting held at Kherwadi Bandra East in Jan’18. It was attended by 20 members. Discussion held with the team about the Triple Talaq Bill passed by the Lok Sabha. Suggestion was taken from the leaders on whether the triple talaq offense should be bail able or not. Based on the meeting State level amendments were passed in the Lok Sabha.
Ø Two sessions on Basic Gender were held with 15 girls & 16 girls aged above 18 at Kurla, Jarimari. First day activity, made them play a game and learning of the game was strength in equality. Discussed various instances of discrimination since birth between these girls and their brothers. Society as judgemental, views women’s work as having no value, always have so many restrictions. Played another activity where asked to first recite name of mother and then the name of father. Most of them easily spoke fathers name but took a little more time taking mother’s names. Discussed how this was because in all official documents, fathers name important and mothers names don’t matter. Both are important and family and mother should be valued as much as the father was the learning from this activity. Second day activity. Tiger and Goat game. Analyzed in the light of men being attributed qualities if the tiger, aggressive and roaming outside, while women are the goats, quite and domestic.
ØRoshan BMMA is a three month Certificate Course consisting of two session per month on the topic of Innovative Leadership by Noorjehan Safia Niaz. The first batch of the workshop was on the topic of courage held on 21st-22ndFeb’2018 and was attended by 27 & 24 BMMA women leaders.The Second batch of the workshop was held on 23rd-24thMarch 2018. 23 & 24 BMMA women leaders were present respectively for the two days on the topic of kindness. BMMA is The Third batch of the workshop was held on 19th-20thApril 2018 on the topic of Innovation attended by 23 & 22 BMMA women leaders respectively.
ØA discussion held with 18 BMMA leaders on the topic of Polygamy and Halala
ØThree day training held on Mental health organised by BMMA for its members and area leaders. The sessions included to understand self better, work on self mental health and the skills of counselling. The session as attended by 20 leaders.
AURTO KI SHARIYA ADALAT:
Ø In the Legal aid centre total 210 people approached of which 150 person have their cases with the centre. Of the 150 cases registered, 4 cases were registered for safety, 63 cases were resolved of which 40 cases reconciliation were achieved, 10 cases ended on mutual divorce and another 10 cases women choose to take Khula, 2 cases were transferred to the MSCW centre and one went to the court.
Ø Coordinate with various to Police Sations i.e. Chembur, BKC, Kurla, Sewri and Chunna Batthi etc to and seek support to help resolve cases registered to Sharia Adalat.
Ø Coordinate with Mahila Aayog and refer cases to the Mahila Aayog. Referred 3 cases to the Mahila Aayog.in 2018.
HEALTH:
Ø A health Conference held at Marathi Patrakar Sangh on the issues of Bhabha hospital. The press conference was attended by 30 people. Farheen Sayyed, Bharti Shetty, Tahir Ssayyed and Sameer Shaikh were on the panel and spoke on the issues that need to be improved in Bhabha Hospital. Farheen Sayyed spoke to the Press reporter Wasim Shaikh on the problems of Bhabha hospital.
Ø Monthly visits to Bhabha Hospital to ensure the sanitation, medical facilities, security and hospitality of patients by doctors and other workers.
Ø 5 visits made to V.N.Deasi Hospital for the facilities available for the patients like sanitation, treatment, etc.
Ø Medical camps was organised twice in Bharat nagar.
Ø Polio Awareness session conducted in Bharat Nagar for 12 children.
Ø 8 visits conducted by BMMA members to the Public Health Post Hospital Centres in Kherwadi, Seven Number and Golibar to enquire about the services provided to the community.
Ø Clicked photos of the Public toilets. Visited the local co-operator office and gave a written complaint and showed photos and spoke about the repairs and maintenance of the toilets and drainage system. In the meeting we were informed that the construction work is causing blockage in the drainage. The construction work to be completed and soon after that they will start the repair work of the toilet.
Ø Monthly visits of the ration shops of Bandra East (Navpada, Behrampada, Bharatnagar), Khar (Shantilal), Kalina, to check whether products like Rice, Wheat, Dhal, etc. and available for people in the government determined price. Awareness meetings / sessions with people in the respective localities to ensure they receive the benefits of Ration Products.
Ø The Bandra East station roads were in a bad condition with lots of huge pot holes, garbage dumped on the road side, and puddles of water everywhere making it impossible for the commuters to walk. 12-15 BMMA members along with the slogan “Where is the co-operator?” marched from the office to station road and stood there for about an hour an half. Few other localities joined us and short videos of the members were made and posted on the Media. To our luck there was a reporter who was present at the scene. Due to this protest work started and within a day the work was completed. People should come out on the street and put pressure on their respective co-operators and demand for their rights. Within a day the work started and the pot holes were filled.
Ø Ashana Trust/BMMA has registered for life membership with Ration Kurti Samiti. 2 members of Ashana Trust/BMMA i.e. Bharti Shetty and Farheen Sayeed attend the monthly meetings held on the 2ndTuesday of every month. In the meeting the details and Information with regard to the functioning of the ration shops is shared. New changes in the PDS are shared, trainings conducted, problems faced at the local level by the members are discussed. Monthly visit are to the local ration shops are conducted by BMMA member due to which all the items as per the GR is distributed if not the shopkeepers are questioned, many families facing problem that they were not given ration been resolved. Reached out approx 1000 women through monthly awareness meetings conducted in the communities of Bharatnagar, Gyaneshwarnagar, Navpada, Golibar, Teenbangla, Kalina- Shastrinagar. In 2019 continuous advocacy and correspondence to ensure ration shop functioning
Ø Conducted a study of 250 Muslim women to understand their health issues in collaboration with Maharashtra State Women’s Commission. It is said that few women organisation instead of standing in solidarity and demanding a better life for all women provided a feedback stating that the Hindu women too have similar issues so what? In 2019 we are planning to will use this study to build pressurise on the state improve certain parameters to help improve community health services.
Ø Press conferences attended on ‘Nasha Mukti’.
EDUCATION:
Ø Visits to 6 schools consisting of Maulam Azad School of Golibar, Lal School of Kherwadi, Kher Nagar School, Awami Siddique School, Puroshotaman School, and Father Angel School in Banstand to give complaint letters against teachers’ using coercion on children and the shops nearby adding drugs to snacks to addict children to buy regularly.
Ø School asked parents to open Bank accounts in the name of the children. Two such parents approached BMMA members for support to fill up forms and help them start a bank account in the bank. Helped the two students open a bank account at Central Bank of India. Their phone numbers were linked to their Aadhaar card.
Ø 3 meetings held with member of Bachpan Bachao Andolan on how BMMA team and BBA could work together and help the kids who have dropped out from school and are now engaged in manual labour. A street play was organised in the community of Shantilal compound followed by signature campaign to protest against Child labour.
Ø A BMMA member intervened in the case of a child who was not being admitted to a school in Bharatnagar. She visited the Bal Vibhaag Kendra in Charni road which houses an RTE office.
EMPLOYMENT:
Ø Life skill training organised for making of Paper bags. Training was taken by Kokila Madam with 15 women. 5 types of paper bags were thought to the women. 8 sessions held in the communities of Kalina, Lohiyanagar, Bharatnagar, Shatilal compound, teen bungla with 115 women on paper bag making An order received for 4 pages bag for 100 bags @ Rs.2.50 per bag. The order was completed in three days. Few community women supported for making of 100 bags and ensure delivery of the order.
Ø Meeting held with 8 women on the various free courses available i.e. Learn hotel with Taj, Hello Didi teaches to ride a bike or drive a car and help get your own car on loan or get a delivery job, ICICI Vocational Training centre have advance course on beautician, nursing, house-keeping, office assistants, technical courses etc.
Ø Six girls were awarded certificate for the successful completion of the Mhendi course held at Golibar Karwaan centre.
Ø Training in Lohiyanagar for 15-20 women on cooking gas safety measures and precautions sand how to generate income by sale of gas safety product.
Ø 2 women provided job with a starting pay of Rs.3000/- p.m. in March for thread cutting and button stitching.
Ø Ashana Trust has organised awareness session/meetings with Vocational Training Centre i.e. ICICI Vocational Training, Kotak Vocational centre, Taj etc to encourage the young boys and girls above the age of 18 years who have either dropped out of school or not gone to college to attain skills for various professional courses for free and these centre provide their students with jobs paying a salary from 10000-18000 p.m.(based on the course) to register. 3 young men and 8 young girls have completed their courses and have got jobs.
Ø Apna Mahila Bachat Gath is a self help group formed in 2017 to help generate income from the sale of pure, good quality products. These members put up stall in 20 Exhibtion in 2018 at TISS College, Sophia College, SNDT College, BSNL, Alibai Pheer Moahmeed College, BMC exhibitions, Intelenet Global services branches Malad, Thane and Goregoan E, etc. and were able to generate a little income.
Ø Two meeting organized in collaboration on Finance/Money literacy in collaboration with Dhan Gyan. Through these training women received knowledge on the type of banking system, difference between the Debit Card v/s Credit Card, need to save money and various other options available for saving money. It was helpful to the women. Few women inquired with their respective banks and have started investing small sums.
SECURITY
Ø BMMA members attended once every month i.e. 12 visit with Mahulla Committee Movement Trust meetings on awareness and training on working with the Police Department and Civil Services for women. Leaders share their experiences and seek guidance and support.
Ø Public Meeting held at Navpada to create awareness on the constitutional rights of equality, freedom, justice, secularism and fraternity among people and hence maintain peace and harmony and beware of hate speeches by the political leaders. The meeting was attended by 97 people.
Ø BMMA members attended the 25 years successful completion program organised by Mohulla Committee Movement Trust.
Ø Organised in solidarity with other civil society groups to safeguard the constitution and protest against increasing attack on the social fabric of the society. In Dec’2018 along with Yuva foundation organised a peace meeting to create awareness on the constitution and request to maintain peace in the area and condemned the politics of dividing the people on the basis of religion.We will continue to express such solidarity whenever the need be.
Ø Ashana Trust work has been appreciated by Mohulla Committee Movement Trust and thus in 2018 has appointed Zubeda Khatoon Shaikh as a facilitator. BMMA/Ashana Trust team members have regularly attends the meetings held on 1stSaturday of the month. Law training of various issues to maintain peace and harmony, women and children (i.e. POSCO, domestic violence, rape etc.) held in these meetings followed by discussions of the problems faced by the community due to the police. Community meetings were organised in the community to create awareness and ensure peace is maintained in the various Muslim communities.
Ø BMMA member attended a two day training of Centre Human Rights & Law on networking with the women rights NGO’s and the Police followed by a meeting on how women organization can network together to ensure women receive justice.
Ø BMMA members, its Area leaders along with Bandra Peace Committeeattended the Dharna outside Bandra Station-West to condemn the killing in Syria in collaboration with NGO, other Muslim organisation.
Ø BMMA/Ashana Trust has been part of the Daskshata Committee of Bhabha hospital for one year and along with the support of the Human Rights Committee members have managed to build pressure and bring about an improvement in the cleanliness of the wards, better behaviour of the hospital staff, better care and facilities to the patients of Bhabha Hospital.In 2017 an application was given to Bhabha hospital on the issue relating to making remove Burkha in the open has been resolved. CCTV has been installed and a cabin has been installed for the checking of women.
Ø BMMA/Ashana Trust have supported and joined in solidarity with other organisations to protest, against rape through Dharna’s and Candle march from Marine lines to Churchgate, Gateway of India.
ENTITLEMENTS :
Ø Supported in the voter ID camp held. Called 75 people and informed about the camp and 25 people forms were filled by a BMMA member.
Ø Helped 3 people open their bank account.
MPL DRAFT ADVOCACY
Ø Letter to Maharashtra State Women’s Commission asking for amendments in the Lok Sabha bill against triple talaak. Attended at MHADA a function held of Mahila Ayog for their 25thanniversary program.
Ø Press Conference to release the amendments required in the Triple Talaq Bill passed by the Lok Sabha in the Media. The press conference was attended by 30 people including press.
Ø A research conducted A Study Capturing Views of Muslim Women on Muslim Family Law in Maharashtra. 505 Muslim women were surveyed from various districts of Maharashtra.
Ø One day fasting Dharna held at Azad Maidan to demand that the Bill against the offence of Triple Talaq be passed in the Rajya Sabha. The Dharna was attended by 40 people.
Ø A conference held to Ban Polygamy and Halala conducted in collaboration with Maharashtra State Women’s Commission held at Sarvodaya Centre, St Pious Seminary, Goregaon to emphasize the Government to neutralise the practice of polygamy in Muslims and to make it illegal. A national study by BMMA conducted on polygamy was released in this meeting. The meeting was attended by 120 women
Codification
1. Outreach
· Article in Indian Express by Anubha
· Article by Masooma Ahuja on Qazi Training
· Article on BMMA and Codification in State Women’s Commission magazine
· Workshop with Special Cell workers at TISS
· Screening of 3-Seconds Divorce at MIFF
· Muslim women and Media – panelists on the programme organized by Vinta Nanda
· Panel discussion organized by the Navbharat Times
· Discussion on Muslim women’s issues organized by Teva Pharma company
· Speech done and Felicitation by the Jondhale Law College, Dombivili
· Speech done Felicitation by SNDT D.Ed College, Wadala
· Presentation on BMMA at a national seminar organized by Mumbai University on ‘Disparity, Discrimination, Deprivation and Idea of Social Justice’
· Understanding of the functioning of the ASA by the visitors from the US Consulate
· Felicitation by Muslim Satyashodhak Mandal, Pune
· Wrote article for Olakh magazine on UCC
· Interview to Gopika on feminism, secularism and law reform
· Interview to MA intern from London
· Session in Goa on codification organized by HRLN
· Meeting with Mumbai Mirror for interview on Darul Uloom Niswan
· Presentation at the Refresher course UGC HRD Centre, Mumbai University, Refresher Course in Social Sciences [Interdisciplinary] topic ‘Contemporary Issues in Social Sciences’
· Muslim Women’s Constitutional Rights – A Reality Now.
· Interview given to Bhavin of Humlab for Muslim women and legal issues
· Interview to Akashwani on Muslim women’s achievements and challenges, went on air on Moharram
· Interview to Stanford News.
· Received Business Today, Most Powerful Women Award
· Session with Special Cell for Women workers, Session from 9 – 1 pm
· Interview with Manisha Desai
· Lecture in TISS about BMMA and Codification
· Hindi ppt on Islamic Feminism
· Notes in hindi and English on tawheed, Islamic feminism
2. Campaign
· Press conference in Delhi and Mumbai to give out amendments to the Bill passed by Lok Sabha. Sent the letter to Modi and Rahul Gandhi
· Discussion of the amendments to the Bill with NC through Whats app.
· Discussion of the amendments to the Bill with Area Leaders
· Involved with the Rajya Sabha Debate where the Bill was not cleared
· Public Hearing and release of Study on polygamy done and released in a seminar supported by State Women’s Commission
· Women’s Day programme in collaboration with the State Women’s Commission highlighting the demands for amendments to the triple talaak Bill and cultural programme
· Press conference against the AIMPLB’s march against reforms
· 19 SEPTEMBER ORDINANCE AGAINST TT PASSED – HISTORIC
· 10 JANUARY ORDINANACE AGAINST TT PASSED
· Submission to Susieben Shah, Congress Manifesto about reforms in the Muslim family law.
· Guided the WB team for Maya’s nikaah
· For the first time, HUNGER STRIKE at Azaad Maidan to demand law against triple talaak
· Wrote articles on the same issue.
· Continuously uploading on social media about the need for a law against triple talaak
National Council meeting and Ubharte Rehnuma Programme in Delhi
NC in Kolkata
PLANNING & REVIEW MEETINGS:
Ø Two day meeting Annual review program held in Kherwadi office for BMMA leaders to review the work done in the year 2017 held in Feb’2018. The meeting was attended by 25 & 15 members respectively.
Ø BMMA planning meeting held at Charni road was attended by 21 members. Discussion was held on BMMA amendment demands on the Triple Talaq Bills i.e. First demand that the crime of triple talaq should be cognizable crime and an FIR can be registered in the police only by the wife. Second the offenses should be bail able offence, third the punishment for triple talaq should be for one year imprisonment not three years, fourth the method and procedure for talaq should be defined in the bill and fifth there should be a ban on moota marriage and halala etc. Members were informed about the next batch of Qazi training to be organised and Roshan BMMA Leadership training planned for the 21-22 Feb’18 interested members to register their names.
Ø Two day meeting for the Annual planning meeting held with the BMMA leader team at Choota Kashmir. In these two day keeping in mind the vision activities and training were planned for the year 2018. The meeting was attended by 12& 11 BMMA members respectively.
MENTAL HEALTH COUNCELLING CENTRE:
Ø Counselling centre (Mental Health) started in March 2018 for Men, Women and children. It was observed that they have shown huge signs of improvement was seen not only in their mental health but also in their physical health too. 31 women and men took services from Ashana Trust.
ALLIANCES:
Ø BMMA representatives attended 6 meetings conducted by CHRI on Child Labour, Section 498, POSCO Act, Child line 1098 and Documentation of Police Cases.
Ø Attended a meeting held at Prabhadevi to plan advocacy for the children killing at Syria. The meeting was attended by 25 members from various social groups. It was decided to share videos on Face book and twitters in our various groups and planned a protest.
Ø BMMA members and Area leaders attended the Dharna outside Bandra Station West to condemn the killing in Syria in collaboration with NGO, other Muslim organisation.
Ø 7 BMMA members joined in the peaceful protest on 13thApril’18 at Azad Maidan to condemn the act of rape and demand justice for Asifa.
Ø 45 BMMA members attended the candle rally held to demand justice for Asifa.
Ø BMMA member attended a one day training of Centre Human Rights & Law on networking with the women rights NGO’s and the Police followed by a meeting on how women organization can network together to ensure women receive justice held at Holy Family Hospital Hall on the 6thFloor.
Ø 30 Members attended the meeting of Centre Human Rights & Law on networking with the women rights NGO’s held at BMMA Kherwadi office.
Ø 15 BMMA members attended metal health program organised by MSCW on mental health day. Awareness was created that all humans at a certain point need to seek help when we are stressed out. If a person is going through sleepless nights, loss of hunger, unreasonable anger, mood swings or other mental stress should not feel any shame and guilt to seek professional help. We need to understand our minds and behaviour better. Avoid blaming other and take responsibility of one’s action.
Ø 2 BMMA members attended a session on Young Urban Women Rights to Safe and Gender Responsive Cities organised by Actionaid in collaboration with Maharashtra State Women’s Commission on 29th and 30th November at YMCA, Mumbai Central, Mumbai.
REWARDS & RECOGNITION:
Ø National Women’s Parliament presents Khatoon Shaikh award for empowering women for participatory democracy on 29 March 2018.
Ø Mumbai B.Ed. College for Women in Collaboration with MSCW awarded paradigm shift in Women Empowerment to Dr. Noorjehan Safia Niaz on 10 March 2018.