Rohtak (Haryana): The women of Fatehpur Colony don’t venture out of their homes after sunset. As the last rays of the sun dissipate into the night sky, business begins as usual at the local liquor shops or thekas dotting the streets of this suburb in Rohtak.
“God knows what these men will do when they are drunk. We can’t even step out of our house,” says Anita, a daily wage labourer and a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Anita and several other concerned women from the locality have complained to the authorities such as the municipal commissioner on multiple occasions, but to no avail.
“When some mishap occurs they [the thekas] shut down for a day and reopen the next evening,” continues Anita. Hiking up her salwar to traverse the muddy and sewage-riddled lane outside her house, she adds under her breath: “The police get paid off, why would they shut it down?”
With the Haryana assembly elections less than a week away, and parties campaigning in full throttle, a lot has been said by politicians on empowering women. In its recently released manifesto, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has promised to launch a pink bus service, install sanitary napkin vending machines, open self-defence training schools and fast track courts for hearing cases pertaining to crimes against women.
With a slew of laudable promises, one may begin to feel hopeful for the future of women in the state. “We have done the most for women as compared to any other government that ruled Haryana in the past,” says an enthusiastic party worker outside the BJP office in Rohtak. Asked what these efforts have been, he slips into the crowd before he can begin to elaborate.
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In early September, the Ministry of Women and Child Development felicitated the Haryana government for making significant leaps in improving the sex ratio, especially in the districts of Mahendargarh and Bhiwani. This supposedly marks the success of the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign started by the state BJP government when it began its term in 2014.
“But improving the sex ratio is not everything, is it? The ruling regime does not allow for us to talk about empowerment, it compels us to re-examine whether our women are even safe,” says Jagmati Sangwan, a prolific women’s rights activist and a core member of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA).
The lane in Fatehpur Colony outside Anita’s house.
Sangwan’s question isn’t unfounded. While sex ratios are ratcheting up in Mahendargh, the same district saw the gang rape of a 14-year-old girl while she was on her way back from a coaching class in September 2018. As per the last report published by the National Crime Record Bureau, Haryana has the highest rate of gang rapes in India. At 1.5%, this rate is five times higher than the national average of 0.3%. A total of 191 such cases were reported in Haryana, which means at least one such rape occurs every two days.
“When our representatives come out with flags to support rape accused, what can we expect from our government?” says Sangwan, referring to the abduction, rape and murder of a minor girl in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district in January, 2018. After the gruesome incident, two Bharatiya Janata Party office bearers led a march in support of the rape accused, waving the national flag.
“The BJP regime has done nothing for women,” says Geeta Bhukkal, the sitting MLA from Haryana’s Jhajjar constituency and the Congress nominee for the upcoming elections as well.
Elucidating her party’s view on women’s issues, Bhukkal echoes Sangwan’s claim that the current government has compelled her to ensure women’s safety before she begins to talk about empowerment. “When girls leave school due to eve-teasing, what happens to beti padhao?” she asks.
“I have worked hard to make sure there are operative CCTV cameras in my constituency. I have also asked members of the Durga Vahini to show active interest in training these young women,” says Bhukkal, referring to the women’s wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which claims to provide social service for women through self-defence training camps, among other services.
“It is not about Congress or BJP, it is about what we can do for our women, who are not only harassed by men from their villages, but also the men in power, politicians and police officers, people who are supposed to work for the masses,” concludes Bhukkal before she excuses herself to return to her door-to-door canvassing.
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In the suburbs of Rohtak district, Sangwan and other AIDWA workers campaign for Kamlesh Lahli, an erstwhile construction worker and the CPI(M) candidate from Kalanaur constituency. “One vote can make all the difference. It is important to make an informed decision,” instructs Rajkumari, a senior member of AIDWA, speaking to an audience of women. They listen intently, periodically interrupting to support her speech, which addresses the injustices faced by working class women.
“This time we won’t be bought over by money, we will vote for those who further our cause,” chimes in Saroj, clad in a colourful salwar-kameez, before abruptly excusing herself – “I have left tea to boil on the stove!” – and rushing out of the house, cradling her son in one arm. Vidya, a young mother with two young sons straddling her from each side, wishes the next government increases the pension of her elderly husband. “It is quite uncomfortable being married to a man much older to myself,” she says squeamishly. Her husband’s age lays the burden of economic security solely on 22-year-old Vidya.
Unlike the women from Fatehpur Colony, the women gathered in Ganhori Devi’s house in Dhakla village of Badla constituency are much older and belong to land-owning families from the dominant Jat caste. Ganhori Devi beams as she points to a calendar hanging on the wall of her spacious bedroom: “Party workers came and distributed these calendars to each person in the village.” The calendar features an image of local BJP MLA O.P. Dhankhar standing alongside a brooding Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Despite the gifts borne from BJP’s door-to-door canvassing, Ganhori Devi isn’t sure who she will vote for yet. “Someone gifts a calendar, some give bangles or sweets or a dupatta. We will take all these goodies from all the parties, but we shall vote for whoever we feel like in the end,” remarks Ganhori’s elder sister Channo Devi playfully.
The sisters – Ganhori, Channo and the eldest Sandokha – all in their late 70s, eagerly await election season. They engage in the electoral exercise with enthusiasm, participating in rallies and attending speeches, relishing the rich food that is laid out for the attendees and taking home party paraphernalia.
“Now we are older, we don’t have many responsibilities, we can roam around during election season,” says Channo, in response to whether she fears for her safety while attending such events. “Why do you keep asking about women’s safety? We all know what it’s like for women here, whether it be under the current BJP government or any other party!” chimes in a neighbour curtly.
Back in Fatehpur Colony, Anita ushers me out of the house with sudden urgency, having treated me to a glass of Fanta and a long conversation on the lives of working-class women such as herself. “Do come visit me again, but not so late in the evening next time! The men have already been leering and I really don’t want any incident to occur,” worries Anita as she escorts me out of her lane and onto the main road to catch an auto.
Chahat Rana graduated from Ashoka University with a degree in journalism and is currently working as a freelancer.