Coming after consecutive drought years, 2018 brought the worst drought in 20 years in Andhra. The state government declared 347 mandals (blocks) drought-affected in nine of 13 districts.
Further, the entire state received 32% deficient rainfall between June 2018 and April 2019, affecting the main kharif and rabi (October to March, or winter) crops.
— @bhanupriya_rao
Nagamma belongs to the Boya caste, a Backward Class group. She has been leaving her, now teenage son, back in the village to work on Guntur's chilli farms for the last six years.
Madhavi belongs to the Boya caste, a Backward Class group in Andhra Pradesh. She owns a seven acre farm which is fallow for the last three years. Drought is forcing women to consume less and leading to severe health issues such as body pains and anaemia.
Nagaveni (eleven) belongs to the Boya caste, a Backward Class group, he picks chillies on Guntur's chilli farms.
40% of workers on these farms are children affected by drought and migration.
Parliament passed 3 new Farm Bills
-The Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill
- Farming Produce, Trade, Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill
- Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill
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'Contract farming' rules with agri businesses w/o the intervention of middlemen hampers women farmers’ collective bargaining power at local mandis to ensure fair prices.
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Cutting out middlemen who also act as 'informal bankers' dries up an important source of credit for women farmers who have limited access to institutional credit. An Oxfam study in UP observed less than 4% women have institutional credit access.
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#Thread How draft rules Code of Wages Bill affect women workers
Govt of India released draft rules of the Code of wages Bill in July 2020. 1/10 #LabourReforms
Feminist economists and activists say the rules are patriarchal and exclusionary in a consultation by @OxfamIndia. Major points follow 2/10 #LabourReforms
The framing in the Code of Wages Bill is exclusionary of other genders. The definition of worker and workplace is male. This also excludes Transgender persons. The wage slip & Form VI to write the Sex/Gender of the person is missing. 3/10 #LabourReforms
GoI proposed changes to Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act under section 10 2(c) and 10 2(b) of the, to pave the way for auctioning of around 500 potential leases. A #thread on what this means for women in mining areas. 1/13
Govt's proposed reform, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Scheme, aims to enhance private investment in the sector.
They also aim to increase mineral production and employment, developing a transparent National Mineral Index and clarifying the definition of illegal mines.
The struggles of single women have increased during the lockdown with lack of basic facilities, loss of employment, and increased mental health issues. Yet, they are not recognised in covid support schemes. 1/10
Single women face violation of basic human rights and lack the support they need as society perpetuates a patriarchal norm. They are neither a homogeneous group, and have several intersections that exacerbate their struggle. 2/10
There was a 39% increase in the number of single women – widows, never married, divorced, abandoned from 5.1 crore women in 2001 to 7.1 crore in 2011, according to census data. widows constitute only 18% of the single women. 3/10
1.Withdraw privatization proposals of basic services- health , nutrition (including ICDS and MDMS)
2.Make the Centrally Sponsored Schemes - ICDS, NHM, MDMS permanenent 3. Regularization of scheme workers as workers
1. 4000 as Covid pay 2. Declaration and status as health workers and permanent staff 3. Govt empanelled hospital facilities for treatment of Asha workers
From #Asha workers protest in Haryana.
Pic courtesy: Asha workers Union, Haryana
Image decrpition: ASHA worker holding a placard that reads ' its not for fun we strike. We strike because it is necessary"