Call to ensure women's rights in Sundarbans
Speakers at a workshop yesterday said female and male forest dwellers of the Sundarbans should have equal rights on natural resources of the forest.
They said currently these women are facing discrimination in collecting and processing the natural resources. They not only have to face tigers, but also live in fear of attacks by robbers, they added.
The workshop organised by BARCIK, a non-government organisation working on lives of forest dwellers of the Sundarbans, was held at Chhayanaut building in the city.
Presenting a paper on the challenges in establishing equal rights of female and male forest dwellers in the Sundarbans, gender specialist Rekha Saha said male forest dwellers get pass to collect resources while females don't.
In her paper she said those who lost their husbands in tiger attacks want rehabilitation from the government though the government is thinking of introducing allowances for them.
Speaking as the chief guest, Ranjit Kumar Biswas, acting secretary of social welfare ministry, said only this ministry cannot solve the different problems faced by these people as the health and forest ministry also have roles to play.
He said the social welfare ministry gives five different types of allowances, which these people can apply for.
Remi Campers, representative of Both Ends, Netherlands; Dil Monwara Monu, executive editor of Ananya; and Ranjan Karmakar of Steps Towards Development; also spoke.
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