Despite women being the majority voters in Agatti, Lakshadweep Lok Sabha seat, their basic issues like absence of proper sanitary napkin disposal facilities and gynecologists in hospitals have not found a place in the discourse of political parties in the ongoing election campaign.
A group of women in Agatti Islan said that the parties pay little attention to our demands.
"We also do not have any mechanism to collect and dispose of used sanitary napkins on the islands. Many people either bury or burn them in their premises," said a women's self-help, disabled person from Dwipshree. Salamath, leader of the individuals' wing, expressed regret. Group.He said burning and dumping of plastic could cause serious environmental problems in ecologically sensitive islands.
These women, who constitute 50 per cent of the total voters, are making their demands amidst the male-controlled machinery of political parties bringing to the fore various other issues affecting the islands to garner votes.
The constituency is spread across 10 inhabited islands of the Lakshadweep archipelago, with 57,574 voters, according to data shared by the Chief Electoral Officer of Lakshadweep. Of these, 28,442 are women voters.
In Lakshadweep, no woman has reached a leadership position in any political party and there is also an absence of a local governance system since the panchayat administration system was dissolved a few years ago.
Women voters want their concerns to be included in the broader political discourse and solutions designed accordingly.She said, "Nobody in politics speaks about women's problems here. We have sent several petitions for replacement of the gynecologist who has left the island. When we raised the issue they discussed , but no solution has been found yet." Shahrumma is another voter from the island and a resource person from the Islands community.
The medical aid system in Lakshadweep Islands in general and for women in particular is very poor.Many pregnant women no longer have any medical support, she said.
"Even if we need to get an ultrasound scan done, we have to go to Kavaratti. Due to notorious connectivity problems, we don't get water transport tickets," said Sai Salamath, a resident of Agatti Island.
Girls in the islands also face similar problems when they want to study further. Only one island offers degree courses, and if they want to pursue any other subject, they have to depend on Kerala."Even if we are studying in Kavaratti or any other island, most of the time we are not able to get tickets to travel to these islands. Only students with disabilities get priority in ticket allotment," said a student from Agatti.
The campaign for the April 19 Lok Sabha elections in Muslim-majority Lakshadweep has reached its peak, with parties busy discussing important issues like the controversial 'Pandaram' land ownership dispute, improving inter-island connectivity and the dire need for closer ties. Are. mainland, and the introduction of so-called 'anti-people' regulations by the current administration.
Local MP and NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Mohammad Faizal of PP and Hamdullah Sai of Congress are the main rivals in the election.NCP's T P Yusuf (Ajit Pawar) is also contesting the elections.
The women of the islands gather on the beach around 11 pm after preparing food for their 'dinner', which they will eat at 4 am after prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.
After breaking the fast and later spending the afternoon in the kitchen preparing various dishes for dinner, they chat while enjoying the fresh air on the beach till dawn.
The women gathered there called a meeting of Dweepashree late at night and discussed their routine matters in their native dialect 'Jesseri'.
These meetings are attended by women of all ages, as this women self-help group acts as their only empowerment platform, enabling them to break free from the constraints of domesticity and become entrepreneurs, thereby achieving financial stability. .
A group of women in Agatti Islan said that the parties pay little attention to our demands.
"We also do not have any mechanism to collect and dispose of used sanitary napkins on the islands. Many people either bury or burn them in their premises," said a women's self-help, disabled person from Dwipshree. Salamath, leader of the individuals' wing, expressed regret. Group.He said burning and dumping of plastic could cause serious environmental problems in ecologically sensitive islands.
These women, who constitute 50 per cent of the total voters, are making their demands amidst the male-controlled machinery of political parties bringing to the fore various other issues affecting the islands to garner votes.
The constituency is spread across 10 inhabited islands of the Lakshadweep archipelago, with 57,574 voters, according to data shared by the Chief Electoral Officer of Lakshadweep. Of these, 28,442 are women voters.
In Lakshadweep, no woman has reached a leadership position in any political party and there is also an absence of a local governance system since the panchayat administration system was dissolved a few years ago.
Women voters want their concerns to be included in the broader political discourse and solutions designed accordingly.She said, "Nobody in politics speaks about women's problems here. We have sent several petitions for replacement of the gynecologist who has left the island. When we raised the issue they discussed , but no solution has been found yet." Shahrumma is another voter from the island and a resource person from the Islands community.
The medical aid system in Lakshadweep Islands in general and for women in particular is very poor.Many pregnant women no longer have any medical support, she said.
"Even if we need to get an ultrasound scan done, we have to go to Kavaratti. Due to notorious connectivity problems, we don't get water transport tickets," said Sai Salamath, a resident of Agatti Island.
Girls in the islands also face similar problems when they want to study further. Only one island offers degree courses, and if they want to pursue any other subject, they have to depend on Kerala."Even if we are studying in Kavaratti or any other island, most of the time we are not able to get tickets to travel to these islands. Only students with disabilities get priority in ticket allotment," said a student from Agatti.
The campaign for the April 19 Lok Sabha elections in Muslim-majority Lakshadweep has reached its peak, with parties busy discussing important issues like the controversial 'Pandaram' land ownership dispute, improving inter-island connectivity and the dire need for closer ties. Are. mainland, and the introduction of so-called 'anti-people' regulations by the current administration.
Local MP and NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Mohammad Faizal of PP and Hamdullah Sai of Congress are the main rivals in the election.NCP's T P Yusuf (Ajit Pawar) is also contesting the elections.
The women of the islands gather on the beach around 11 pm after preparing food for their 'dinner', which they will eat at 4 am after prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.
After breaking the fast and later spending the afternoon in the kitchen preparing various dishes for dinner, they chat while enjoying the fresh air on the beach till dawn.
The women gathered there called a meeting of Dweepashree late at night and discussed their routine matters in their native dialect 'Jesseri'.
These meetings are attended by women of all ages, as this women self-help group acts as their only empowerment platform, enabling them to break free from the constraints of domesticity and become entrepreneurs, thereby achieving financial stability. .
