Keeps the family flag flying

LALITHA KUMARAMANGALAM is the executive director of 'Prakriti', an organisation working for the empowerment of the vulnerable sections of society, especially women and children, in the areas of health and development. She is also a member of the national executive of the BJP and sees no contradiction between both the work. Politics, she maintains, is about service to people. Working at the grassroot level to remove inequities, this daughter of Mohan Kumaramangalam, has realised the need to work with existing structures to bring about changes in an organic and systematised way. Excerpts from an interview.

How did you get into social service?

My educational background is social science though I didn't have much to do with social work. I started out as a management trainee with Ashok Leyland from 1980-82. But women were not given any responsible job then. So I gave up the job and tried to find my niche in social work by working for various organisations active in this field. Gradually, myself and some of my friends felt that we should work specifically for the cause of women. Thus was born 'Prakriti'.

It may not be an inspiring story, but, that is how I started. And I realised that I have a natural flair to reach out to people. It is very satisfying to spread happiness by making a difference to the lives of the needy and suffering. Today, after ten years of work in the field, people acknowledge my efforts. I have never tried to use the political influence despite my family's political connections.

What is the kind of work Prakriti is doing?

Our area of work is basically health and development. When the organisation was set up in 1991, we limited ourselves to health issues. We did not see health as part of development because our perspective then was limited due to lack of experience. Later, we corrected our approach. We now concentrate on reproductive health, on HIV/AIDS prevention and on women's economic empowerment in terms of micro-credit and micro-thrift and training. Empowerment means not just social and economic development, but also political. We are trying to push the concept of integrated development for women. During the course of our work we also realised that we cannot work with women in isolation from men. The reason being that, many of the women's problems are due to the social customs and the injustices or the imbalances. This helps us to understand both sides of the spectrum. We sometimes start with young boys and teach them the need for gender equality. Much of the work in our country has been targetted only towards economic development and less towards socio-economic development.

Is most of the work done in rural areas?

We started with rural areas, but are now focussing on semi-urban slums. Ten years ago, when we started work in Villupuram, it was totally different from what it is today. Most of the rural areas are fast becoming semi-urban and facing a clash between urban lifestyle and rural values.

Do you have to contend with the traditional power structures in rural areas? How do they respond to the change which you bring?

It depends on how you bring about the changes. For example, if you go into a village and antagonise the Panchayat leader or the Tahsildar, obviously they are not going to work with you. If you could go in and convince them that you need their support, then it helps. Men who control the power structures seem to feel that when you are working with women, you are threatening them. We need to make them understand that it is only a question of sharing responsibilities.

How different is it in urban areas?

Women here are more outspoken, belligerent and have the fighting spirit. But there are other problems, some common with the rural women and others specific to them.

Since gender structures are entrenched in middle class homes also, don't you think they too need help?

In the middle class, morality is much stronger. These people need to rise above everyday concerns to new thoughts and lifestyles. You go to a meeting and find men sitting on one side and women on the other. I think gender inequality is not only physical, but also mental. We all need to understand that a woman has to have a say in everything happening at home and outside.

Do you see politics as an extension of what you have been doing for the last 10 years?

I think, yes. It does give me a better scope. The media took notice of my work only after I entered politics. It gives me a voice that is heard, helps to reach more people and the power to seek the support of those who matter.

But why did you join the BJP? Your family has a history of serving the Congress?

My family has always worked with people who they feel are important to further the cause of or improving the lives of ordinary Indians... I feel that the Congress has lost touch with the grassroot.

But the BJP is seen as a divisive party. How do you strike a balance between your two work?

Like society is made of different types of people, so is a political party. Caste and religion have no place in my work. That is the way I have been brought up and BJP has place for people like me. Afterall are we all not entitled to live and think the way we want to? And in the world's largest democracy nothing can stop you from doing so.

SUBASH JEYAN

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