For women, with commitment

Its mission to "advance the status of women" is what makes Zonta International special. In an interview, the club's vice-president Ms. Mary Ellen Bittner spells out its activities."We exist to help women,'' states Ms. Mary Ellen Bittner, vice-president of the Zonta International, simply and eloquently. The Chief Administrative Law Judge in the US Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration was the international representative at the District Conference held by Zonta recently in Chennai. The organisation unites women executives in business and in professions in 70 countries to improve the status of women through numerous projects. With its headquarters in Washington, Zonta International consists of 30 districts among which District 25 is made up of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

In a detailed interview, Ms.Bittner spoke of Zonta's efforts throughout the world in helping women gain access to a better quality of life.

Ms.Bittner's involvement and pride at being a Zontian came across strongly. ``Our headquarters is in the U.S. But we try not to be Americo-centric,'' she says. ``Our challenge is to use the valuable time of our members as well as possible. And we do succeed.'' Zonta's programmes have made a palpable difference to the lives of women in all the continents.

Eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus in Nepal. Reducing the incidence of female genital circumcision in Africa. Setting up primary schools to provide quality education to underprivileged girls in Dhaka. Helping women pursue their studies in America. Starting training programmes for female refugees in Germany. Campaigning to promote screening for breast cancer in Australia.

Initiating strategies to eradicate violence against women and children everywhere. Zonta's list of service activities is long and impressive and covers many areas which touch the lives of women whether poor and illiterate or educated and in need of guidance. Many of Zonta's projects have been organised in tandem with the UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) or the UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Education Fund).

"Zontians know they are very lucky — as women and people. We have skills and education, the ability to support ourselves. We believe we owe it to our community and the world to give back what we have received and this is the single strongest thread in our organisations,'' says Ms.Bittner.

She agrees that Zonta is not a very high profile club. "But what distinguishes us is our mission to advance the status of women." Being a classified service organisation, there are specifications that the club must have members representing various occupations and backgrounds which limits the numbers.

The Amelia Earhart scholarship is the oldest programme of Zonta. Instituted in memory of aviatrix Zontian Amelia Earhart, the scholarship is awarded to enable women pursue study in non- traditional fields such as aerospace related sciences and engineering.

"This year, we awarded 35 fellowships of $ 6,000 US each. Our international programmes generally address issues of poverty,'' says the judge.

Since women's health is a key area that needs to be addressed, Zonta allots thousands of dollars to this. Among its ongoing projects, a sum of $ 350,000 has been earmarked for preventing female genital circumcision in Burkina Faso and an equal amount to tackle maternal and neo-natal tetanus in Nepal.

"The projects are all decided on a non-partisan, non- sectarian basis,'' says Ms.Bittner. ``The programme in Burkina Faso was triggered when a doctor from Sudan spoke about the prevalence of this practice at the 1995 Conference." The suffering that the women are subjected to through this cultural practice that does not have a religious basis has made Zontians decide on continuing the project for another biennium by spreading awareness at the grassroots level through pamphlets, posters and talks and through an effective communication and action network.

Many of Zonta's local clubs are engaged in combating violence against women and children.

A programme in Australia trains women and children in conflict resolution, another in Ukraine is developing a violence- prevention lesson plan for teachers, while grants are given to local Zonta clubs to help children maintain and create violence free relationships with adults.

"We are constantly looking at places where we can make a difference through projects that are possible. `Reinventing India' initiated for the years 2000-2002 will again address the question of violence against women and children through various strategies — action-oriented networking of women's organisations, legal literacy programmes and media advocacy.''

As Chief Administrative Law Judge, Ms. Bittner adjudicates cases in the Drugs Enforcement Section. ``I hear cases involving entities that want to handle dangerous drugs — a physician, a pharmacist or a manufacturer of drugs who wants to have an agency."

As a judge, what special skills does she bring to Zonta?

"I hope objectivity, a willingness to listen and a tendency to look at long term consequences of any action or decision".

Ms. Bittner joined Zonta 20 years ago when the Washington Club Zontians asked her to talk to them. She attended her first Zonta Convention in 1984 in Sydney, which sparked off an enduring interest in the organisation's international activities. Attending international meets gives one an idea of what projects the clubs need to take up, says the vice-president who feels, ``Zonta will be needed for a long time and the need is greater now than ever before.''

"I get a lot more out of Zonta than I put in,'' says the pleasant vice-president. ``A feeling of satisfaction that I can't get by just contributing money".

When she talks of a feeling of how rewarding it is to be connected to this incredible network, she is the spokesperson of all the committed women who carry the Zonta's motto of service, of being "honest and trustworthy'' forward.

KAUSALYA SANTHANAM

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