Organizing and Building Capacities of Cotton Picking Women for Economic Justice

Summary of Taking Action

Assessment:
SCF was conducting flood assessment after heavy rain fall in UC Matiari in 2011, during village rapid assessment it was also noticed that large number of women cotton pickers were experiencing food scarcity and other
problems after flood and they also shred that due to rain cotton crop was damaged so the land lord did not give their wages because the land lord said that their corps are damaged. This was injustice and exploitation of
labor rights so SCF took this issue as a core advocacy program for their social and economic justice.

Through a detail assessment for women cotton pickers’ issues and problem was conducted in 5 villages initially than 20 villages were covered through Social mobilization and in 5 villages through focus group discussions. The input of women and male cotton pickers, the social and economical profiles of the villages were also developed. Baseline survey was carried pickers.

Planning:
The targeted group was involved project designing through social mobilization and out in 5 villages through focus group discussions. The input of women and male cotton pickers, the social and economical profiles of
the villages were also developed. Baseline survey was carried pickers were incorporated in project designing Intended results:

• 1000 cotton picking women are aware of and sensitized on economic and women rights and getting equal wedges and raising voice on inequality
• Confidence of the cotton picking women is increased and their bargaining power increased while negating the rates for cotton picking and access of women to economic justice increased
• Cotton picking women are organized into groups and vibrant on the issues of cotton picking women in targeted and other areas of district and their networking is enhanced
• 20 rural women leaders developed and voice of cotton picking women is amplified and heard for women’s economic rights and justice

Taking Action:

• Baseline and identification of the cotton picking women
• Initial report on the issues and problems of cotton picking women in district
• 100 Mobilization meetings with women and group formation
• 05 ,2 days Organize trainings on women rights and economic and labor rights, market system and trends for cotton picking women
• 01 , 02 days training on advocacy skills and social activism
• 01 , 2 days leadership training for 20 active group leaders
• 05 training workshops on negotiating skills for cotton picking women
• 05Networking meetings of cotton picking women to other CSOs working in the area of labor rights, media, growers for addressing and highlighting the issues of cotton picking women
• Publication of 1000 pictorial posters and flyers on women and economic rights
• 02 Rallies and press conferences 02District level advocacy seminars
• Monitoring, evaluation and reporting

Evaluation:
The project was evaluated through various level monitoring and progress tracking of set indictors:

• 1000 cotton picking women are educated and using their knowledge for economic rights
• 200 cotton picking women have improved negotiating skills and enable to secure increased wedges through strong bargaining power and negotiating skills
• 20 cotton picking women groups are organized and raised their voice on issues of cotton picking women and resolved 20 issues /problems
• Voice of cotton picking women is heard by district level labor department and notification of equal and maximum of Rs.250-300wedges released and monitored by the cotton picking women
• Women cotton picking groups and network has become active involved in mainstream activism on women economic and labor rights in province

For the purpose regular monitoring by project steering committee was carried out and external evaluator was hired for midterm review of project and the suggestions of the evaluation were incorporated in activities.

Sustaining the work:
20 groups of the women cotton pickers have been formed and strong networking of these 20 women groups is enhanced their confidence and social and economic protection. 20 groups increased wage from 150 Rs to 300 Rs for per 40 kg cotton picking and collectively barging power increased their wage so if a land lord offer less wage than the 300 Rs they refuse the work and baring for minimum wage of Rs 300 at least so this is concerted action for their economic sustainability. These cotton picking women have become part of Sindh Hari Porhyat Council a large members based labour rights advocacy organization. Strong and continuous networking is still needed. 20 women leaders of 20 groups have increased level of confidence and leadership skills so they address the issues of women cotton pickers wit land lord regarding their wages any other social issues.