Most of War Widow Labors earn less than a US$ 1 per day – NAFSO Research Report.
Mar 27, 2017
The latest research report on Women-headed households titled “Kanthawan wana apida me rate purawesiyo wemu. Garuthwayen jeewathweemata apatath idak denna” (We the women are citizens of this country. Give a chance for us to in dignity) exposes the pathetic plight of war widows in war hit north in the island of Sri Lanka.
The research was conducted by National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO), a Non-Government Organization (NGO) in Negombo and launched their report on March 14, 2017.
The research sample was 300 women-headed households such as 70 from Jaffna district, 50 from Kilinochchi district, 130 from Mannar district and 50 from Mulativu district. It has been covered different problems faced by war widows such as displacement, infrastructure facilities, economy, socialization and sexual harassment.
According to the report 81/300 women-headed households are working as labors and most of them earn less than a US$ 1 (US$= 140 Rupees) per day.
“No drinking water facilities for 129/300, no toilet facilities for 47/300 and no electricity for 47/300,” the report says.
It is also reported that 92 out of 300 women-headed households are suffering with social stigma.
Although single mothers are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and harassment at their working places they have denied to giving more information to the research group of NAFSO.
According to a survey conducted by the Jaffna- based Centre for Women and Development (CWD) over 50,000 women-headed householders are living in the sunshine paradise of Northern Province.
“All of poor mind, we deeply think that what are doing? We are thinking is doing,” said Saroja Sivachanchandran, the executive director of CWD to Lanka News Web.
Talking to Lanka News Web Sivakumar Sri Ranjani (30), mother of three in Kepavilav in the district of Mulativu said that her income is not afforded to run the family.
“I have three children at ages of 5, 8, and 10. I want to give a good education for them. But it is not easy task. I am working as a labor on daily wage, I have to take caring may mother and the son of my brother.”
The research sample was 300 women-headed households such as 70 from Jaffna district, 50 from Kilinochchi district, 130 from Mannar district and 50 from Mulativu district. It has been covered different problems faced by war widows such as displacement, infrastructure facilities, economy, socialization and sexual harassment.
According to the report 81/300 women-headed households are working as labors and most of them earn less than a US$ 1 (US$= 140 Rupees) per day.
“No drinking water facilities for 129/300, no toilet facilities for 47/300 and no electricity for 47/300,” the report says.
It is also reported that 92 out of 300 women-headed households are suffering with social stigma.
Although single mothers are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and harassment at their working places they have denied to giving more information to the research group of NAFSO.
According to a survey conducted by the Jaffna- based Centre for Women and Development (CWD) over 50,000 women-headed householders are living in the sunshine paradise of Northern Province.
“All of poor mind, we deeply think that what are doing? We are thinking is doing,” said Saroja Sivachanchandran, the executive director of CWD to Lanka News Web.
Talking to Lanka News Web Sivakumar Sri Ranjani (30), mother of three in Kepavilav in the district of Mulativu said that her income is not afforded to run the family.
“I have three children at ages of 5, 8, and 10. I want to give a good education for them. But it is not easy task. I am working as a labor on daily wage, I have to take caring may mother and the son of my brother.”
Thirty nine years old Lakshman Dharmaranjani in Jaffna said that tuition fees for three children is the biggest problem for me”
“I do odd jobs fro take caring my family,” she said to Lanka News Web.”
“I do odd jobs fro take caring my family,” she said to Lanka News Web.”
Mean while National center for the empowerment widows and women-headed families has been established in Kilinochchi district for considering the contemporary key issues in the field of women development
NAFSO is a fisher people-based movement fighting for human rights, sustainable development and peace across the Sri Lanka. Launched in 1993, NAFSO has about 12,000 members. The group partners with 17 other groups in local and national level campaigns for food sovereignty, land rights, education and women empowerment.
reported by Lawrence Ferdinando
