Report launch 'From Seclusion and Exclusion to Inclusion - Indian Muslim Women & Their Initiatives'

On  Oct 10th 2013, at 5.30pm at D.N. Marshall Hall, 2nd Floor, Jawaharlal Nehru Library Bldg, Mumbai University, Kalina Campus, Vidyanagari, Santacruz (E)

Dr (Ms) Syeda Saiyidain Hameed

Mumbai Oct 7th 2013(Eddie Patel): Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Mumbai and Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA)  announce the release of their report 'From Seclusion and Exclusion to Inclusion -- Indian Muslim Women & Their Initiatives', the report relesed by  Dr Syeda Hameed, eminent scholar and Member, Planning Commission, Government of India.

Dr (Ms) Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, Member, Planning Commission, with responsibilities in Health, Women and Child, Minorities, and Voluntary Action (NGO-Government interface) sectors is the best suited to release the ORF-BMMA publication. Dr Hameed is also a member of the Andaman, Nicobar & Lakshadweep Island Development Authority. Since 2008, Dr Hameed is also the Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad.

This qualitative  study jointly undertaken by ORF and  BMMA documents the activities of thirty Muslim women's organisations across nine states and features interviews with forty-six experts. It maps the phenomenon of Indian Muslim women's mobilisation and discusses issues pertaining to their inclusion in society, and their efforts at improving their own participation and productivity.

This report by Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Mumbai, a public policy think tank, and the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), one of India’s largest Muslim women’s organisations, makes a strong case for the empowerment of Indian Muslim women. For this study, BMMA’s activists and ORF’s researchers did a survey of Muslim women’s initiatives in nine states. The team interviewed over 40 prominent activists and experts who shared their experiences and reflections on Muslim women’s problems in general and on Muslim women’s NGOs in particular. This exploratory study, will prove useful to all those who desire to see Muslim women occupy their rightful place in the common and collaborative effort for inclusive development in India.

Hindi and Urdu versions of the report are also being made available for
circulation.