Smt. Aruna Roy (I.A.S)
Aruna Roy is an Indian political and social activist. She served as a civil servant in the Indian Administrative Service from 1968-1975.
She is best-known for her campaigns to better the lives of the rural poor in Rajasthan
Early life
She was born in Chennai.
Career
She resigned from the Indian central government in order to devote her time to campaigns, social work and social reform. She joined the Social Work and Research Center in Tilonia, Rajasthan, which had been set up by her husband, Sanjit 'Bunker' Roy.
Aruna Roy worked at the SWRC until 1983 and her separation from Roy (Brahmos cannot be legally divorced in India), then moved to Devdoongri, a village in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan in 1987 along with Shanker Singh and Nikhil Dey. The three helped set up the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathana (Workers'-Farmers' Unity Union) in 1990, which they described as a "non-party [sic] people's organisation". The MKSS is a peasant and workers organisation.
In 1992, when Bhanwari Devi was raped , Roy led a network of 20 women’s and human rights’ groups. At a massive demonstration in Jaipur, the slogan Izzat gayi kiski? Balathkariyon ki! was coined by the saathins. This was unprecedented. The persistent fight against sexual harassment culminated in the historic Vishakha judgement by the Supreme Court in 1997.[1]
In 2000, Aruna Roy was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay award for Community Leadership. She put the award money into a trust to support the process of democratic struggles.
She served as a member of the National Advisory Council of India (an unofficial lobby group) for about two years.
Personal life
She married social activist, Bunker Roy in 1975. They were separated in 1983.
Aruna Roy is a recipient of Magsaysay award - valued as the Asian Nobel prize - for community leadership and international understanding. Aruna Roy was an IAS officer until 1974. She resigned from the IAS to join the Social Work and Research Center in Tilonia, Rajasthan, which had been set up by her husband Sanjit Roy. She worked at the SWRC until 1983, then moved to Devdoondri in 1990 and set up the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathana, a group which is a working example of a transparent organization. She is a strong supporter of the movement for Right to Information, which succeeded in getting the Rajasthan Right to Information Bill passed.
The MKSS built a grassroots movement that has triggered broad debate and a nationwide demand for the public's right to scrutinize official records - a crucial check against arbitrary governance. In 2000, she was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay award for Community Leadership and International Understanding, along with Arputham, the President of the National Slumdwellers' Federation. Aruna Roy requested that the award be given to the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathana, but was informed that it was only given to individuals. She put the award money into a trust to support the process of democratic struggles.
Shankar Singh, along with Nikhil Dey, has been with Aruna Roy since her days at SWRC. They together founded MKSS and have been an integral part of the MKSS team since. Shankar was born and brought up in Tilonia. He was the fulcrum of the SWRC communication team. Through his warm, incisive wit and humorous way of perceiving reality - he created a combination of song, dance, drama and puppetry to explain finer points of issues like education, health and politics. In fact, it was his cousin sister's house in Devdoongri where MKSS began and is still located. While Aruna is from middle class, Shankar represents the majority culture of India. He would add an important dimension to make a holistic presentation of the reality.
They began with foundation of the "Barefoot College" imparting the skills of rural self-sufficiency, and moved on to coach the people in the art of making their government work too! Through "Jansunvai"(public hearing), villagers now cross-check bills, vouchers and employment rolls to expose schoolhouses and health clinics paid for but never really constructed or famine and drought relief services recorded but never rendered! This movement soon caught nation-wide imagination, helping pass Right-to-information laws in Rajasthan and three other states. A right to information bill is now pending action at the the national parliament. Aruna's journey from an IAS officer to a social worker forms a pivotal section of "Bapu Kuti: Journeys in Rediscovery of Gandhi"- a book on current generation Indians in their struggle for social transformation.
Aruna Roy, co-founder of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS- a non-party people's process, working towards a just and equal society), called on the Women's Studies Program at Boston University to share notes on issues of women’s participation in governance and development. Aruna reflected on the International Women’s Day Celebration on 8 March ‘08 in her home state of Rajasthan, India. She participated alongside 7,000 other Indian women. She spoke of the remarkable change, “As we looked at seven thousand women with faces uncovered in front of the men of the village, we knew that a small revolution had occurred. The people of Khandach, including the men, saw value in celebrating women’s day. It was an acknowledgement of the political power of women, as much as of the new found power in electoral representation.” (From the forthcoming UNESCO Web Book, Another Side of India: Gender, Culture and Development.)
Aruna was also invited to participate in the Conference, Frontiers of Innovation Celebrating 20 years of Innovation in Government, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. The Conference was hosted by The Ash Institute, Harvard Kennedy School, from March 30 – April 2, 2008. Aruna was a speaker in Panel 1, entitled Innovations in Governance, Ethics and Accountability in the Public Sector. Aruna spoke of the role of MKSS in gaining the Right to Information (RTI) in India. The panel overall was exploring three successful initiatives at the local, regional and national level. The aim was to share strategies increasing transparency and enhancing competence of leaders in the public sector
Why did you leave the IAS to pursue social service?
Frankly speaking, I was not happy with bureaucratic functioning. In the bureaucratic hierarchy a junior officer just does not matter. His or her say is no more than half a piece of fullscape paper in the file. There are times when one knows that the decisions being taken by the higher ups are blatantly wrong, but nothing can be challenged. Only after becoming a secretary do you get some independence, but nothing much can be done against the tide. So I said goodbye to the secure job.
How many years did you serve with the IAS ?
I served as an IAS officer from 1968 to 1975. But I was horrified with the indecision and wrong decisions being taken there.
You first joined your husband Bunker Roy's experiment in Tilonia. What prompted you to depart and find your own way for bringing about socio-political change?
I had my schooling in grassroot work in Tilonia. Before that I did not even knew what a village was. For nine years I enriched myself with new experiences. I got an understanding of collaborative experiences there. But I parted ways when I felt that economic development alone could not solve problems at the grassroot level.
What is your idea of development and social change?
A perception of the extraordinary in the ordinary is critical to bring about value based change today.
Leadership has to be redefined to include the collectives of ordinary people and the ideas they generate.
From where did you get this idea?
Many collectives of the poor people struggling for change gave us the ideas and the commitment to bring about meaningful change. In fact, this has been one of the outstanding lessons of my 25 years of work in rural Rajasthan. I owe my ideas to the clarity of others; my courage to being with people who confront injustice with fearlessness and equanimity; my hope to the persistence and resilience of men and women struggling to get themselves heard; my generosity to the poor family that shared its last roti (bread) with me and my sense of well being to the many who have supported me in difficult moments of my life.
But you operate in a very small area in Rajasthan. Do you think this limited work can bring about big changes in society?
We can't all be Gandhi or Mao. We have to work in a limited area. However, we have to understand how to relate our small work with big issues. Increasing this understanding is very important.
What have been the hurdles in your work for bringing about social change?
It is very necessary to understand larger politics. Politics is a game of power. There is politics in the family, there is politics of gender and there is caste politics. Therefore, social and political change are inter-linked.
What has been your experience with political leaders and bureaucrats?
Politicians have their own agenda. They are neither with you nor against you. They are with you only If you fit in their agenda. The bureaucracy is by culture non-sharing and secretive. The politicians and the bureaucracy have created their own nexus to deny access to the common people.
What is your biggest achievement?
My biggest success is that I am still committed to my ideas of social change and have not lost heart.
Do you think the Magsaysay Award would help you in pursuing your goals?
Oh yes. This recognition would make our access to the bureaucracy for securing basic rights of the people easier. They (the bureaucrats) behave like that. They would recognise you only if you become something. Otherwise, they don't give a damn.
What are you planning to do with the award money?
Since the award is a recognition of certain ideas I would like to take this opportunity to take the struggle forward towards the realisation of the long dream of change. I shall be putting the money into a trust to be managed by a collective of people to support processes of democratic struggle.
You have been involved in the National Campaign for Right to Information. How does this right help in your struggle?
The biggest crisis we face today is dwindling participation of people in the democratic framework and a system of governance cloaked in secrecy and devoid of accountability to the people. The right to information would give big leverage to the people.
Have you succeeded?
Yes, to a great extent. The Rajasthan government has enacted the Right to Information Act. Although we are not satisfied with several provisions, at least there is a beginning. The Union government is also bringing such an Act whereas several states have also enacted laws to this effect.
Are you satisfied with your work?
I am satisfied that I never compromised with my values. I am satisfied that we are doing our work with honesty and morality and we are transparent.
To whom would you give credit for what you are doing today?
The poor village people who have been a great strength to me. I owe my teachers in the social service field for giving me the understanding of the real issues, and I owe my fearlessness to my parents who inculcated in me moral and ethical values.
What are your future plans?
Work more. Much remains to be done. Like knowledge, there is no limit for work. We have moved a little towards change. Manzil abhi bahut door hain (the goal is quite far off). I assure you we shall succeed