English (subtitled), 65 min, 2004, India
With the adoption of the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India in 1993, it became mandatory to reserve seats in Panchayats (local elected governing bodies) for oppressed sections of society. One-third of all seats were reserved for women and seats were reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in proportion to their populations.
This far-reaching policy of positive discrimination has been sabotaged in many parts of the country by male family members, upper caste men and politicians, who field proxy candidates.
The films revolve around the experiences of a few elected scheduled caste and scheduled tribe women in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. Through an ethnography of four villages, we look at the way in which power is controlled and misused – in the home, community and outside world.
Part 1: Caste (25 minutes), Part 2: Family (20 minutes),
Part 3: Politics (20 minutes)
Participated in many film festivals, among which are
Vikalp – Films for Freedom;
Thessaloniki Documentary Market;
Artivist Film Festival, Hollywood;