Indo-Asian News Service
Patna, July 1, 2005
Two Dalit women from Bihar have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year for their work on empowerment of the disadvantaged sections of society.
Tiliya Devi, 40, is a member of the panchayat committee of Madhuban district's Lakhnore block and America Devi, 35, is a social activist.
The two women are among the 92 Indian women and a total of 1,000 women worldwide that have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005.
Both the women belong to the poorest of poor Dalit community of Musahars that is known to eat rats for survival.
The work of these Nobel-nominated extraordinary women includes fighting against powerful landlords for Dalits' land rights, waging war against social evils like alcohol and empowerment of poor, particularly landless women.
The nomination of Tiliya and America for the prestigious prize assumes much significance because they are illiterate, landless farm labourers unlike other educated women nominated for this category.
Tiliya, a mother of six, was ousted forcibly by her husband a few years ago for taking up the cause of poor Dalits. But this did not deter her for she set up Lok Shakti - an organisation to fight for rights of the poor.
She has helped settle dozens of Dalits on a 13-acre land that she managed to free from the clutches of landlords who had encroached it illegally decades ago.
"Thanks to Tiliya's efforts, Dalits in the area now have a roof over their heads, and their children go to school," a district official said.
Similarly, America freed a seven-acre pond from the grip of powerful landlord, helping fishermen regain control of the pond and have a source of livelihood.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1417818,000900030002.htm