In Karnataka, a sisterhood with a dream to end atrocities against women

Karnataka Rajya Mahila Dourjanya Virodhi Okkuta is a network of 160 women’s unions and organisations across 11 districts of Karnataka fighting for autonomy, equality and dignity for women

In 2012, following the Nirbhaya case in Delhi and a slew of moral policing incidents in Mangaluru, where men from right-wing outfits attacked women in pubs and homestays, a group of women in Karnataka thought, “That’s it. Enough!”  

On International Women’s Day, 2013, individuals and organisations engaged in women's rights advocacy, literature, academia, folk arts and theatre, congregated in Mangaluru to form the Karnataka Rajya Mahila Dourjanya Virodhi Okkuta (KMDVO) — a federation against atrocities on women.  

“The Okkuta is a movement to foster sisterhood and companionship through dialogue, cutting across caste and class barriers. When we started it, our objective was to address and create awareness on violence against women — physical, emotional, mental, even financial,” says Dr. Sabiha Bhoomigowda, the former Vice Chancellor of Karnataka State Akkamahadevi Women’s University, Vijayapura, and a federation member. 

In the 10 years since its inception, the federation has grown as a grassroots movement with a network of 160 women’s unions and organisations across 11 districts of the State. Built on the abiding values of “autonomy, equality and dignity for all”, the KMDVO includes bodies representing Dalit and women’s groups, unions of Anganwadi workers, mid-day meals workers, ASHAs, pourkarmikas, self-help group workers, garment workers, sex workers, transgender people and pro-people’s movements. 

The federation’s growing influence and power to mobilise women’s rights activists and unions is best seen during its annual Women’s Day convention which witnesses a gathering of close to 4000-5000 people. So far, the Okkuta has held these two-day events in Mangaluru, Mysuru, Bengaluru, Vijayapura, Koppal, Shivamogga, Dharwad, Mandya, Kolar and Kalaburagi.  

“We tend to focus on critical, locally relevant issues that women and women’s groups face in the district where the year’s event is being held,” says Dr. Sabiha. 

True to their democratic spirit, the Okkuta is a non-hierarchical structure without any heads of organisations. It does not accept institutional funding and relies on the goodwill of the public and likeminded people to fund its initiatives.