What Sustains the Struggles of the Vulnerable? Ms. Shyamala Padmaraj

What Sustains the What Sustains the Struggles of the Struggles of the Vulnerable? Vulnerable?

Ms. Shyamala Padmaraj

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term “Marginalized” as to relegate to an unimportant or powerless position within a society or group. This relegation of a specific group to the edge of society, excludes them from proper economic and equal access to resources there by hampering their productive and potential development both for the individual and for the economic benefit of a country as a whole.

This group of people live around us and are pushed to a level of subordination, in any given society/ group. They live in a state of want, suffering and affliction where they find no means to an upward social mobility. Facing all these circumstances, there is an element of remarkable resilience that keeps them fighting and supporting one another as they go through life’s ebb and flow.

Women are the most vulnerable section of this group and while one tries to understand this group of people who battle every day with their hard lives, it is but necessary to concentrate on this vulnerable section which actually is the back bone of the larger sections of the society. Many of these women are deprived of their basic every day needs - nutritious food, proper water, sanitation facilities etc., which are very basic to a qualitative life. In fact images of these women being exposed to violence, poor health structure, poor or no education, etc. are some of the deprivations that they face. In a social structure like ours, a woman is pushed towards being marginalized and exploited.

So what sustains these women as they go about taking care of their children and in very many cases husbands who do not contribute to the maintenance

Cenkāntal Cenkāntal

of the family? These women’s fears of being ostracized by society, is to a large extent a factor which keeps them tied to their families no matter whatever be the hardships that they may face. Also the will-power to give to their off-springs a better life encourages them to pull along in their everyday struggle.

Unless this very important section of a community is helped to develop their means of improving their condition, we will never reach the threshold of being called developed. Development of the vast section means more advances in areas of values, arts, science and technology as thereby envisioning a better nation and world.

Mary Anne Radmacher has summed the everyday motto of these women thus:

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow’”.

(Ms. Shyamala Padmaraj, completed her Masters in Christian Scriptures from the University of Madras, Chennai. Parishioner of San Thome Cathedral Basilica, presently working at Stella Maris College in the Department of Value Education as Assistant Professor. She has travelled widely both in India and Abroad. )