By Lalita Roshni Lakra
Kolkata, Jan 21, 2024: The Conference of Religious Women India has trained 46 nuns to create awareness about the grievance redressal cell among its members in northern India.
The Jan 19-21 Training of Trainers program was attended by participants from Andamans, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, North East, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
The training at Jesuit’s Dhyan Ashram Retreat Centre in Diamond Harbour Road aimed at educating nuns about the grievance redressal cell launched in December 2022.
The participants observed that information about the cell has not reached most nuns in the country. Lack of knowledge of law, legal process and safeguards have caused unnecessary troubles, they added.
The program also dealt with Pope Francis document, “Motu Proprio,” the Child Protection Policy of the Indian bishops, and PoSH (Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013).
After the training the participants will conduct similar programs for women in their dioceses and the regions and units of Conference of Religious India (CRI).
The participants studied “It’s High Time,” a book on the findings of a study commissioned by the CRI women section a few years ago. In the book, nuns speak up on gender justice in the Indian Church. The cell was created in response to nuns’ demand for a space to redress their grievances.
The resource persons for the three-day program were Presentation Sister Elsa Muttathu, CRI national secretary, Sister Mary Scaria, a Supreme Court lawyer, Sister Rushila Rebello, and Amita Joseph, a lay woman lawyer, all part of the nine-member Grievance Redressal Cell.
“Women Empowerment” in women religious congregations is still a dream that is yet to be realized. The nuns have a LONG WAY to go!
It is so sad that this even hast to exist :’-(
The launch of the Grievance Redress Cell is a commendable initiative. The following questions need to be addressed:
(1) Is the Grievance Redress Cell region-wise or is it seamless? Can nuns from the across India access it or do they have to approach regional Redress Cells?
(2) What is the website or email address for lodging complaints?
(3) Can nuns directly lodge their grievances to the Cell or do they have to approach their respective superiors first?
(4) What relief has the Cell given to:
(a) the nun in Franco Mulakkal case?
(b) Sister Lucy Kalapura who was reportedly ousted from her convent?