GOAN SNAPSHOT

Swati Kerkar

Activist of a different kind

Swati Kerkar wears many hats. A well known social and environmental activist, she has for long been a part of many civil society movements related to environment, social justice, human-rights, women and anti-corruption issues in the State.  The fire-brand social leader reveals her new plans to establish a front to bring about political awareness among women in Goa. N Laxmi gets to the core of her activism and issues close to her heart.

For more than a decade, Swati Kerkar is well known in the activist circles in Goa for her vigorous participation in all civil society movements; be it the students’ movement, movements for social justice, women issues, RTI, environment, SEZ and anti-corruption. Name it and the fire-brand activist has been there all.  Born in Keri-Ponda into a family of activists, activism had to happen to her. “On account of my freedom fighter father Sridhar Kerkar and mother Shubangi who actively supported my father in all his activities, we got inclined to social work. And grass-root politics, as my father and brother served the local panchayat. I grew in an environment that has been attached to social work,” recalls Swati. 

Starting from the ABVP students’ movement, Swati had developed a flair for political activism at a young age. “In politics, for the first time I came out openly was to support Adv. Vishwas Satardekar. We worked to get him elected as an MLA only to know that he could not fulfil the assurances given to the constituents. I realised my decision to be into active politics was wrong and soon found myself deeply involved in social work.

Soon, Swati was to become an important activist in her village during the SEZ andolan which later grew into a mass movement in the State. “We started off with Keri Kriti Nagrik Samiiti to commence the SEZ movement locally. Soon I got actively involved in it and became a petitioner in the Keri SEZ case,” she recalls.

This movement served to be a turning point in the life of Swati as an activist as she was introduced to a number of prominent social and environment activists from across the State. “Not only had I met new people here, but also was exposed to new issues that plague Goa and was urged to join mainstream activism in the State,” informs Swati. Then came the India Against Corruption movement and Swati joined the force to support Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare.

While handling environment issues, Swati was exposed to a number of social issues and women related matters. “We feel that Goa is educated and think that atrocities against women are few. But the reality is otherwise,” she laments.  “On a day to day basis I come across battered women, dowry cases, domestic violence etc.  Women, not only from my village, but from various rural set-ups come to me with their issues,” she adds.

Swati regrets that despite the existence of a full-fledged Women Commission in the State, crimes against women are on the rise, considerably. “These so called authorities are not functioning in a manner they should. They simply exist. I feel there should be a concrete solution to curb incidents,” she opines.

Presently, Swati has a host of social issues to tackle. “A matter of concern is that of the indigenous vegetable vendors. They face harassment at the hands of the authorities. We met the chief minister Manohar Parrikar on the issue and he has assured to look into the matter. We demand the formulation of a policy of hawkers and vendors. Another issue that has been afflicting Goan women is the issue of industrial workers (females). This population basically consists of school drop-outs and have no guidance. They work in factories and industries to earn a living and as they are not an organised sector, they are exploited, even physically. There have been several incidents of girls from this population committing suicide,” she informs.

Swati has been a part of all social organisations in Goa and now intends to float her own to fight for issues that are closest to her heart. “I am planning to form my own organisation as I have had my share of good, bad and worse while working under several banners. For the past five years we were literally on the road everyday on every issue and various experiences has led me to do what I intend doing,” Swati expresses.

Though she is of the strong opinion that the present government has to deliver, she feels that Goans need to have a new political option. “I am of the opinion that the Congress and BJP are two sides of the same coin and therefore a third political option should emerge,” she opines.

And that is the base of her new political activism. She strongly feels that the 33 percent reservation for women in panchayats has to come about in its true sense. “Women get elected to panchayats and municipalities because of the reservation factor but it is sad that competent women hardly make it to the local bodies. In most cases they enjoy a patriarchal patronage and rarely are political or socially aware. Political awareness among women has to come about. They have to come out on the political platform and think politically. And this will be the most important objective of my organisation,” she concludes.