SOCIAL MOBILIZATION AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

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SOCIAL MOBILIZATION AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
A STUDY IN SELECTED AREAS OF AJK (Page 5)

Written by Abid Ghafoor Chaudhry

McCarthy (1977) elaborates that mobilization is generally defined as collective action by actual or prospective movement leaders to gain control of the resources of previously un-mobilized population groups on behalf of their actual or perceived interests or values.

Mobilization attempts by a movement organization have the aim of winning participants, that is, persuading people to support the movement organization by material and non-material means. Mobilization attempts always contain two components, consensus mobilization and action mobilization.

1. Consensus Mobilization: Smelser (1971) discusses that this is a process through which a social movement tries to obtain support for its viewpoints. It involves (a) a collective goal, (b) a movement strategy, (c) confrontations with the opponent (d) results achieved. Consensus mobilization bears resemblance to the spread of generalized belief. Consensus mobilization however, is a purposeful effort of a social-movement organization.

2. Action Mobilization: it is the process by which an organization in a social movement call up people to participation.

Gamson (1975), Marden (1978) and Snow (1980) view that consensus mobilization does not necessarily go together with action mobilization, but action mobilization. Action mobilization involves motivating people to participate. Ideally social movement organizations will take a variety of approaches, appealing both to collective and to social and reward motives.

The Government of Pakistan (GoP) under the Social Action Program (SAP) and with assistance from the international donor agencies has launched a number of initiatives in social mobilization of population in general and the women in particular with special emphasis on their economic empowerment. Several programs have been initiated in the Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) through the United Nations (UN) sponsored Neelum Jhelum Valley Community Development Programme (NJVCDP). A number of community development groups (CDGs), separate for men and women, have been organized in the rural community for undertaking different economic activities. Each group consists of about 25-30 members, while some of the old groups are as large as having 80-100 memberships. The whole concept revolves around savings by the members and then initiating some economic activity either individually or as a group.