Dr. Sitavva Jodatti is the founder of the Mahila Abhivruddhi Mattu Samrakshna Samsthe (MASS), an organisation founded to end the devadasi practice in the Belgaum district of Karnataka. 

The devadasi practice is one in which young girls are devoted and married to a religious deity, before they reaches puberty, to act as a caretaker. Recently, this practice has been used to push girls into prostitution.

Dr. Sitavva herself was forced into the devadasi practice at the age of seven and it’s her own experiences that lead to the formation of MASS in 1997.

MASS is an association of ex-Devadasi women that largely works  with dalit women and children, as well as ex-Devadasis from the dalit community to secure citizen rights and their access to education, livelihoods, and healthcare.

In this episode of No-Cost Extension, Deval, Dr. Jodatti and Sabera Shaikh  who has been associated with MASS for the last 26 years trace the growth of the organisation, their work with Myrada & KSWDC to end the practice and spread awareness about the system, and their many livelihood and upskilling initiatives in the community. They are also joined by Ustati Gujral, a member of Dasra’s Rebuild India Fund. 

Sitravvaji was conferred the Padma Shri in 2018 for the incredible work she’s done for the people she represents. 

This  conversation takes place in English, Kannada and Hindi. 

If you want to listen to more of No Cost Extension, go to https://www.dasra.org/podcast.php where we have show notes, links and more. 

AUDIO: 

MASS NGO GHATAPRABHA BELGAUM - by MASS NGO BELGAUM