The Gulabi Gang (from Hindi gulabi, "pink") is a female vigilante group in India. Sampat Pal Devi started the group in 2006 in Banda District, Uttar Pradesh. The group is dedicated to empowering women of all castes and protecting them from domestic violence, sexual violence, and oppression. They also combat political corruption and the oppression of lower caste people, specifically Dalits.
In 2014, the group estimated over 270,000 members consisting of women between 18 and 60 years old. The group uses both non-violent and violent tactics and reports many successful interventions. They aim to support women in attaining financial autonomy, education, and political empowerment. Despite facing difficulties with local government bodies, many members of the Gulabi Gang have been elected into office. The group has also garnered substantial recognition and media attention.
Background
Regional context
The Gulabi Gang is officially headquartered in Badausa in Banda district, Uttar Pradesh. As of 2003, the district was ranked 154th on the Planning Commission's list of 447 districts based on an index of backwardness. Uttar Pradesh has one of the highest rates of domestic and sexual violence against women. It reports high rates of child marriage, dowry demands, mortality during childbirth, and a low female literacy rate. Additionally, over 20% of the Banda district population is lower caste people, with a high Dalit population, who face severe oppression and discrimination. Many of the members of the Gulabi Gang and the women they protect are lower caste women, meaning they are especially vulnerable in this rural setting. The region is also ridden with government corruption specifically in the unfair distribution of resources and a widespread lack of education.
Membership
The gang has reported to have grown since 2010 and has been active in regions of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. In 2014, the group estimated around 270,000 members. To become a member of the Gulabi Gang, women are expected to pay a registration fee of 100 rupees. Members wear bright pink saris and carry lathis, or wooden sticks, for protection. When a women is assisted by the gang, she is expected to join the gang and contribute to the mission of assisting other women.
While men are not permitted to be members of the gang, many male villagers play an active supporting role. One such examples is Jai Prakash Shivhari, who joined to stand in solidarity against issues like government corruption, child marriages, and dowry deaths. Often, a few male supporters will accompany the gang to gatherings and protests for the safety purposes. Because many villages predominantly only educate men, male supporters also assist with administrative tasks that require reading, writing, and math skills. The gang's initiatives have also been advantageous for many male villagers, who have increasingly requested the group's assistance in their advocacy campaigns. For instance, when Banda farmers staged a demonstration to demand compensation for failed crops, they sought the Gulabi Gang's support. This collaboration has encouraged more men to openly endorse the gang's endeavors and be more receptive to the idea of their own female relatives joining the group.
Leadership
The Gang has several regional stations and each station has a head of a section called the 'commander', who handles daily activities and smaller problems of people in that area. The commander sends regularly updates and reports any substantial problems to the leader of the Gang.
On March 2, 2014, Pal was relieved of her role as the head of the Gulabi Gang amid allegations of financial impropriety and putting her personal interests before those of the group. Pal denied these allegations and still has some involvement in the gang. The members elected Suman Singh Chauhan, formerly the assistant commander of the group to run the group.