Village life pivots around women. And – at the same time – they are often pushed to sidelines, quietened, ignored. Here we look at how and why that happens, and champion those working to change it. We would also feature LGBTQ individuals and communities who are all too often overlooked in rural India.
Gender
Lado Panchayat — How Haryana’s rural women are rewriting rules of patriarchy
Haryana’s Lado Panchayat, born out of a movement in 2012, provides a platform for women to voice their concerns, challenge patriarchal norms and fight for gender equality and empowerment.
A Punjab village where doorplates bear women’s names
In Manak Khana village of Punjab’s Bathinda district, sarpanch Seshandeep Kaur leads an initiative to install nameplates on houses with the names of the eldest woman in the family as part of a broader effort for women’s empowerment.
Bastar’s ‘pariwar chaupal’ fosters gender equity, rural women’s health
Pariwar Chaupal, a unique initiative launched in Chhattisgarh, is expanding awareness about shared responsibility within households, women’s health, nutrition and gender equity by involving men and other key stakeholders in conversations.
Mithun matters – Arunachal elders ban giving native animal in dowry
Historically used as dowry, the excessive gifting of mithuns — a semi-domesticated animal similar to the Indian bison — has strained poorer families of the Adi tribe in Arunachal Pradesh, prompting the traditional council to ban the practice.
‘A woman’s life is similar to that of the land’
A woman’s existence has been poisoned by violence, just like land has been destroyed by chemical use, says social activist Abha Bhaiya. She tells us how at Jagori Rural, an NGO located in Himachal Pradesh, they try to heal both.
She stands as an inspiration amid Punjab’s farm tragedy
After her father, father-in-law and husband died by suicide due to the burden of agricultural debt, this 45-year-old mother from Ralla village in Mansa district has dedicated her life to empower those facing similar hardships.
Lado Pustakalaya: Women’s village library nurtures dreams of aspiring scholars
In Sarsod village of Haryana’s Hisar district, a library for women offers peace and uninterrupted study time, away from distractions and challenges at home.
Three generations, one melody: Meet Saas Bahu Ki Jodi
Geeta Parag, who forms the ‘Saas Bahu ki Jodi’, a trio of bhakti (devotional) singers along with her mother-in-law and daughter in Madhya Pradesh, overcomes social dictates and inspires young women and girls to embrace their musical heritage.
From acid attacks to STEM, these NGOs are working on issues concerning women and girls across India
Health, education, livelihood, gender crime…. When it comes to the issues faced by women and girls, the list can be long. Here are some development organisations working towards making the country a better place for them.