Gender

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.

her life

Kudumbashree: A 3-tiered programme tackling Kerala’s gender-based violence

Tackling gender-based violence, Kerala’s Kudumbashree programme works on the three principles of transformation, prevention and support - offering community-based centres and counselling for those in need.

her life

Nagaland: Young girl breaks the norm, drums her way towards her dreams

A teen teaches herself to play the drums, encourages other girls to hone their innate talents and nurtures future dreams for her village in Nagaland that is shedding patriarchy.

her life

Weaving a way out of destitution

Weaving indigenous handloom clothes offers destitute women and those who have been trafficked a safe and stable livelihood in the hills of Darjeeling.

her life

Being LGBTQ in rural India

What does being LGBTQ mean in rural India and what are the legal strangleholds that make LGBTQ life a challenge in small town India? We take a look at Village Square in celebration of Pride Day.

her life

The tale and telling of queerness in Bengal’s Bhadu songs

When queerness was criminalised in the 19th century, queer-trans people took refuge in the Bhadu folklore that saw them as goddess-incarnates and also gave them visibility.

her life

Forbidden love in rural Punjab

Their love is strong, but life is a struggle for this lesbian couple from rural Punjab. Without a law that recognises same-sex marriage, like many they struggle to rent homes and often hide their identity.

her life

Court unites lesbian couple separated by family

A young lesbian couple, forcibly separated by their families and reunited thanks to a court intervention, are filled with hope, though bracing themselves for a tough future.

her life

Help desks and counselling reduce gender-based violence

Bringing down gender-based violence (GBV) in remote Odisha villages, “GBV warriors” set up help desks, offer counselling and point victims towards Sakhi centres that offer medical and legal help.

her life

Celebrating rural women – with no bias

Every day is International Women’s Day at Village Square where we champion India’s rural women - too often unseen or ignored by the rest of the world. That is why we created our Her Life series that features stories of ordinary women doing extraordinary things. In their own words. With no bias.