International Women’s Day 2019 - celebrating women’s rights in India

MAKE A DONATION

Last year on International Women’s Day, we highlighted the plight of Dalit women in India, who not only face crippling discrimination and abuse because of their gender, but also because of their caste.

The theme was ‘Press for Progress’ and since then we have been supporting our partners to do just this, ready to celebrate their achievements this year, with the theme ‘Balance for better’. 

To help create safe places for vulnerable children around the world, we empower women (and men) to realise their rights. We work with the community as a whole, rather than providing stand alone children's services. Communities have a right to build protective environments for their own children, and over the years we have seen that this ownership is the key to lasting change.

In Patna, India, you can see this in action through the 50 Women’s Groups run by our partner organisation, Navjeevan. The groups offer meetings and workshops which talk about health issues, governments schemes and free services available for poor women. We help these women to access vital medical services, like maternity care, by accompanying them to the hospital, or assisting with filling in the correct paperwork. 

As a result of these groups, countless women have started to see incredible change in their lives, many going on to support other women. Take a look at just some of the amazing stories below.

Durga

Durga lives in Patna, India. Last year, her 17 year old son, Vikas, was very poorly with TB. The family couldn’t afford a private doctor and as Vikas was so ill, he wasn’t able to go to work with his father, forcing the family deeper into poverty.

At a Women’s Group run by our partner organisation, Navjeevan, Durga was told about a government hospital that would give her son free checkups and treatment. Durga didn’t realise that free help was available to her and her son. The next day, with help from our staff, she took her son to the hospital in Danapur where he was treated for TB. Thankfully Vikas is now much better and is back at work with his father. Durga says: “I am very grateful to the Women’s Group leader and Navjeevan for their support in getting help for my son".                

Neelam

Neelam is a member of one of our Women’s Groups in Stalin Nagar, India. When she was pregnant, she spoke to the leader of the group who explained that she was entitled to a free checkup and was able to deliver her baby in the nearby hospital.

Neelam got help to fill in the correct forms and was able to arrange regular check ups, along with food rations. Neelam then helped two other pregnant women fill out the forms so that they could get the same services.

​She said: “Myself and these other women in my group are really thankful to the project and the staff for their kind help and support”.

Rita

Rita and her three children we often left hungry when her husband spent all his earnings on drinking. This led to many quarrels.

Rita asked the leader of her local Women’s Group, for help. She was told that via the Rural Employment Act she was able to obtain work, she just needed to get a job card from the village president.

​After supporting her to do just that, Rita started to work and was able to feed her children (who also now attend one of our Learning Centres). She says her husband now respects her.

Urmila

Urmila is the accountant of her local Women’s Group. Before she joined the group she was afraid to express her opinion at home and just obeyed her husband.

But training from her local Women's Group helped to her build confidence and she started to speak out not only in the group, but at home too. At first her husband blamed the project for encouraging her to come out of her shell, but now she says her family and community respect and support her.

Urmila said she was thankful to the Women’s Group for allowing her to "stand confidently and make decisions without fear".

Talak

Talaks’ husband divorced her because of a disability, forcing her to return to her parents home to live with them. They found it difficult to support her financially.
                    
One day, after hearing about her condition at the local Women’s Group, someone from Navjeevan (our partner organisation) came to visit. She told Talak about the government benefit schemes for disabled people and showed her how to access them.

Talak soon got a disability certificate from the village president and was then able to set up a bank account. After that, she applied for, started getting her financial support from the government. She said:  “I am so happy that I am not dependant on my parents or others any more and very grateful to the project”.

Baby

Baby’s husband had no guarantee of work everyday and it became difficult to send her children to school. She started working as a domestic helper to boost the family income.

After hearing about the Women’s Group in her village, she soon became a member. With training and support, she started to save and was able to take out a small loan to buy essentials for her house.

After paying back the initial loan, she took out a bigger one and started a small grocery shop in her home. With the income from the shop, she’s almost paid back her loan and has left her domestic servant work. She’s also now able to send all her children to school.​

Baby said: “Starting the shop was a turning point in my life. It gave me self confidence and changed my thinking pattern. Today I have recognition in my community as a shopkeeper and I feel proud of myself. Joining the Women’s Group gave me the opportunity to brighten up my life”.

Through your support, our partners in India are ensuring that women and children from some of the poorest and most marginalised communities in Patna, India, are able to access their rights. Our Women's Groups are empowering women to make change and improve their lives, and those of their families. Could you make a small donation to help us continue this work?

£50 can provide a year's training for a Women's Group in India - less than £5 a month.

By making a regular monthly donation to Children on the Edge, you can help ensure our work in India to support vulnerable women continues. Become a regular donor today >>

---

SUPPORT OUR WORK IN INDIA

RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER