‘Untouchable’ women face caste-based sexual & economic abuse & domestic violence.The project enables women in 100 villages develop economic independence & raise their voice against injustice.
Low caste women in Marathwada, rural India, have low education levels-illiteracy high as 76%- & little control over property & animal wealth. Forced into low-paying jobs they face sexual harassment from high-caste men as well as domestic violence. 67% of women have a child marriage and the gender ratio of 927:1000 reveals female infanticide. The project will benefit 5000 women in Self-Help Groups across 100 villages and indirectly benefit 21,000 people across the area.
A ‘Flying Squad’ speedily tackles incidents of violence; 30 women ‘animators’ influence village decision-making; leadership cadre of 230 women are contact points for village women; 200 self-help groups build economic stability and confidence.
‘Untouchable’ women help themselves out of caste-based poverty and voicelessness thru gaining economic independence and taking their place in decision-making in their village and homes, and thru tackling caste-based sexual and economic exploitation.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
