Gender Equality India Project #18370

Support and give hope to Village Women in Bihar

by People First Educational Charitable Trust

Project Report | Mar 10, 2017
The Hard lives of Women in Bihar

By Madhu | Community Support Worker, People First

Our Health team offering assistance

Hi Everyone,

I am Madhu and I am a community worker with People First. In the last reports we have asked the women to tell in her own words what the sewing centre means to them.

For this report, I would like to explain something about the background and the need for the project.

Bihar is a pitiable place for women especially in Rural Areas. Who says so? The government in the shape of the National Planning commission, this is from recent report concerning the state of women in Bihar...

“Where more than 40% of the population live below the poverty line and more than 80% of the population live in the pitiable conditions of rural Bihar, to talk of the marginalisation of women has been considered meaningless. However, there is a catch in this situation, and this pertains to being a victim of double discrimination— 1. Being a woman 2. Being member of a backward region”

Key research findings include the following: Woman typically work 16 hours per day on both paid and unpaid labour; Most women have no leisure time; Women bear the greatest responsibility for household chores, including many tasks related to income generation; Women generally assume full responsibility children; Rural women perform a wider variety of tasks; While both men and women recognise that women’s household activities constitute important work, they fail to grasp the extent of its economic value;,

To quote again from the report,

“Women are worst affected when it comes to unemployment and poverty. Without any income of their own, they need to depend on men for anything and everything. If the men are also unemployed, the matter gets worse. Women empowerment through self-reliance and financial independence can be achieved by providing vocational training, through which women can either start up something of their own or take- up a job”

This is what the Sewing centre provides, along with support and companionship.

The consequence of underestimating women and their contributions to the economy are reflected in the life of Renu (name changed) and her children. Renu is a 30-year-old married woman who lives in a remote local village She has never been to school, and got married at the age of 14. She was completely ignorant about childbirth, child care, vaccinations, reproductive health issues, and contraceptives. She did not possess any say in decision-making, even for issues like pregnancy. Thus, at the age of 30, Renu has 7 malnourished children, not one of whom goes to school. None of her children are vaccinated, apart from the polio campaign. If this is a common scenario among the lower socioeconomic sector of Bihar, is making is making India a developed country by 2020 a realistic vision?

We work with women like Renu to provide the health education and advice and support she needs, and a skill which will give her a vital independent source of income for the first time in her life.

This project is truly life changing, thank you all so much for your support for women like Renu.

Madhu

Community worker

People First Educational Charitable Trust

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Dec 12, 2016
NOW I HAVE REAL LIFE OF MY OWN

By Madhu | Women's Community Worker People First

Sep 15, 2016
LIFE IS TOUGH IN BIHAR FOR VILLAGE WOMEN

By Mena | Community Support Worker, People First

Sewing Machine owner in village

Hi Everyone,

Greetings to you from Bihar in India.

I am Mena a community worker employed by People First

The last two progress reports have been from the women themselves so I thought it be would helpfull this time to give some background information about women in Bihar..

Rural populations severely lack access to basic amenities such as water, electricity and sanitation. Even though water is abundant in this eastern state of India, there appears to be a differential in access to water facilities across social groups. Since managing the household chores is generally a woman’s task, not having easy access to water can create problems for women. Provision of electricity makes mobility of women safer and easier to some extent. Poor sanitary conditions expose women to disease and make them vulnerable to assaults. Efforts to provide these basic amenities, especially in rural areas, can help in improving the condition of women tremendously.

Bihar reported the lowest female literacy rates in 2012 out of all the states and union territories in India. The average educational level of women in Bihar was lower than that of men, which was itself very low in comparison to other states in the country. Therefore, the literacy gap in Bihar is lower than states such as Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.

The practice of giving food grains in lieu of wages was reported from Gaya, Madhepura, Nalanda and in a small measure from Rohtas. Women mostly reported that they were getting 4 kg of rice for transplanting and 3 kg of rice for weeding.

In the absence of male members of the family, women often faced barriers in both accessing credit and getting credit on favourable terms. The local moneylender was the main source of credit for women across all the tolas in the absence of male members in the family. While richer, landed women from upper caste households were often able to borrow money from relatives, friends and neighbours, the poorer women had to resort to the moneylender. Interest rates varied from 5–10 per cent per month and women from the poorer communities, like the Chamars, Paswans, Musahars and Mallahs, paid a higher interest rate. Paswan women in Khangaon told us that the regular interest rate paid by them is 6–7 per cent per month but, sometimes, out of helplessness, when money is urgently required, they end up paying 10 per cent. Even in the Brahmin Tola in Jitwarpur women complained, ‘We often have problems getting loan; it’s not easy.’

You can see from the above what a vital role the sewing centres play in providing a vital independent source of income for women, support and friendship and strength through unity..helping to break down caste barriers.

Thank you for your support for this project ,next report will be another perspectve from one of the village women,

Mena

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET SEPTEMBER 21st is BONUS DAY ON GLOBAL GIVING

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