Empower deserted women and widows in rural India

DOUGHTY WOMAN !

From being a small, roly-poly toddler and so sticking on with the pet name of 'Baby' - it was a big mental transition for Baby to experience being shunned, made fun of, exploited and not allowed to be a part of society of which she was so much a part of.

This total topsy turvy happened all because her husband expired very soon after marriage, leaving her to fend for herself, her two kids aged 3-4 years and a host of relatives who treated her with scorn.

The hurt initiated even from very small things. Traditionally, the Indian women sport a 'red/maroon' dot on forehead which shows their married status. Overnight, she was not allowed her everyday habit, and was forced to have a 'black' dot on her forehead which signified her new widowed status. Significantly, all of a sudden Baby was stopped from attending family functions, religious gatherings and other important festivals usually celebrated by married women. Not only that, she was looked at with suspicion whenever she had to go out for work. She was labelled as person of loose character when she had reasons to leave village for some work.

All this left a deep impact on Baby who had studied only till 7th standard.

Friends, this is where Chetana-Vikas steps in, with the support given by you.

On face of it is only monetary support to improve livelihood, which Baby made use of. But the meetings with women who sanctioned her loan amount and the regular interaction with other women helped her increase her self-belief and a chance to come out of the forced cocoon that the surrounding people had built for her. She joined a child care centre as a helper. However, she had to pick loans to keep on sustaining her income, due to the meager salary. With economic self-reliance, her real empowerment showed through her fight back.

She started sporting a red dot on her forehead. She organized special functions for married women in her house and invited both married and other widowed women like her. This togetherness gave tremendous boost to other vulnerable women of the village, and they felt the solidarity to solve their own problems.

She educated her children with difficulty but made sure that they are more aware and conscious citizens. Baby's daughter is one of the pioneer girls of the village who refused to marry a boy who demanded dowry.

Today, Baby is actively working for the social development work of her village. She is a strong member of the village women's organization working for questions like De-addiction, Childrens' rights, Single unmarried Mothers. She, her children and other women of the village are very vocal about development issues at the Governing Council Meetings.

Today, she has ensured that her daughter-in-law lives an aware and conscious life too. She made her daughter start a home business. They took up a loan of Rs.15,000/- ($ 227) and have started a garment business. Baby helps her, advices her. This is supplementing their income which is increasing day by day.

When YOU support US, you are actually helping a woman whose empowerment is economic, social and also political.

The project is - <http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/empower-deserted-women-and-widows-in-rural-india/,>.  

Can also know about us through FB Link. <https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chetana-Vikas/162861643736214.>

Thanks for standing by this Doughty woman who took a small step of applying a Dot on her forehead to start her own revolution.

Niranjana
Project Leader