women
empowerment
We promote, protect and fulfil the human rights of marginalized indigenous women. Gender equality and the elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls is paramount.
SEEDS envisions women gaining access to and control over resources hence we encourage alternate roles and responsibilities that do not inhibit them.
Supported by SEEDs, the nine Women’s Forum serve as a platform for village women to gain easy access to information and knowledge (including government schemes and notifications, access to entitlements), registration/redressal of cases related to violence against women, counselling and for attaining justice.
In the past one year 1254 cases were registered in 118 villages. Out of these, 86% cases were of domestic violence; 6% bigamy; 7% extra-marital relation; 2% child marriage and 2% others. As of now, 62% of these cases have been already resolved.
The maximum number of cases [54%] have been resolved at the village level with the intervention of the Village Headman and the Women Cluster Leaders (WCL) of respective villages. A quarter of the cases [24%] were resolved by the women Barefoot Counsellors, locally known as DishaDi, and the Forum members. The complex cases are handled by the Cluster Women Leaders with participation of the Village Headman and the village community which includes the family members of the oppressed woman and the oppressor. Such cases constituted 21% of the total registered cases. About 1% cases [14 nos.] reached the police station and got resolved with police intervention. There is a periodic follow-up of the cases that have been resolved in order to ensure that it does not recur.
118
villages reporting cases
1250
cases recorded
780
cases resolved
Women Cluster Leaders at the police station demanding quick action
Comprising of over 4000 poor rural women, the forums actively advocate the issues of the poor to the fore and pressurise the local government/power mongers to act on them. It plays the role of watchdogs in ensuring proper implementation of government schemes.
A study on the benefits of reduced alcohol abuse by men across villages
Utilization of savings
Out of the 950 families in the eight proposed model villages, there are remaining 17% families (compared to 89% in September 2023) where violence occurs. A major reason for perpetual domestic violence was overdose of alcohol by men. Continued use of IEC materials for awareness generation, knowledge enhancement, penal action for violence have had positive outcomes. Data has been collected from 532 families of the model villages, in which menfolk have given up drinking alcohol. Now all these families have become violence free. Thus they are enjoying a peaceful and joyful life after experiencing long years of drudgery, violence and poverty. Most of the families where members have left drinking alcohol have started utilizing that money in improving their living.
In addition, we find that Gender stereotypes are unfolding steadily, reflecting the encouraging results in the eight proposed model villages comprising of 950 families. In 94% of the families men are doing nine types of household chores. Consequently women are having more time in hand to pursue their interests and they are very happy about it.
Interventions on 3 focus issues
- Equal wages for women and men in agricultural work
- Inclusion of women in the Village Headman Committee – a traditional male dominated decision making body in every village
- Ban on alcohol – the main cause for domestic violence.
Outcomes showing dent in the age-old patriarchal systems
- Equal wages for women and men in agricultural work adopted for the first time in 97 villages.
- First time ever, women inducted in the all-male village decision making committee in 15 villages.
- Seven villages have been made alcohol-free.
WALK WITH US
As has been proven time and again, if a community has to be developed, first of all its women need to be empowered. Become harbingers of change by contributing to our efforts.