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 Legal Resource Centre serves as a village women’s platform for accessing information and knowledge, counselling as well as redressal for attaining justice.
More than 80% of the 2600 human rights violation cases that were identified have been sorted out. The remaining are in process.
Most of the cases were sorted out at the village level under the guidance of the Village Headman with facilitation by the community women leaders.
A study was conducted to find out the status of the cases related to women’s rights violation, that were registered during 2019 and 2020.
230
villages surveyed
20914
women covered
2601
cases recorded
2133
cases resolved
Womens Forum at the police station demanding quick action
Our women assert their strength and unity through the 9 forums spread over 9 community development blocks in 5 districts. The women’s forum is proactive in tracing and tracking cases of violence against women.
Comprising of over 4000 poor rural women, the forums actively advocate the issues of the poor to the fore and pressurize the local government/power mongers to act on them. It plays the role of watchdogs in ensuring proper implementation of government schemes.
As has been proven time and again, if a community has to be developed, first of all its women need to be empowered.
The learning centres for women have been instrumental in hiking the female literacy rate to double of what it was earlier. Now they not only can read and write in Hindi and do simple arithmetic but are a lot more confident with their newly acquired skills of communication, self- confidence and leadership.
Enthused with their progress, neo literate women in some villages have also made strides into the English language. This new found confidence among them is clearly perceptible and they have shaped up into a formidable force for all round development in their villages. They now participate actively in the gram sabha meetings, go to banks and government offices and advocate for their rights.
There are 18 self-help groups (SHGs) which are managing the public distribution system outlets which was a male bastion until now. Over 80% of the members are engaged in various pursuits.
The income generating activities include sanitary napkin production, food catering, tent house services, animal husbandry, vegetable and mushroom cultivation, snack making, rice processing, spice grinding, paper bag making, bamboo work, collection and sale of minor forest produce, phenyl and incense stick making.
Now nearly 60% of these women decide about the purpose and time to utilize their income. They have used it for a variety of purposes – from expanding their business, building/ repairing their house, sending children to better schools, continuing with their daughters studies, buying household and agricultural items to becoming better dressed and buying accessories for themselves.
WALK WITH US
At SEEDS, no contribution is small. Become harbingers of change by affirmative action.