HEARTS & MINDS WOMEN OF INDIA SPEAK SHAPING THE POST- DEVELOPMENT DISCOURSE & AGENDA

2015 Published in June 2013

Copyright © UN Women 2013

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of UN Women, the United Nations or any of its affiliated organisations.

Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised, without prior written permission, provided that due credit is given to UN Women and content is not altered in any way.

Cover Photo: UN Women/Praveen Kaliga

Design Concept: Divya Gupta & Impressions Communications

Printed by: Impressions Communications HEARTS & MINDS WOMEN OF INDIA SPEAK SHAPING THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT DISCOURSE & AGENDA HEARTS & MINDS WOMEN OF INDIA SPEAK SHAPING THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT DISCOURSE & AGENDA

7KLVUHSRUWDQGSKRWRHVVD\DUHDLPHGDWVKDULQJWKH³OLYHGH[SHULHQFHV´RIZRPHQDQGJLUOVLQ,QGLDDQG ensuring that the voices of especially those who remain socially, economically and geographically marginalised DUH PHDQLQJIXOO\ UHÀHFWHG LQ WKH HPHUJLQJ SRVW GHYHORSPHQW GLVFRXUVH DQG DJHQGD 7KH DQDO\VLV contained in this report is based on in-depth interviews with women and focus-group discussions with almost HOHFWHGZRPHQUHSUHVHQWDWLYHV²DFRQVWLWXHQF\RYHUDPLOOLRQVWURQJLQ,QGLDDQGFRQVLGHUHGDVHTXDO DQGLPSRUWDQWVWDNHKROGHUVLQKHOSLQJVKDSHWKHSRVWJOREDOGHYHORSPHQWDJHQGD

THE REPORT TEAM

This report is the product of a collective effort under the guidance of the Representative, 0V $QQH ) 6WHQKDPPHU DQG 'HSXW\ 5HSUHVHQWDWLYH 0V 6XVKPD .DSRRU 81 :RPHQ 2I¿FH IRU ,QGLD Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka. UN Women’s Gender Responsive Budgeting Specialist, Yamini Mishra, worked with the team of authors mentioned below and UN Women staff to make this report a reality. A number of people provided detailed comments and advice throughout the research process, from 81:RPHQ¶VSURJUDPPHVSHFLDOLVWVSDUWQHUVWR¿HOGVWDII

Lead Author, Editor & Report Coordinator: Divya Gupta

Co-Authors: Swapna Bist-Joshi, Anubha Singh

Photographs: Divya Gupta, Praveen Kaliga, Pranab K. Aich, Mayank Pratap Singh, Swapna Bist-Joshi

Photo Essay (Inner Back Cover): Produced by Divya Gupta; Edited by Divya Gupta & Ganesh Prasad

UN Women’s Review, Strategy, Advisory & Editorial Group Anne F. Stenhammer, Sushma Kapoor, Yamini Mishra, Moumita Sarkar, Navanita Sinha, Bhumika Jhamb, Suraj Kumar, Meenakshi Kathel, Bharti Sharma, Rachna Bisht, Kiran Negi, Sabrina Sidhu

Production Team: Divya Gupta, Impressions Communications, Moumita Sarkar, Sabrina Sidhu, Mary Khuvung FOREWOR D

,QWKHOLIHRIHYHU\QDWLRQWKHUHDUHPRPHQWVDQGHYHQWVWKDWUHJLVWHULQSXEOLFFRQVFLRXVQHVVDV VLJQDOOLQJDFOHDUEHIRUHDQGDIWHU²ZKHQVRPHWKLQJVKLIWVIXQGDPHQWDOO\ZKHQVRPHWKLQJRFFXUV WKDWFKDQJHVDFRXQWU\RUHYHQWKHZRUOGIRUHYHUZKHQZHDUHIRUFHGWRORRNLQWKHPLUURUDQGDVN ourselves, how did we get here?

,QODWHDWUDJLFHYHQWWRRNSODFHZKLFKLQYROYHGWKHEUXWDOLVDWLRQUDSHDQGHYHQWXDOXQWLPHO\ GHDWKRID\HDUROGJLUOLQ,QGLD¶VFDSLWDO1HZ'HOKL7KLVZDVRQHVXFKPRPHQWRUVRLWLVKRSHG by millions of people across the country. The tragedy made international headlines and pried open a much-needed debate on women’s safety and the unacceptably high levels of violence against women ²E\QRPHDQVDXQLTXHO\,QGLDQSKHQRPHQRQDQGRIWHQVLGHOLQHGE\GHYHORSPHQWDJHQGDVDQG public policy. Thousands of young women and men mobilised for collective action to make their JRYHUQPHQWDFFRXQWDEOHDQGHQIRUFHWKHUXOHRIODZ,WDOVRSUHVHQWHGDUDUHKLVWRULFZLQGRZDQG WKHQHFHVVDU\SUHFXUVRUVRIWHQUHTXLUHGIRUPDMRUVRFLDOWUDQVIRUPDWLRQDQGFRXUVHFRUUHFWLRQ² SXEOLFPRRGDQGRSLQLRQ²WRSRVVLEO\EHJLQWRGHOLYHUJHQXLQHVDIHW\HPSRZHUPHQWDQGHTXDOLW\ IRU,QGLDQZRPHQDQGJLUOVQRZDQGLQWRWKHORQJUXQ

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were arguably an ambitious and unprecedented attempt WRVHULRXVO\WU\WRUHVROYHLQDWLPHERXQGPDQQHUWKHJUHDWHVWKXPDQFKDOOHQJHVRIRXUWLPH²DQ increasingly threatened planet suffering from uncomfortably high levels of human indignity and SUHYHQWDEOHGHSULYDWLRQKXQJHUGLVHDVHLQHTXDOLW\FRQÀLFWYLROHQFHDQGGHDWK

Against this backdrop, the MDG framework did try to address what it considered at the time as the most pressing challenges facing women and girls such as increasing access to education for girls DQGUHGXFLQJPDWHUQDOPRUWDOLW\,WHYHQGHOLYHUHGFRQVLGHUDEOHWKRXJKQRWVXI¿FLHQWSURJUHVVRQ LWVJHQGHUUHODWHGJRDOV+RZHYHUZLWKWKHSDVVDJHRIWLPHDQGEHQH¿WRIKLQGVLJKWLWKDVEHFRPH FOHDUWKDWWKHIUDPHZRUNGLGQRWGRMXVWLFHWRWKHGHJUHHUDQJHDQGFRPSOH[LW\RIFKDOOHQJHVIDFLQJ women on a daily basis, particularly the most marginalised women who have the least voice and agency. The feedback from women in this report reveals that there are, in fact, disturbing trends of either stagnation, slow progress or even reversal in many areas determining women’s basic needs DQGVXUYLYDOOHDYHDVLGHJUHDWHUSURJUHVVZHOOEHLQJHPSRZHUPHQWDQGHTXDOLW\)RULQVWDQFHLQ WKH,QGLDQFRQWH[W

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 *HQGHUEDVHGYLROHQFHUHPDLQVDOOSHUYDVLYHDQGWKHH[LVWLQJOHJDOVDIHJXDUGVDUHLQVXI¿FLHQWWR protect women and girls.

Despite the shortcomings of the MDG framework, as it turned out, a development took place over WLPH ZKLFK ZDV SHUKDSV KRSHG EXW QRW H[SHFWHG E\ WKH 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV ² D PDMRULW\ RI LWV  member countries that had adopted the framework, began aligning their national development

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5HFRJQLVLQJWKLVYHU\UHDOLQÀXHQFHWKDWJOREDOGHYHORSPHQWDJHQGDVKDYHRQGRPHVWLFSROLF\PDNLQJ and their potential impact on millions of the most vulnerable people of the world, this report is an DWWHPSWWRLQIRUPWKHHPHUJLQJSRVWDJHQGDWKURXJKWKHOLYHGH[SHULHQFHVRI,QGLDQZRPHQ at the grassroots. Their stories are representative of millions of others whose extraordinary daily courage and human resilience hold the tapestry of families, communities, countries and humanity WRJHWKHUZKRDEVRUEWKHYLROHQFHLQVRFLHW\DWJUHDWSHUVRQDOSHULOSDLQDQGXQLPDJLQDEOHVDFUL¿FH and have increasingly become its silent and unsung peacemakers and peacekeepers.

For too long, development agendas and frameworks have been prepared without truly consulting or giving voice to those whose lives they aim to improve the most. This report is a humble but conscious attempt to address that gap. The challenges highlighted and analysed here in all their complexity, multi-dimensionality and inter-relatedness will hopefully resonate among women in all VRFLHWLHVDQGFRXQWULHVDFURVVWKHJOREH²WKHLQGLJQLW\DQGGHVSHUDWLRQRISRYHUW\DQGGHSULYDWLRQ the pangs of hunger and worse still, the pain and helplessness of seeing their children go hungry, the physical weakness from toiling away in their households and farmlands all day to take care of HYHU\RQHHOVH¶VQHHGV¿UVWWKHH[KDXVWLRQIURPKRXUVVSHQWIHWFKLQJZDWHUDQGIXHOZRRGIURPIDU WKHLQVHFXULW\DQGLQVWDELOLW\RIWKUHDWHQHGOLYHOLKRRGVWKHGHMHFWLRQRIXQHPSOR\PHQWWKHDQJHU DQGKXPLOLDWLRQRIVXIIHULQJLQHTXDOLW\DQGGLVFULPLQDWLRQDQGWKHVLOHQWHURVLRQRIFRQ¿GHQFHVHOI esteem and struggle to maintain self-respect and protect their very lives in the face of daily mental, emotional and physical violence.

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,QGLDLVFRQVLGHUHGD³VZLQJVWDWH´LQVKDSLQJQRWRQO\WKHSRVWDJHQGDEXWDOVRWKHHPHUJLQJ global order, thus providing the pragmatic imperative for why we should hear and understand what ERWKWKH³RWKHU,QGLDV´DUHWHOOLQJXV²³ZRPHQ´DWWKH³JUDVVURRWV´$QGZKHQWUDJLFHYHQWVDQG ORVVPDNHWKHSHRSOHRIDFRXQWU\RUKXPDQLW\DWODUJHIHHOOLNHWKH\ZLOOQHYHUTXLWHEHWKHVDPH DJDLQWKH\SURYLGHWKHPRUDOLPSHUDWLYHDQGHPRWLRQDOVSDUNWKDWOLJKWVWKHSUDLULH¿UHIRUGHVLUHG change to take place.

Anne F. Stenhammer 5HSUHVHQWDWLYH  81:RPHQ2I¿FHIRU,QGLD%KXWDQ0DOGLYHVDQG6UL/DQND

iv ACKNOWLEDGEM ENTS

UN Women would like to express its sincere gratitude and dedicate this publication to the women who opened their homes and shared their lives, tears, laughter, humour, sorrow and hopes so generously, as well as the elected women representatives who shared their thoughts and insights on a vast array of challenges still facing rural, poor and marginalised people, especially women, and WRRNWLPHRXWIURPWKHLUGXDOZRUNORDGVRIKRPHDQGHOHFWHGRI¿FH

UN Women would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the preparation of the report. ,QSDUWLFXODUZHZRXOGOLNHWRDFNQRZOHGJHWKHKDUGZRUNRIWKHWKUHHDXWKRUV²0V'LY\D*XSWD 0V6ZDSQD%LVW-RVKLDQG0V$QXEKD6LQJK²LQFRQGXFWLQJWKHLQWHUYLHZVDQDO\VLVDQGUHVHDUFK necessary for this report.

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81:RPHQZRXOGDOVROLNHWRWKDQNWKH'LVWULFW3URMHFW2I¿FHUV '32V ZKRUHQGHUHGLQYDOXDEOH support, without whom this report would not have been possible. They include Ms. Saba Hasnain 0DKDEXEQDJDU'LVWULFW DQG0U9HHUDVZDP\%DGLJDQWL 9L]LDQDJDUDP'LVWULFW LQ$QGKUD3UDGHVK 0U 5DYLQGUD 'KDUZDG 'LVWULFW  DQG 0V 6\HGD 1RRU )DWKLPD 0\VRUH 'LVWULFW  LQ .DUQDWDND 0U$QVKXO6D[HQD -KDEXD'LVWULFW DQG0U6XQLO0HQRQ 6HKRUH'LVWULFW LQ0DGK\D3UDGHVK 0U7ULQDWK0RKDQWD 'KHQNDQDO'LVWULFW DQG0U0LQDUDP3DWQDLN *DMDSDWL'LVWULFW LQ2GLVKD 0U9LYHN$ZDVWKL $OZDU'LVWULFW 0U9LSODY.XPDU 'XQJDUSXU'LVWULFW DQG0V.DYLWD0LVUD 7RQN'LVWULFW LQ5DMDVWKDQ

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v vi CONTENTS

Foreword iii Acknowledgements v

Executive Summary 

Issues

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Recommendations & Aspirations  References   E XECUTIV E S U MMARY

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Objectives This report is thus aimed at ensuring that the voices of women living at the grassroots are meaningfully UHÀHFWHGLQDQ\HPHUJLQJJOREDOGHYHORSPHQWDJHQGDE\

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‡ ,QGHSWKLQWHUYLHZVZLWKZRPHQLQGLVWULFWVDFURVV¿YHVWDWHVRQDZLGHUDQJHRILVVXHV including destitution, old age, child marriage, working conditions and livelihood pressures facing women in the informal farm economy, tribal women living in remote areas, the impact of migration on women as well as challenges faced by women migrants, unemployment among HGXFDWHGZRPHQLOOLWHUDF\DPRQJDGXOWZRPHQWKHVSHFWUHRIJHQGHUEDVHGYLROHQFHWKHXQLTXH challenges of women from a religious minority, the impact of lack of basic infrastructure such as housing, water, sanitation, roads and electricity, new challenges such as climate change, social exclusion and the triumphs and tribulations of elected women representatives.

‡ )RFXVJURXSGLVFXVVLRQV )*'V ZLWKFORVHWRHOHFWHGZRPHQUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVDFURVV¿YH VWDWHVRI,QGLD²$QGKUD3UDGHVK.DUQDWDND0DGK\D3UDGHVK2GLVKDDQG5DMDVWKDQ7KHRYHUDOO DQDO\VLVDQGUHFRPPHQGDWLRQVFRQWDLQHGLQWKLVUHSRUWDUHODUJHO\EDVHGRQ)*'VFRQGXFWHG in ten districts across these states. Half of the ten districts are among the most backward in ,QGLD QDPHO\ 'XQJDUSXU 5DMDVWKDQ  'KHQNDQDO DQG *DMDSDWL 2GLVKD  0DKXEXEQDJDU $QGKUD3UDGHVK DQG-KDEXD 0DGK\D3UDGHVK 

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The SUR¿OHVOLVWHGEHORZFRUUHVSRQGZLWKWKHIROORZLQJLVVXHV  :KHUHWKHQDPHURDPVWKHVWUHHWV 'HVWLWXWLRQ  :KHQWRPRUURZVEULQJPRUHVRUURZ &KLOGPDUULDJHDQGROGDJH  /LIH¶VWRXJKZLWKRUZLWKRXW\RX ,PSDFWRIPLJUDWLRQ  7RLOVZHDWWHDUVDQGQRKLJK 7REDFFR*URZHU±,QIRUPDOIDUPODERXU  1RZLQGEHQHDWKP\ZLQJV 8QHPSOR\PHQWDPRQJHGXFDWHGZRPHQ 6. Life’s all downhill (Tribal women living in remote areas) 7. Home is where the heart and hunger is (Seasonal migration among women)  µ7ZDVIDWHRU,¶GNQRZ$%& /RZOLWHUDF\DPRQJDGXOWZRPHQ  $OODKZRXOGZDQWXVWRUHDGDQGZULWH 8QLTXHFKDOOHQJHVRI0XVOLPZRPHQ +RZVHHQLVP\YDOOH\" ,PSDFWRIODFNRIKHDOWKVHUYLFHV  )LJKWLQJWKHODVWEHWUD\DO :RPHQOLYLQJZLWK+,9  ,JHWE\ZLWKDOLWWOHKHOSIURPP\VHOI :RPHQOLYLQJZLWKGLVDELOLW\  (QGXULQJKHLJKWV 'RZU\±*HQGHU%DVHG9LROHQFH  :KHUHPHQEUXWDOO\WUHDG 'RPHVWLFYLROHQFH±*HQGHU%DVHG9LROHQFH   7KH*RGVPXVWEHDQJU\ ,PSDFWRIFOLPDWHFKDQJH :DWHULVOLIHWRLOHWVDUHGLJQLW\ ,PSDFWRIODFNRIZDWHUDQGVDQLWDWLRQ  6WDQGE\XV 6RFLDOH[FOXVLRQ±/DFNRIDFFHVVWRZDWHU /LIHRQUHFKDUJH ,PSDFWRIODFNRIHOHFWULFLW\DQGSRZHU 2QHÀHZRYHUWKHSDWULDUFKDOUHVW (OHFWHGZRPHQUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVDVUROHPRGHOV 6ZLPPLQJLQWKHVDPHULSWLGHV (OHFWHGZRPHQUHSUHVHQWDWLYHV±&KDOOHQJHV

4 KEY FINDINGS

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment ,QWHUPVRIwomen’s empowerment, most women feel that there have been positive, even some transformative, changes in their lives over the past decade compared to previous generations. Women VKDUHG WKDW WKH\ KDYH JUHDWHU YLVLELOLW\ PRUH HGXFDWLRQ DQG HPSOR\PHQW EHWWHU KHDOWKUHODWHG DFFHVVIDFLOLWLHVDQGVRFLDOVHFXULW\FRYHUHVSHFLDOO\IRUSUHJQDQWDQGODFWDWLQJPRWKHUVUHGXFHG PDWHUQDO PRUWDOLW\ LQFUHDVHG SROLWLFDO UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ SDUWLFLSDWLRQ OHDGHUVKLS DQG DZDUHQHVV especially about girls’ education and maternal and child health. Elected women representatives feel that they are more self-aware and their general awareness of government schemes and functioning has also increased.

However, women raised several issues that remain unaddressed such as access to water and sanitation, housing, roads, electricity, lack of employment options and skills training especially DPRQJ ZRPHQ IDUPHUV DQG SRRU TXDOLW\ RI KHDOWK FDUH 7KH\ DOVR VKDUHG HPHUJLQJ DQG QHZ concerns, which are affecting them adversely such as climate change, food insecurity, indebtedness, landlessness and migration. Certain categories of women feel especially vulnerable and disempowered such as single women, widows, elderly women, women abandoned by their spouses RUIDPLOLHVRUFKLOGUHQRUSKDQHGJLUOVDQGZRPHQDQGJLUOVZLWKPDMRUKHDOWKFRQGLWLRQVHVSHFLDOO\ WKRVHDVVRFLDWHGZLWKKLJKOHYHOVRIVWLJPDDQGGLVFULPLQDWLRQVXFKDV+,9DQG$,'6DQGGLVDELOLW\

Greater political representation has allowed women to step out of their homes and participate in meetings and the public life of their community and villages. However, genuine empowerment, political voice and freedom in decision-making will take a lot longer to be realised. They hinge on greater education of women, their increased conscious mobilisation, training and intensive sensitisation and awareness-generation in ways that do not lead to more violence against them by the entrenched patriarchal structure but instead empower them in organic and evolutionary ways. Elected women representatives can act as catalysts in bringing about a transformative shift in ZRPHQ¶VOLYHVEXWSROLWLFDOZLOOFRUUXSWLRQDQGGHHSO\HQWUHQFKHGSDWULDUFK\OLPLWWKHLURZQHI¿FDF\ as elected leaders.

Regarding gender equality, women feel that their continued subordinate position in society vis- à-vis men is due to traditional roles and duties thrust upon them, which deprive them of their freedoms and growth-related opportunities. They unanimously agreed that they received no help from their husbands in household chores. On the contrary, any mistake or delay is an invitation for admonishment or possible violence. They also attributed their subordinate position to low literacy DQGDUHVXOWLQJODFNRIHPSOR\PHQWRSSRUWXQLWLHVDQG¿QDQFLDOLQGHSHQGHQFH:RPHQVWURQJO\IHHO that this gender gap also results in violence against them. Lack of access to information also makes ZRPHQ¶VOLYHVGLIIHUHQWIURPPHQDQGPRUHGLI¿FXOW*HQGHUHTXDOLW\VHHPHGJUHDWHULQDUHDVZLWK improved access to basic services, implying a strong positive correlation between women’s access to basic services and their overall standing as well as reduced vulnerability. Contrary to popular SHUFHSWLRQ KRZHYHU JHQGHU LQHTXDOLW\ LV QRW RQO\ SUHYDOHQW EXW LV UHSRUWHGO\ JURZLQJ LQ WULEDO DUHDV7KHOLYHVRIJLUOVZHUHIRXQGWREHDVGLI¿FXOWDVZRPHQLQUXUDODUHDVGXHWRUHVWULFWLRQVRQ their mobility, expectations to assist in domestic work, livelihood generation and farming-related work and preparation for matrimonial roles to marry early.

Poverty, Deprivation and Social Security Women feel that they largely shoulder the burden of poverty in rural households rather than PHQZRUNWZLFHDVKDUGDQGWDNHFDUHRIWKHLUIDPLOLHV¿UVWDQGWKHPVHOYHVODVW6LQJOHZRPHQ of all categories (elderly, widows, abandoned) were found to be most vulnerable to poverty as  were socially and geographically marginalised women and those suffering from health conditions DVVRFLDWHGZLWKKLJKOHYHOVRIVWLJPDDQGGLVFULPLQDWLRQ +,9DQG$,'6GLVDELOLW\DQGSV\FKLDWULF illness). Orphaned children, especially girls, were singled out as being extremely vulnerable and a “blind spot” in development policy. Women drew strong links between alcoholism, climate change, lack of infrastructure (housing, water, sanitation, roads and electricity) and increased poverty. :RPHQLQDOOVWDWHVEURXJKWXSDPDMRUJRYHUQDQFHDQGSXEOLFVHUYLFHGHOLYHU\FKDOOHQJH²SHRSOH OLYLQJEHORZWKHSRYHUW\OLQH %3/ DUHQRWFRUUHFWO\LGHQWL¿HGDQGWKXVFDQQRWDFFHVVWKHLUEDVLF entitlements whereas those with assets, land or means are often wrongly categorised as poor and are PLVDSSURSULDWLQJEHQH¿WV+RZHYHUZRPHQOLYLQJLQSHULXUEDQDUHDVIHOWSRYHUW\KDVGHFUHDVHG RYHUWLPHGXHWRIDFWRU\UHODWHGMREVEHFRPLQJDYDLODEOHQHDUE\

Livelihoods, Employment and Skills :KLOHSURIHVVLRQDOHPSOR\PHQWRSSRUWXQLWLHVIRUHGXFDWHGJLUOVKDYHLQFUHDVHGLQUXUDO,QGLDRYHU the past decade, women farmers feel cornered by the lack of viable alternative livelihoods due to VKLIWLQJZHDWKHUSDWWHUQVDQGUHVXOWLQJFURSIDLOXUH$PDMRULW\RIZRPHQLQUXUDO,QGLDDUHHQJDJHG in agriculture and are largely illiterate. As a result, they compromise and accept low wages and low- skilled work without worker protection and rights. They are increasingly forced to work as daily ZDJHODERXULQYLOODJHZRUNVDQG¿HOGVRIULFKHUIDUPHUVRUDVVHDVRQDOPLJUDQWVLQFRQVWUXFWLRQVLWHV and brick kilns. Livelihood-related challenges are multiplied in harsh terrains such as desert regions where lack of water renders agriculture-based livelihoods unviable. Tribal women are especially concerned about reduced forest produce over time. Skill-based employment and related training are not readily available and most women are not covered or linked to self-help groups (SHGs), which at OHDVWKHOSWLGHRYHULPPHGLDWHRUHPHUJHQF\QHHGV5XUDOZRPHQHVSHFLDOO\WKHYHU\SRRUVWLOO¿QG LWYHU\GLI¿FXOWWRDFFHVVORZLQWHUHVWFUHGLWDQG¿QDQFLDOVHUYLFHV

Nutrition, Food Security and Hunger Women reported positive changes and improvements in village-level nutrition facilities and centres IRUFKLOGUHQDQGSUHJQDQWZRPHQ+RZHYHUWULEDOZRPHQLQPDQ\DUHDVVWLOO¿QGWKHVHIDFLOLWLHV relatively far and inaccessible. Women are gravely concerned about climate change, which is impacting nutrition and food security in their households. Since farming on their own lands is becoming increasingly unviable, they are being forced to buy vegetables instead of growing them, which is more costly. Women farmers said they screen food items based on cost rather than nutritional value. They are the worst sufferers because women eat last or the least due to existing cultural norms that still promote nutritional discrimination against women and girls in favour of men and boys, especially LQUXUDOKRXVHKROGV,QVRPHYLOODJHVZRPHQFLWHGFDVHVRIVHYHUHPDOQXWULWLRQDPRQJZRPHQDQG FKLOGUHQDQGLUUHJXODULWLHVDQGLQHI¿FLHQFLHVLQWKHJRYHUPHQW¶VIRRGGLVWULEXWLRQV\VWHP, which, they reported, is failing to uniformly deliver rationed food to people below the poverty line. Women shared that alcoholism also impacts their food security as men who drink are willing to sell the IDPLO\¶VVXEVLVWHQFHJUDLQIRUOLTXRU

Education and Literacy Functioning of primary schools and the attendance of girls in primary schools has improved considerably. However, in many rural families, there is still a preference for investing in education for

3XEOLF'LVWULEXWLRQ6\VWHP 3'6 LVDQ,QGLDQIRRGVHFXULW\V\VWHPHVWDEOLVKHGE\WKH*RYHUQPHQWRI,QGLD *2, ZKLFK GLVWULEXWHV VXEVLGLVHG IRRG DQG QRQIRRG LWHPV WR SHRSOH OLYLQJ EHORZ WKH QDWLRQDO SRYHUW\ OLQH 0DMRU FRPPRGLWLHV distributed include staple food grains such as wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene, through a network of public distribution VKRSVDOVRNQRZQDVUDWLRQVKRSVHVWDEOLVKHGDFURVVWKHFRXQWU\7KH)RRG&RUSRUDWLRQRI,QGLD )&, DJRYHUQPHQW owned corporation, procures and maintains the public distribution system.

6 boys as compared to girls, especially beyond the primary level. Secondary schools and colleges were found to be far-off and inaccessible, generating safety and security concerns and resulting in a large QXPEHURIJLUOVFRQWLQXLQJWRGURSRXWDIWHUSULPDU\VFKRRO3RYHUW\ODFNRISURPLVLQJHPSOR\PHQW options and social norms and expectations for girls to perform domestic work and marry early came up as factors for lower or discontinued investment in the higher education of girls. Women living in remote areas also cited rains, bad roads and poor infrastructure as constraining factors. Education DQGOLWHUDF\OHYHOVFRQWLQXHWREHYHU\ORZDPRQJWULEDODQGDGXOWZRPHQPDNLQJLWYHU\GLI¿FXOWIRU them to access their basic entitlements and increasing their vulnerability to economic exploitation. Women acknowledged that their awareness levels about government schemes and services for education are still very low, especially in remote areas. However, awareness levels regarding the importance of education and health for girls have increased considerably over time.

Health and Well-Being Women gave positive feedback about improvements in healthcare services for pregnant women and lactating mothers, infants and children, free vaccinations and immunisations, reduced maternal and child mortality (although infant mortality among young mothers was a concern), greater awareness of women and children’s health and family planning and greater proximity to primary health care centres and hospitals, although tribal women or those living in remote areas still can’t DFFHVVPHGLFDOIDFLOLWLHVHDVLO\:RPHQUDLVHGFRQFHUQVDERXWTXDOLW\RIKHDOWKFDUHVHUYLFHVVXFK as administrative delays, absenteeism of doctors and nurses, long waiting hours, overcrowding and lack of sensitive and respectful treatment of patients. As a result, many rural families are still forced to go to private facilities and incur high out-of-pocket expenses. Women drew a strong link between poor roads and infrastructure and the danger to women’s health, particularly during pregnancy. They also feel that lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation increases water- borne diseases, mostly impacting women and children. Women shared that climate change is DOVR LPSDFWLQJ WKHLU KHDOWK DGYHUVHO\ DV WKH\ DUH ZRUNLQJ ORQJHU KRXUV LQ ¿HOGV ZDONLQJ ORQJHU distances to collect water and fuel wood and erratic and heavy rainfall is giving rise to more water- borne diseases.

Women unanimously cited gender-based violence (GBV) as a widespread and persistent challenge, directly fuelled and exacerbated by the twin problems of alcoholism and dowry. Some women, however, did feel that they are more aware of their rights and more women are reporting violence to the police than before. Child marriage is still common as is female foeticide, although at reduced OHYHOV WKDQ HDUOLHU GXH WR OHJLVODWLRQ WKDW KDV PDGH VH[GHWHUPLQDWLRQ LOOHJDO 9LROHQFH DJDLQVW ZRPHQLQWKHZRUNSODFHZDVLGHQWL¿HGDVDQRWKHU³EOLQGVSRW´HVSHFLDOO\LQLQGXVWULHVDQGDUHDV where women work as informal labour without any rights, such as in the garment industry or as while working as domestic help.

Although there is greater awareness about HIV and AIDS LQ VHOHFW TXDUWHUV LQ UXUDO ,QGLD WKH awareness levels remain very low while associated stigma and discrimination is very high. Rural women are in a “high risk” category as the most common way they contract the disease is unknowingly through their husbands. The stigma adversely impacts their health and nutrition, DELOLW\WRHDUQDOLYHOLKRRGDQGWKHLUFKLOGUHQ¶VOLYHVZKLFKZRPHQOLYLQJZLWK+,9DQG$,'6DUHPRVW concerned about. Although there is greater awareness regarding disability, women with disabilities were similarly found to be highly vulnerable on multiple fronts including poverty, health, sexual KDUDVVPHQWDQGH[SORLWDWLRQODFNRIHPSOR\PHQWRSSRUWXQLWLHVDQGVWLJPDDQGGLVFULPLQDWLRQ,Q the absence of social support, old age itself leads to serious health issues, especially among single women (widows, abandoned, divorced), who can’t rely on anyone for their survival needs.

7 Access to Infrastructure, Adaptation to Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability One of the gravest concerns women shared was about successive rain and crop failure, which they attributed to shifting weather patterns such as intense rain, no rain, erratic rain, more intense summers and winters and deforestation. Rural farmer women said it is impacting their lives very negatively and giving rise to poverty and food insecurity because they are primarily dependent on DJULFXOWXUHDVVXEVLVWHQFHIDUPHUV,WLVDOVROHDGLQJWRLQFUHDVHGGHEWEXUGHQDQGLQH[WUHPHFDVHV landlessness.

Many poor women, especially elderly ones, demanded better housing with solid and permanent structures to ensure proper shelter and security. They also shared related concerns with temporary GZHOOLQJVVXFKDVZDWHUVHHSDJHGXULQJUDLQ\VHDVRQDQGWKH¿QDQFLDOEXUGHQRIUHJXODUPDLQWHQDQFH 6RPHZRPHQFLWHGIUHTXHQWGLVSODFHPHQWIURPWKHLUKRPHVWHDGVDVSURSHUW\RZQHUVDUHFOHDULQJ WKRVHDUHDVIRUSURMHFWV

:RPHQLGHQWL¿HGODFNRIZDWHU DFFHVVDYDLODELOLW\DQGTXDOLW\ DQGVDQLWDWLRQDVDPDMRULIQRWWKH foremost, challenges in their lives. They feel the lack of water and sanitation most acutely during menstruation and pregnancy. Women and girls in most villages visited still fetch water from long GLVWDQFHV7KH\¿QGLWKLJKO\WLPHFRQVXPLQJDQGLWNHHSVWKHPIURPSXUVXLQJDQGDWWHQGLQJWR productive activities (employment for women and education for girls). Water shortage is acutely felt during the summer months and rapid depletion of ground water is forcing people to adopt their own coping mechanisms such as purchasing water on a regular basis, which poor families can ill- DIIRUG3RRUZDWHUTXDOLW\DQGUHODWHGZDWHUERUQHGLVHDVHVDUHDFRQWLQXLQJFKDOOHQJHH[DFHUEDWHG by lack of sanitation. Women drew a strong link between lack of toilets and retention of girls in VFKRRO HVSHFLDOO\ EH\RQG WKH SULPDU\ OHYHO 7KH\ ¿QG lack of infrastructure such as poor roads DQGWUDQVSRUWDPDMRUGHWHUUHQWWRWKHLUPRELOLW\DELOLW\WRIHWFKZDWHUFROOHFWIXHOZRRGDQGJRWR ZRUNLQWKHLU¿HOGVHVSHFLDOO\GXULQJWKHUDLQ\VHDVRQ,WDOVRQHJDWLYHO\LPSDFWVZRPHQ¶VKHDOWK and children’s education. Women, especially living in remote and tribal-populated areas, cited lack of electricityDVDPDMRUFKDOOHQJHQHJDWLYHO\LPSDFWLQJPRELOLW\KHDOWKDQGHGXFDWLRQDQGRYHUDOO living standards.

 POVERTY, D EPRIV ATIO N & SOCIAL S ECURITY

$OWKRXJKGH¿QLWLRQVDQGHVWLPDWLRQVRISRYHUW\DUHKLJKO\FRQWHVWHGZLWKLQFRXQWU\FRQWH[WVDQGDW WKHJOREDOOHYHOWKHEHORZVWDWHGGH¿QLWLRQ by United Nations of poverty does attempt to capture the PXOWLGLPHQVLRQDOLW\RISRYHUW\DVLWPDQLIHVWVLQSHRSOH¶VOLYHVDQGWKHKXPDQFRQGLWLRQ

“Fundamentally, poverty is a denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity. It means a lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society. It means not having enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a school or clinic to go to, not having the land on which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s living, not having access to credit. It means insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living in marginal or fragile environments, without access to clean water or sanitation.”

INTERSECTIONALITY: :KHQ GH¿QHG LQ WKH 3UR¿OHRQSDJHRID above terms, all development challenges are a cause, destitute, single, illiterate FRQVHTXHQFH RU PDQLIHVWDWLRQ RI SRYHUW\ $FFRUGLQJ and landless woman, strongly to some poverty researchers and experts, there is an demonstrates this multi- increasing “feminisation of poverty” underway, implying dimensional nature of poverty. that women represent a disproportionate percentage of the world’s poor,4 which, in turn, is attributed to the rising incidence of single mother households. A contested and controversial claim, the important take away from the concept is that it doesn’t treat poverty only as a function of loss of income but associates it with a deprivation of capabilities and gender biases present in societies, which preclude women IURPOLYLQJORQJKHDOWK\FUHDWLYHDQGHPSRZHUHGOLYHV,QIDFWWKH\NHHSDPDMRULW\RIZRPHQIURP HQMR\LQJHYHQEDVLFULJKWVIUHHGRPUHVSHFWDQGGLJQLW\ZKLFKKDVEHHQVWURQJO\VXEVWDQWLDWHGE\ WKH¿QGLQJVRIWKLVUHSRUW)RULQVWDQFHZRPHQDFURVVWKHERDUGIHOWWKDWWKH\VKRXOGHUWKHEXUGHQ of poverty more than men because they do all the domestic work, carry out most of the care-giving duties and functions of family and perform the more labour-intensive and time-consuming work in WKHIDUPEDVHGDQGUHODWHGDFWLYLWLHVWKDWUXUDOKRXVHKROGVDUHW\SLFDOO\HQJDJHGLQ,QFUHDVLQJO\ they are also taking on the traditional “breadwinning role” of men, which was strongly evident DFURVVDOOWKHVWDWHVYLVLWHGZKHUHZRPHQIRUPHGWKHRYHUZKHOPLQJPDMRULW\RIWKHODERXUIRUFHLQ village construction works and farmlands. The more socially or geographically excluded a woman is, the more acutely she experiences poverty and the more likely she is to fall in and out of it and pass it down the generations. Certain categories of single women were found to be extremely vulnerable to poverty such as elderly women, widows, abandoned or destitute women, homeless and women with GLVDELOLWLHV+,9DQG$,'6RURWKHUKHDOWKFRQGLWLRQVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKVWLJPDDQGGLVFULPLQDWLRQ New challenges such as climate change are accentuating poverty and food insecurity and leading to migration among women in large numbers. Gender-based violence, which remains pervasive, is both a FDXVHDQGFRQVHTXHQFHRISRYHUW\ZLWKGHYDVWDWLQJSV\FKRORJLFDODQGSK\VLFDOLPSDFWVRQZRPHQDQG their children.

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 7KHIUDPHZRUNZDVHQWLUHO\VLOHQWRQLQHTXDOLW\DQGLQHTXLW\²WKHJUHDWHVWDQGPRXQWLQJWZLQ challenges of our time. The indicators of progress for all MDGs were based on national level aggregates, which disregard the spatial, verticalDQGKRUL]RQWDOGLPHQVLRQVRILQHTXDOLW\DQG KDYHXQLTXHLPSOLFDWLRQVIRUZRPHQ

4. The entire MDG framework failed to factor in the strong intersectional nature of gender, which cuts across all forms of deprivation and exclusion. As such, it altogether left out many issues with strong poverty and gender linkages such as the lack of infrastructure (housing, roads, water, sanitation, electricity and energy), the need for social security for those facing multiple forms of vulnerability and marginalisation (old age, single women, widows, abandoned or destitute, KRPHOHVVSHRSOHZLWKGLVDELOLWLHV+,9DQG$,'6RURWKHUVHULRXVKHDOWKFRQGLWLRQVDVVRFLDWHG with a high level of stigma and discrimination), gender-based violence, impact of climate change DQGODFNRIDGDSWLYHVWUDWHJLHVODFNRIDFFHVVWR¿QDQFLDOVHUYLFHVDQGVRFLDOH[FOXVLRQ

6 For monitoring country poverty trends, indicators based on national poverty lines should be used where available. 2I¿FLDOIRRWQRWHRQUHYLVHG0'*OLVWHIIHFWLYHIURP-DQXDU\ $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSVLWHUHVRXUFHVZRUOGEDQN RUJ'$7$67$7,67,&65HVRXUFHV0'*V2I¿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

 Women of India Speak

‡ :KHQ DVNHG KRZ SRYHUW\ LPSDFWV PHQ DQG women differently, responses ranged from, “Poverty affects both, “Men don’t experience poverty. Women men and women. If a man doesn’t shoulder the burden of poverty” to more earn and bring in income, generous answers acknowledging that men how will the woman take care of and women both experience poverty but the family and prepare food? women shoulder a much larger burden of its negative impacts as compared to men. We have to do everything — farming and related activities, ‡ :RPHQ OLYLQJ LQ SHUL XUEDQ DUHDV GLIIHUHG JRWRWKHMXQJOHWRFROOHFW¿UHZRRG starkly on the issues of poverty and cook food and take care of the employment. According to them, poverty family. If there is no food in the LV QRW D PDMRU FKDOOHQJH DQ\ ORQJHU 7KH\ shared that in the past, only one member was house, no ration, oil or spices, it’s the breadwinner but now all family members a big problem and women face it. work, which has enhanced family incomes Men remain outside.” over time. Factories and industries that have sprung up in close proximity to their villages have provided opportunities and more options for viable incomes. They feel that villages located IDUDZD\IURPDFLW\DUHDWDGLVDGYDQWDJHDQGWKDWIXOOWLPHVDODULHGSHRSOHLQSURIHVVLRQDOMREV are much better off than those primarily dependent on agriculture.

‡ 0DQ\ UXUDO ZRPHQ IHHO WKDW SRYHUW\ KDV “A few people are increased in the past few years and there getting richer by the day is a very uneven distribution of wealth and and others are so poor that JURZLQJ LQHTXDOLW\ 7KH\ DOVR IHOW WKDW WKH they do not even have food to eat.” proportion of poor people to rich people is much higher.

‡ (OGHUO\ZRPHQDQGZLGRZVZHUHIRXQGWREHH[WUHPHO\ YXOQHUDEOH WR SRYHUW\ $ PDMRULW\ RI WKHP IRXQG 3UR¿OHRQSDJH H[LVWLQJVRFLDOZHOIDUHVFKHPHVZKROO\LQDGHTXDWHWR sheds light on this extreme meet even their basic needs and security. Many cited vulnerability of elderly, GLI¿FXOWLHVLQDFFHVVLQJWKHLUSHQVLRQV LOOLWHUDWHZRPHQLQUXUDO,QGLD and how they fall through the ‡ 3HRSOHZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVDQGRUSKDQVZHUHDOVRIRXQG cracks of the existing public- WR EH KLJKO\ YXOQHUDEOH WR SRYHUW\ DQG LGHQWL¿HG DV delivery system. blind spots in policy-making and public-service delivery. Some women related personal stories, XQGHUVFRULQJDYHU\VWURQJOLQNEHWZHHQGLVDELOLW\DQGSRYHUW\,IWKHPDLQEUHDGZLQQHURIWKH house is disabled, it especially has a spiralling effect on the family’s ability to earn, meeting the KRXVHKROG¶VEDVLFIRRGUHTXLUHPHQWVDQGHGXFDWLQJFKLOGUHQ

‡ :RPHQDFURVVDOOVWDWHVXQDQLPRXVO\FLWHGDOFRKROLVPDVDPDMRUFKDOOHQJH0DQ\GUHZDVWURQJ and direct link between alcoholism and poverty. They shared how it leads to a vicious cycle of income loss, decreased employment and employability, increased domestic workload for women, LQFUHDVHGYXOQHUDELOLW\DQGSUHVVXUHRQZRPHQWRHDUQLQFRPHWRFRPSHQVDWHIRU¿QDQFLDOORVV

 psychological and emotional stress and a high probability of increased gender-based violence. ,WDOVRKDVDQHJDWLYHLPSDFWRQWKHHQWLUHIDPLO\¶VQXWULWLRQFKLOGUHQ¶VHGXFDWLRQDQGRYHUDOO well-being.

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 GOWRAMMA HIREGOWDER Where the name roams the streets

“When you have money, people respect you. Otherwise, no one bothers. There are times when I am forced to beg but I have refrained from doing so. I hope that I am not compelled to beg in the future.”

At 45, Gowramma appears to be almost 60 years old, for she has weathered the exigencies of life. She lives in a dilapidated house in a small village in Karnataka’s “cultural headquarters” — Dharwad district — located about a three-hour drive from Goa. There are painful cracks on the soles of her feet. She walks around bare feet as the only pair of slippers she owned, broke. There is a deep sadness in her dim cataract- infected eyes, which well up with tears, as she relates her life story. Each line on her face and grey strand of hair tells a story of deprivation, rejection and cruelty in the face of adversity but, above all, of human resilience to survive despite the odds. Photo @ UN Women/ Mayank Pratap Singh

Destitution or “absolute poverty” can be described as a state of extreme deprivation, coupled with the complete absence of a social security net. Destitution is also a form of spatial KRUL]RQWDO and verticalLQHTXDOLW\:RPHQH[SHULHQFHGHVWLWXWLRQDQGSRYHUW\LQSDUWLFXODUO\YXOQHUDEOHDQG RSSUHVVLYHZD\VDQGDPDMRULW\RIWKHPDUHIRXQG to be “physically malnourished, sick, disabled DQGVRPHRIWKHPDUHZRUNLQJDJHDGGLFWVVH[ZRUNHUV´,QDGLVWXUELQJWUHQGGHVWLWXWLRQDPRQJ women increased LQ ,QGLD EHWZHHQ  SDUWLFXODUO\ DPRQJ ROGHU ZRPDQ FRPSDUHG WR men. 'XHWRWKHGLI¿FXOW\LQWUDFNLQJGHVWLWXWLRQDQGWKHDVVRFLDWHG³LQYLVLELOLW\´WKHFRQVLGHUDEOH challenges and pronounced vulnerability facing destitute people are not factored into public policy.

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Footnotes overleaf

 My name is Gowramma. My father was a VXSSRUWHG PH ,QLWLDOO\ P\ EURWKHU XVHG WR farmer and owned his own land. My mother JLYHPH,QGLDQUXSHHV GROODU SHUPRQWK was a housewife but she helped my father in Gradually, he stopped that, too. farming. We are three sisters and one brother, who is the eldest. He got married and started My house was in such a dilapidated state that living separately from my parents long back. SDUWVRILWFROODSVHG6R,DSSOLHGIRUWKHUHOLHI A suitable match was also found for my older fund for repair work. Women in the village used sister and she was married off. As my parents to discourage and tease me by saying, “Why do ZHUHXQDEOHWR¿QGDPDWFKIRUPHWKH\JRWP\ you need to repair your house? For whom are younger sister married off, too. They did try to you doing all this? You have no husband, no JHWPHPDUULHGEXWDV,ZDVWKHLURQO\VXSSRUW family no children. You will soon die and go to left, they didn’t try too hard. ZDVWH´,UHFHLYHGUXSHHV GROODUV IURP WKHIXQGWRUHSDLUWKHKRXVHZKLFK,GHSRVLWHG LQWKHEDQN,ZLWKGUDZUXSHHV GROODUV  “I have to request my neighbours every month to take care of my expenses and for water every day, which is have no clue how long the money will last. limited to just one bucket.” When my house fell, my ration card and other EHORQJLQJVZHUHDOVRGHVWUR\HG6R,KDYHQRW been able to access the free or subsidised ration When my father was alive and an active farmer, ,DPHQWLWOHG WRIRUDOPRVWD\HDUQRZ,KDYH , XVHG WR KHOS FRRN IRRG IRU WKH ODERXU WKDW been trying hard to renew my card but to no ZRUNHGRQP\IDWKHU¶V¿HOGVDQGLQRWKHUIDUP DYDLO , KDYH DOVR WULHG PDQ\ WLPHV WR DFFHVV related activities. My entire youth passed by JRYHUQPHQWVFKHPHVEXWIDLOHGEHFDXVH,GRQ¶W doing this and in taking care of my parents later. have awareness or the ability to do paperwork. ,ZDV\HDUVROGZKHQ,ORVWP\SDUHQWV$IWHU 6LQFH,DPDVLQJOHZRPDQ,GRQ¶WTXDOLI\IRU their demise, my brother took all the family land widow or old-age pension. DQG,ZDVOHIWDORQHDQGGHVWLWXWH0\IDWKHUKDG been a habitual gambler when he was alive and so my brother and village elders forced him to “My only pair of slippers broke will his property to my brother so he wouldn’t and so, I walk bare feet now.” ORVHDOORILWLQJDPEOLQJ,ZDVOHIWZLWKQRWKLQJ , FRQWLQXHG OLYLQJ LQ P\ IDWKHU¶V KRXVH ZKLFK LV LQ VKDPEOHV 7KHUH LV QR SRZHU RU ZDWHU , :KHQ ZRUN LV DYDLODEOH , JR WR WKH ¿HOGV DQG KDYHWRUHTXHVWP\QHLJKERXUVIRUZDWHUHYHU\ separate the cotton from the pod. For every GD\ ZKLFK LV OLPLWHG WR MXVW RQH EXFNHW ,W LV NLORJUDP RI FRWWRQ WKDW , FROOHFW , DP SDLG GLI¿FXOWWRPDNHHQGVPHHWDQG,ZDQWZRUNEXW  UXSHHV  GROODUV  7KLV LV VHDVRQDO ZRUN ZKHQHYHU , ZHQW RXW ORRNLQJ IRU LW WKH YLOODJH , FDQ PDQDJH WR GR  WR  NLORJUDPV D GD\ SHRSOHZRXOGWDXQWPHVD\LQJ³,ZDVZRUWKOHVV DQG HDUQ DQ\WKLQJ EHWZHHQ  UXSHHV DQGVKRXOGEHJIRUIRRG´,KDYHDOZD\VEHHQDQ  GROODUV  ,W LV VWUHQXRXV DQG P\ EDFN REMHFW RI ULGLFXOH IRU WKH YLOODJHUV DQG QRERG\ DQG QHFN EHJLQ WR DFKH DIWHU D IHZ KRXUV ,W¶V

,QHTXDOLW\EDVHGRQJHRJUDSK\5XUDOYHUVXVXUEDQKLOOVDQGGHVHUWVYHUVXVSODLQV ,QHTXDOLW\EDVHGRQLQFRPH+LJKLQFRPHYHUVXVPLGGOHLQFRPHYHUVXVORZLQFRPHJURXSV ,QHTXDOLW\EDVHGRQFXOWXUHHWKQLFLW\FDVWHUHOLJLRQJHQGHUGLVDELOLW\DQGVH[XDOLW\ 'U3.%KDUJDYDDQGRWKHUVTrends and Patterns of Population, Development and Destitution in India 3ULQFHWRQ  $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSHSFSULQFHWRQHGXSDSHUV DFFHVVHG-XQH  ,ELG A ration card or stamp is issued by the government to allow the holder ( particularly people living below the poverty OLQHLQWKH,QGLDQFRQWH[W WRREWDLQIRRGRURWKHUFRPPRGLWLHVDWVXEVLGLVHGUDWHV

 EHHQDORQJWLPHQRZVLQFH,KDYHEHHQ WRWKH¿HOGVWRZRUN,KDYHQRVWUHQJWK $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI*RZUDPPD left. My bones ache and my feet have 7am - 9am: )RUWKHSDVWIHZ\HDUV,¶YHEHHQZDNLQJ developed deep cracks and hurt when XS ODWH DW DURXQG DP  :KHQ , ZDV OLYLQJ ZLWK P\ ,ZDON0\RQO\SDLURIVOLSSHUVEURNH SDUHQWV , XVHG WR ZDNH XS DW  DP EHFDXVH , ZDV DQGVR,ZDONEDUHIHHWQRZ UHVSRQVLEOHIRUVRPDQ\FKRUHVEDFNWKHQ1RZ,OLYH (YHU\WKLQJ VHHPHG ¿QH ZKHQ P\ DORQH:KDWLVWKHSRLQWRIZDNLQJXSHDUO\",ZDNHXS 17 SDUHQWV ZHUH DOLYH 3HRSOH XVHG WR and go to my brother’s house with a lota WRUHTXHVW talk about my single status but it did KLPIRUVRPHPLONWRSUHSDUHP\PRUQLQJWHD,DOVR QRWDIIHFWPH,ZDVEXV\ZRUNLQJWKH FROOHFWP\GDLO\TXRWDRIRQHEXFNHWRIZDWHUIURPP\ QHLJKERXU,FRPHKRPHSUHSDUHWHDDQGWKHQWDNHD EDWK7KHZDOOVDURXQGWKHDUHDZKHUH,WDNHDEDWK “I prepare whatever food KDYHDOVRIDOOHQ6RQRZ,MXVWWLHDsari18 around it for is available. Mostly, it is FRYHU,SUHSDUHZKDWHYHUIRRGLVDYDLODEOH0RVWO\LW boiled rice with red chillies LVERLOHGULFHZLWKUHGFKLOOLHVIRUVRPHÀDYRXU:KHQ WKLQJVDUHJRRG,FDQDIIRUGWRSXWVRPHYHJHWDEOHVLQ IRUVRPHÀDYRXU the rice and cook the meal in oil. When things are good, I can afford to put some 9 am-7pm: ,I , ¿QG ZRUN , OHDYH IRU WKH ¿HOGV vegetables in the rice and spend the entire day working there and return and cook the meal in oil.” KRPH E\ DERXW SP ,IWKH RZQHU LV NLQGKHDUWHG , DPRIIHUHGOXQFK2WKHUZLVH,VSHQGWKHHQWLUHGD\ ZRUNLQJZLWKRXWIRRG2QP\ZD\EDFN,FROOHFWIXHO ZRRG:KHQWKHUHLVQRZRUN,VWD\DWKRPHZDVK entire day. After my parent’s died, clothes, visit the temple, collect fuel-wood and make WKLQJV FKDQJHG GUDVWLFDOO\ 3HRSOH cow dung cakes. started disrespecting me and as time SDVVHG , JUHZ ZHDN DQG IUDLO :KHQ 8pm-9pm: ,Q WKH HYHQLQJ , KDYH WR DVN P\ you have money people respect you. brother for milk again to prepare my evening tea. Otherwise, no one bothers. There :KHQ,UHDFKKRPHWKHUHLVQRSRZHU6R,SUHSDUH DUH WLPHV ZKHQ , DP IRUFHG WR EHJ tea in complete darkness, drink it and then sleep. EXW , KDYH UHIUDLQHG IURP GRLQJ VR ,DPOHIWZLWKQRHQHUJ\RUWKHGHVLUHWRSUHSDUHGLQQHU ,KRSHWKDW,DPQRWFRPSHOOHGWREHJ for myself. in the future.

A globular water-holding mug. Also spelt as “Saree,” a Sari is a strip of unstitched cloth ranging from four to nine yards in length that is draped over WKHERG\E\ZRPHQLQYDULRXVVW\OHVZKLFKLVQDWLYHWRWKH,QGLDQ6XEFRQWLQHQW

 SARSI When tomorrows bring more sorrow Photo @ UN Women/Divya Gupta “I can’t see very well now and am weak but still have the need and desire to work and earn some money.” Sarsi was barely 12 years old when she was married to a 40-year-old man. Fifty years later, at 62, she bears all the signs of old age and more — her body is frail and emaciated; her bones jut out; her voice quivers when she speaks; her hands shake and her movements are slow. When she cooks, she’s so visibly weak that she can barely stir the cooking pot. Her 90-year old husband lies like an old behemoth on a charpai19 inside their dark mud hut, tucked away in a winding village alley in Dungarpur, one of India’s most backward20 districts located in the northern desert state of Rajasthan. As her life story unravelled, tears rolled down Sarsi’s cheeks, even as her hands remained folded throughout — partly in respect, partly to comfort herself perhaps but mostly, out of some inexplicable hope. Almost a decade before the MDGs were outlined, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolutionRQSULQFLSOHVIRUROGHUSHUVRQVLQZKLFKDVVHUWHGWKHLUULJKWVWRLQGHSHQGHQFHFDUH SDUWLFLSDWLRQGLJQLW\DQGVHOIIXO¿OPHQW7KHJHQGHUHGQDWXUHRIROGDJHLVVXFKWKDWXQLYHUVDOO\ women tend to live longer than men but demographic trends point to a growing “feminisation of ROGDJH´%\WKHQXPEHURIHOGHUO\LQ,QGLDZLOOVRDUWRRYHUPLOOLRQIURPWKHFXUUHQWO\ HVWLPDWHGPLOOLRQDQGWKHQXPEHURIHOGHUO\ZRPHQZLOOH[FHHGPHQE\DOPRVWPLOOLRQ The predicament of elderly women and widows is aggravated by a lifetime of gender-based discrimination. Ageing women are more likely to be excluded from social security schemes due to ORZHUOLWHUDF\DQGDZDUHQHVVOHYHOV6RFLDOELDVRIWHQUHVXOWVLQDQXQMXVWDOORFDWLRQRIUHVRXUFHV their neglect, abuse, exploitation, gender-based violence, lack of access to basic services and denial of ownership of assets. INTERSECTIONALITY:2OGDJHFKLOGPDUULDJHXSSHUFDVWH 5DMSXW), below the poverty line, lack of proper housing, electricity and water.

Footnotes overleaf  ,¶YHOLYHGDOLIHIXOORIVDGQHVVDQGVWUXJJOHHYHU VXFKFDVHVWKHJLUO¶VZLVKLVQRWDVNHG,QIDFW VLQFH , ZDV ERUQ ,¶YH QHYHU H[SHULHQFHG UHDO when the man is rich, sometimes they even take peace and happiness. the girl by force. My family did what they had to, EXWLQP\KHDUWQDWXUDOO\,IHOWEDG ,ZDVERUQLQWRDSRRUKRXVHKROG0\IDWKHUZDV a farmer. We are four sisters and two brothers $IWHU PDUULDJH WKH VLWXDWLRQ ZDV WKH VDPH ² DQG,DPWKHHOGHVWRIWKHVLEOLQJV,ZDVPD\EH SRRUDQGGLI¿FXOW%XWP\KXVEDQGZDVDQROGHU MXVW  \HDUV ZKHQ , VWDUWHG GRLQJ KRXVHKROG DQGZLVHUPDQ6R,ZHQWDORQJZLWKKLPWRWKH ZRUN,XVHGWRKHOSLQWKHIDUPLQJODERXUZRUN ¿HOGVDQGVORZO\VWDUWHGWRXQGHUVWDQGKRZWR DQGGRPHVWLFZRUN,QHYHUVWXGLHG²WKHUHZDV no awareness at the time and we were so poor, that nobody even though of education. “Women can work in old age according to their capacity Fifty years ago, girls were married very early and ability but it is better DPRQJWKH5DMSXWFRPPXQLW\EXWQRZWKH\JHW PDUULHGDW\HDUVRIDJH,ZDVEDUHO\ to give us house-based work \HDUVROGZKHQ,JRWPDUULHG0\KXVEDQGZDV because it is more secure and RYHU\HDUVDWWKHWLPHDQGZDVQRWJHWWLQJD easier than construction and JLUOWRPDUU\,QVXFKFDVHVZKHUHWKHPDQLV village work.” PXFKROGHUEXW¿QDQFLDOO\VHWWOHGRUEHWWHURII KH GRHVQ¶W GHPDQG GRZU\ ,Q PDQ\ FDVHV KH even covers the wedding expenses. Dowry was GRDOOWKHZRUNDQGPDQDJHP\KRXVHKROG,KDG SUDFWLVHGZLGHO\LQWKH5DMSXWFRPPXQLW\DQG P\¿UVWFKLOGDWDERXW\HDUVRIDJHDQGKDG LVVWLOOSUHYDOHQW²LIDJLUOKDVWREHPDUULHGDW ¿YHJLUOVLQWRWDO,FRXOGQ¶WHGXFDWHDQ\RIWKHP  OHDVWtola of gold is given to the boy and because of poverty. Somehow, we managed to his family. We couldn’t afford it. We were a poor get all of them married. family and my father passed away rather early. 6RP\IDPLO\WKRXJKWLWEHVWWRPDUU\PHRII,Q

&KDUSDLDOVRVSHOWDV&KDUSR\RU&KDUSD\DQGNQRZQDV0DQMDLWLVDWUDGLWLRQDOZRYHQEHGFRQVLVWLQJRIDZRRGHQ frame bordering a set of knotted ropes. ,QWKH*RYHUQPHQWRI,QGLDODXQFKHGWKH%DFNZDUG5HJLRQ*UDQWV)XQG %5*) WRDGGUHVV³SHUVLVWHQWUHJLRQDO LPEDODQFHVLQGHYHORSPHQW´2XWRIDWRWDORIGLVWULFWVZHUHLGHQWL¿HGDVWKHPRVWEDFNZDUGGLVWULFWVWKDW TXDOL¿HGIRUVSHFLDOGHYHORSPHQWIXQGLQJ$YDLODEOHIURPZZZQLUGRUJLQEUJIUHSRUWVBQH[WKWPO DFFHVVHG -XQH  (FRQRPLFDQG6RFLDO&RXQFLO5HVROXWLRQRQ³813ULQFLSOHVIRU2OGHU3HUVRQV´DGRSWHGE\WKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV *HQHUDO$VVHPEO\RQ'HFHPEHUDWWKHWK3OHQDU\0HHWLQJImplementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing and Related Activities$YDLODEOHIURPZZZXQRUJGRFXPHQWVJDUHVDUKWP DFFHVVHG -XQH  )UHGHULND0HLMHU³7KHIHPLQLVDWLRQRIROGDJH´The Hindu2FWREHU$YDLODEOHIURP ZZZWKHKLQGXFRPRSLQLRQRSHGWKHIHPLQLVDWLRQRIROGDJHDUWLFOHHFH DFFHVVHG-XQH  ,ELG 5DMSXWLVDPHPEHURIRQHRIWKHSDWULOLQHDOFODQVRIZHVWHUQFHQWUDOQRUWKHUQ,QGLDDQGVRPHSDUWVRI3DNLVWDQZKLFK FODLPWREHGHVFHQGHQWVRI+LQGXZDUULRUFODVVHVRI1RUWK,QGLDSURPLQHQWGXULQJWKHWKWRWKFHQWXULHVDQGZHUH FRQVLGHUHGD³PDUWLDO´UDFHGXULQJWKH%ULWLVKUXOHLQ,QGLD6HYHUDOSUDFWLFHVFRPPRQDPRQJWKH5DMSXWVKDYHEHHQ considered restrictive and oppressive towards women ranging from the “ghoonghat,” which refers to the veil used to cover the face of married women, minimising the movement of women in public spaces and limiting interactions to only other women or immediate male relatives and child marriage, to more extreme practices of “Sati” or self-immolation of a married woman on the funeral pyre of her husband, “Jauhar,” which was the honorary self-immolation of women and VXEVHTXHQWPDUFKRIPHQWRWKHEDWWOH¿HOG DJDLQVWDQ\RGGV WRHQGWKHLUOLIHZLWKUHVSHFWDQGIHPDOHLQIDQWLFLGHZLGHO\ SUDFWLVHGKLVWRULFDOO\DPRQJ5DMSXWFODQVGXHWRVWURQJSUHIHUHQFHVIRUDER\FKLOGDQGKHLU The tola also transliterated as “tolah” or “tole” is a traditional South Asian unit of mass derived from the Sanskrit word ³WRO´PHDQLQJZHLJKW,WLVQRZVWDQGDUGLVHGDVWUR\JUDLQVRUH[DFWO\WUR\RXQFHDQGZDVWKHEDVHXQLWRIPDVVLQ WKH%ULWLVK,QGLDQV\VWHPRIZHLJKWVDQGPHDVXUHVLQWURGXFHGLQDQGDOVRXVHGLQ$GHQDQG=DQ]LEDU7UR\ZHLJKW is a system of units and mass customarily used for precious metals and gemstones. 9HLOXVHGWRFRYHUWKHIDFHRIPDUULHGZRPHQHVSHFLDOO\DPRQJ+LQGXXSSHUFDVWHZRPHQEHORQJLQJWRWKH5DMSXW FODQVRI5DMDVWKDQDOWKRXJKWKHSUDFWLFHKDVVSUHDGWRRWKHUFRPPXQLWLHVVXFKDVDPRQJWULEDOZRPHQ7KHSUDFWLFH DPRQJWKH5DMSXWVRULJLQDOO\FDPHIURPWKH0XVOLPUXOHRI,QGLDGXULQJWKHWKWKFHQWXU\7KHHQGRIDVDULRU dupatta is most often used as the veil. Dupatta is a piece of cloth that accompanies another commonly worn traditional RXW¿WDPRQJZRPHQLQWKH6XEFRQWLQHQWFDOOHGDVDOZDUNDPHH]7KHVDOZDULVDORRVHS\MDPDOLNHWURXVHUDQGWKH NDPHH]LVDORQJVKLUWRUWXQLF  $ERXW  \HDUV DJR ZRPHQ IURP WKH 5DMSXW WKLVDJHDQGVWDWH,KDYHWRZDONRQHNLORPHWUH community didn’t venture outside the house, let to fetch one small ghada27 RIZDWHU,FDQ¶WFDUU\ alone do labour work. We covered our faces with WKHELJRQH,JHWGL]]\DQGVR,KDYHWRVWRS our ghoonghat. We had to think a hundred times on the way, take rest and then proceed. times before going out or talking to someone. 6RPHWLPHV,FROOHFWZDWHUWLPHVDGD\ 0HQ FRXOG QRW HYHQ WDON WR 5DMSXW ZRPHQ ² Women can work in old age according to their there was a complete social ban. There is much capacity and ability but it is better to give us more freedom and mobility among women of house-based work because it is more secure other castes and communities, especially among and easier than construction and village work. tribal women. Even today, it is the same but ,FDQ¶WVHHYHU\ZHOOQRZDQGDPZHDNEXWVWLOO EHFDXVHWKHUHLVVRPXFKGLI¿FXOW\WRPDNHHQGV have the need and desire to do work and earn PHHW,KDYHGRQHDOONLQGVRIODERXU,OLIWHGDQG some money. dumped mud at construction sites even back then and have even done more intense work such as lifting water and rocks until last year $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI6DUVL as part of the employment guarantee scheme. 7RZDUGVWKHHQG,XVHGWRJHWOLJKWHUDQGHDVLHU DPDP , KDYH WZR EXIIDORHV DQG VR MREVOLNH¿OOLQJGULQNLQJZDWHUIRUHYHU\RQHRU WKH¿UVWWKLQJ,GRZKHQ,ZDNHXSLVFROOHFW lifting mud. Fellow workers also gave me less their dung, put it aside and then feed them strenuous work out of pity and respect for my with grass and grain chaff. One buffalo gives DJH 5DMSXWV DOVR UHFHLYH PRUH UHVSHFW IURP PLONRQFHDGD\6R,PLONLWDQGWKHQGULQN RWKHUFRPPXQLWLHVDQGFDVWHV,DPQRWZRUNLQJ VRPH WHD 7KHQ , ZDVK WKH XWHQVLOV FOHDQ DQ\PRUHEHFDXVHRIZHDNQHVVDQGVLQFH,GRQ¶W the house and cook food. KDYHDQ\GDXJKWHULQODZV,KDYHWRGRDOOWKH domestic work myself. DPSP , SUHSDUH ZDWHU IRU P\ husband’s bath and then feed him. We either , KDYH DOZD\V EHHQ WKLQ DQG IUDLO 7KHUH ZDV have roti and dal or if there is some money, never enough to eat in the house. There has then some vegetable and if not, then roti always been anxiety about how to make ends ZLWKPLON$IWHUWKDW,ZDVKFORWKHVDQGWKHQ PHHW DQG KRZ WR IHHG P\ GDXJKWHUV 6R ,¶YH have lunch myself. EHFRPH ZHDNHU EHFDXVH RI VWUHVV DOVR , DOVR couldn’t go out and get much work due to our SPSP,FKHFNRQWKHEXIIDORHVWRVHHLI restrictive traditions. My husband has been WKH\QHHGJUDVVRUZDWHU,WWDNHVDOPRVWWZR PRVWO\ O\LQJ RQ WKH EHG IRU WKH SDVW  \HDUV KRXUV,FDQ¶WZDONHDVLO\DQGWKHEXIIDORHV EHFDXVH RI ROG DJH ² KH PXVW EH  \HDUV are tied at some distance from my house old now. because we don’t have space nearby.

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 PHATUDI Life’s tough, with or without you Photo @ UN Women/Divya Gupta

“What if my child gets sick or some other need comes up? I had to wait for months to receive any money from my husband and that, too, only 1000 rupees (18 dollars) at a time.” For a young woman who attempted suicide not too long ago, Phatudi sure sports a ready smile, even while speaking about the episode, when her expressions do turn a shade sheepish. She’s blessed with naturally attractive features but under her head cover, there’s a lot more grey in her hair than there should be at just 32 years of age. Belonging to the predominant Pataliya tribe of the region, she lives in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, located in the heart of India. The lack of livelihood options has forced a high degree of male-out migration in the state, leaving behind a landscape increasingly dotted with women-led households. Left alone to fend for themselves and their children, these women gingerly navigate life alone in a village and are often forced to take on XQVXVWDLQDEOHGHEWIURPXVXULRXVPRQH\OHQGHUVWRPDNHVHQGVPHHWDQGVWD\¿QDQFLDOO\DÀRDW Migration denotes any movement of groups of people from one locality to another and takes GLIIHUHQW IRUPV ,Q WKLV PRYHPHQW RI SHRSOH ZRPHQ¶V ORFDWLRQ DQG VSDFHV DUH GH¿QHG E\ WKHLU positioning within the society and state. The process of migration thus has a constraining effect not only in structural terms (lack of choices) or cultural terms, but also in the sense in which it PD\LQFOXGHDEXVHH[SORLWDWLRQDQGHPRWLRQDODQGSV\FKRORJLFDOGLVWUHVV,QWKHDEVHQFHRIWKHLU husbands at close proximity, female-headed households bear the added responsibilities of managing the household budget, fuel and water needs, participating in community meetings, storing crops, PDUNHWLQJSURGXFHDQGPHHWLQJWKHLUFKLOGUHQ¶VZHOIDUH¿QDQFLDODQGJURZWKQHHGV$KLJKOHYHORI male out-migration from rural to urban areas has also led to the “feminisation” of agriculture. INTERSECTIONALITY: Tribal, illiterate, living in remote terrain poorly connected to health FDUH IDFLOLWLHV PRWKHU RI ¿YH FKLOGUHQ PDUJLQDO IDUPHU ZRPDQOHG KRXVHKROG GXH WR PDOHRXW PLJUDWLRQOLWWOHRUQRDFFHVVWRORZLQWHUHVWEDQNFUHGLWDQG¿QDQFLDOVHUYLFHV.

Footnotes overleaf  My father was a labourer. He was a bit insane KHFRPHEDFNZKHQKHKDVWRZRUNDQGHDUQ", and mostly remained outside the house. My JRWDQJU\DQGWRRNSRLVRQ²WKHRQH\RXSXWLQ mother raised the children mostly. We are two cotton to keep insects away. After that episode, VLVWHUVDQGRQHEURWKHU,KDGGUHDPVRIVWXG\LQJ ,¿QDOO\FRQYLQFHGP\KXVEDQGWRVWD\EDFNWR help me with raising the children and taking FDUH RI WKH KRXVHKROG DQG ¿HOGV DQG PDQDJH “I feel that life is easier as a the expenses. migrant than being alone as a ,IHHOWKDWOLIHLVHDVLHUDVDPLJUDQWFRPSDUHG woman in your own village... to being alone as a woman in your village. But Only you can know your own RXUODQGLVKHUHVR,KDYHWRVWD\DQGWDNHFDUH problems fully. How can you Sometimes, women go along and with children. share everything? The psychology ,ZHQWRQFHZLWKP\KXVEDQGWR*XMDUDWDORQJ becomes that somehow, ZLWK WZR FKLOGUHQ , OHIW WKH RWKHU FKLOGUHQ I have to manage.” behind with relatives. You work all day and earn something, eat and sleep. There’s a tap right at WKHVLWHWRDFFHVVZDWHU,QWKHYLOODJH\RXKDYH WRGRHYHU\WKLQJ\RXUVHOI²IHHGHYHU\RQHIHWFK DQG JHWWLQJ D MRE DQG HDUQLQJ EXW ZH ZHUH VR water from long distances, do house work and poor that life went in a different direction. IHHGOLYHVWRFNDQGWDNHWKHPJUD]LQJ2QO\\RX , ZDV TXLWH \RXQJ ZKHQ , VWDUWHG ZRUNLQJ LQ can know your own problems fully. How can FRWWRQ¿HOGV,XVHGWRJHWUXSHHV GROODUV  you share everything? The psychology becomes for collecting cotton the entire day and would WKDWVRPHKRZ,KDYHWRPDQDJH give it to my mother so she could buy grain for WKHKRXVH,PXVWKDYHEHHQMXVW\HDUVROG “I sent a message requesting him 1RZ\RXJHWUXSHHV GROODUV SHUGD\IRU to come back and stay at home. He the same work. said how could he come back when , JRW PDUULHG DQG KDG VL[ FKLOGUHQ EXW RQH he has to work and earn? JLUO GLHG ZKHQ VKH ZDV MXVW D IHZ \HDUV ROG I got angry and took poison — My husband started working in another state the one you put in cotton to keep leaving me alone to take care of the children and the insects away.” HYHU\WKLQJ HOVH , KDG WR FRRN DQG IHHG WKHP send them to school, do all the housework, fetch water from far away several times a day, :KHQ,QHHGHGPRQH\,KDGWRERUURZLWDQG take care of my livestock and run about trying , FRXOG SD\ LW EDFN RQO\ ZKHQ P\ KXVEDQG WRNHHSWKHPLQFKHFN,DOVRKDGWRZRUNLQWKH returned home. Women like me have to keep ¿HOGV:HGLGQ¶WKDYHDSKRQHDWWKDWWLPH6R borrowing money from each other in the village. ,XVHGWRUHTXHVWVRPHRQHHOVHWRFDOOKLPDQG What if my child gets sick, or some other need VHQGPHVVDJHVWKURXJKRWKHUVUHTXHVWLQJKLPWR FRPHVXS",KDGWRZDLWIRUPRQWKVVRPHWLPHV come back. He stayed away for three years and to receive any money from my husband and didn’t even come back in the rainy season. Once, WKDW WRR  UXSHHV  GROODUV  DW D WLPH  it must have been about a week before Holi and 0\ KXVEDQG HDUQHG DURXQG  UXSHHV ,VHQWDPHVVDJHUHTXHVWLQJKLPWRFRPHEDFN  GROODUV  SHU PRQWK EXW LW ZDV H[SHQVLYH and to stay home this time. He said how could where he worked and lived.

 Sansristi (Odisha), A research study on impact of increasing migration on women in Orissa. Available from KWWSQFZQLFLQSGIUHSRUWV0LJUDWLRQ:RPHQLQ2ULVVDB6DQVULVWLSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH ,ELG ,QGLDQIHVWLYDORIFRORXUVFHOHEUDWHGWRFRPPHPRUDWHUHOLJLRXVHYHQWVLQ+LQGXLVPWKHEHJLQQLQJRIWKHQHZVHDVRQ spring and saying farewell to winter and celebrating good harvests and the fertile land.

 (DUOLHU ZH KDG WR ZDON TXLWH IDU HYHQ WR JR WR WKH PDUNHW ,I \RX JRW VLFN LW ZDV GLI¿FXOW LI \RXU $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI3KDWXGL KXVEDQGZDVDZD\EHFDXVH\RXKDGWRZDONTXLWH DPDP When my husband was DGLVWDQFHWRUHDFKWKHKRVSLWDO,ZRXOGZRUU\WKH DZD\,XVHGWRJHWXSDWDPDQGKHDW most if my children got sick. My father-in-law also up water for a bath and make some used to remain sick and a lot of money was spent in rotis.,DOVRKDGWRIHHGP\FRZVDQG taking care of him. JRDWV7KHQ,ZRXOGEDWKHP\FKLOGUHQ DQG VHQG WKHP WR VFKRRO 7KHQ , “My workload didn’t change much would go take my cows, buffaloes and JRDWV WR JUD]H XS LQ WKH PRXQWDLQV after my husband came back. FRPH EDFN TXHQFK WKHLU WKLUVW DQG +HGRHVVRPHZRUNLQWKH¿HOGV throw them some grass to feed on. there’s a little less stress and debt but that’s it. DPSP , ZRXOG WKHQ JR WR P\ I still do most of the work.” ¿HOGVWRZRUN,DOVRKDGWRWDNHFDUH of my buffaloes’ calves, once they were ERUQ , ZRXOG WLH WKHP XS DW KRPH fetch water, prepare food, feed the ,XVHGWRORRN¿QHHDUOLHUEXWORRNDWP\KDLUQRZ FKLOGUHQ DQG ZDVK FORWKHV , KDG WR LW¶VDOUHDG\VRJUH\(DUOLHU,KDGWRZDONYHU\IDUWR fetch water several times a day from fetch water. My house structure was also not very TXLWHIDUDZD\ VWURQJ,FRXOGQ¶WVOHHSPXFKDWQLJKW$OOWKLVVWUHVV has resulted in premature ageing. There is also a SPSP 7KHQ , ZRXOG WDNH WKH IHDU RI OLYLQJ DORQH ZLWKRXW \RXU KXVEDQG ² \RX OLYHVWRFN IRU JUD]LQJ DJDLQ FRRN have to watch over your shoulder more and go out dinner, feed the children and family, of the house less after dark. Had the government then eat myself, clean up and sleep. been providing some opportunity to work from My workload didn’t change much KRPHLWZRXOGKDYHKHOSHGXVDORW,IWRLOHWVZHUH after my husband came back. He does provided within homes, women wouldn’t have to go VRPHZRUNLQWKH¿HOGVWKHUH¶VDOLWWOH outside. There is more security when your husband OHVVVWUHVVDQGGHEWEXWWKDW¶VLW,VWLOO is at home. Women who go with their husbands do most of the work. are happier and even divide work when they come back home.

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 LIV E L I HOOD S , EMP LOY M ENT & S KILLS

When employment is viewed in the most holistic and inclusive terms, it is only a sub-set of livelihood, ZKLFK IURP D VXVWDLQDEOH OLYHOLKRRGV DSSURDFK FDQ EH GH¿QHG as a set of economic activities involving self-employment and or wage employment by using one’s endowments (both human and material) to generate adequate resources for meeting the requirements of the self and household on a sustainable basis with dignity.

INTERSECTIONALITY: $ ODFN RI OLYHOLKRRG RU XQHPSOR\PHQW GLUHFWO\ UHVXOWV LQ SRYHUW\ ,Q extreme conditions, it leads to an inability to meet the most basic human needs such as shelter, FORWKLQJDQGIRRG,WDOVROHDGVWRLQGLJQLW\ODFNRIVHOIZRUWKDQGFRQ¿GHQFHORVVRIIUHHGRPDQG control, psychological stress and depression, poor nutrition, inability to pursue growth opportunities and compromises overall mental, emotional and physical health. Women experience all of the above more acutely than men and the more patriarchal a society is, the greater are the repercussions of unemployment for women, including increased vulnerability to all forms of gender-based violence. Among the most vulnerable are women and girls belonging to any excluded or marginalised group such as tribal women, Dalit (Scheduled Caste) women and women belonging to religious minorities VXFKDV0XVOLPV7KHDELOLW\RIZRPHQOLYLQJZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVRUSV\FKLDWULFGLVRUGHUV+,9DQG $,'6DQGRWKHUPDMRULOOQHVVHVDQGGLVHDVHVWRHDUQLQFRPHRU¿QGHPSOR\PHQWLVJUHDWO\UHGXFHG DQGFRPSURPLVHGODUJHO\GXHWRFULSSOLQJVWLJPDDQGGLVFULPLQDWLRQ,QWKHDEVHQFHRIYLDEOHDQG decent income-earning opportunities and a reliable social safety net, single women (elderly, widows, DEDQGRQHGGHVWLWXWHKRPHOHVV DUHH[WUHPHO\YXOQHUDEOHWRLQ¿UPLW\GLVHDVHH[SORLWDWLRQYLROHQFH DQGGHDWK7KHDGYDQFLQJJOREDOFKDOOHQJHRIFOLPDWHFKDQJHLVIXUWKHULQÀLFWLQJDGHYDVWDWLQJEORZ on agriculture, which is the main source of livelihoods for millions of poor rural families, especially ZRPHQZKRIRUPDPDMRULW\RIPDUJLQDOIDUPHUVLQGHYHORSLQJFRXQWULHV

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TARGETS INDICATORS 7DUJHW%Achieve full and productive *URZWKUDWHRI*'3SHUSHUVRQHPSOR\HG employment and decent work for all, including (PSOR\PHQWWRSRSXODWLRQUDWLR women and young people 3URSRUWLRQRIHPSOR\HGSHRSOHOLYLQJEHORZ  333 SHUGD\ 3URSRUWLRQRIRZQDFFRXQWDQGFRQWULEXWLQJ family workers in total employment

 2[IRUG 'LFWLRQDU\ RI (QJOLVK 2[IRUG 5HIHUHQFH 2QOLQH 2[IRUG 8QLYHUVLW\ 3UHVV   HG  $YDLODEOH IURP ZZZR[IRUGUHIHUHQFHFRP DFFHVVHG-XQH  7KHQDWLRQDOJRYHUQPHQWRI,QGLDFODVVL¿HVVRPHRILWVFLWL]HQVEDVHGRQWKHLUVRFLDOFRQGLWLRQW\SLFDOO\LPSO\LQJWKH\ are educationally or socially marginalised, which fall under the category of either “Scheduled Castes” or “Scheduled Tribes” RU ³2WKHU EDFNZDUG FODVVHV´ 6FKHGXOHG &DVWHV FRQVWLWXWH DSSUR[LPDWHO\ SHU FHQW RU  PLOOLRQ RXW RI D WRWDO RI ELOOLRQSHRSOHDFFRUGLQJWRWKHPRVWUHFHQWFHQVXVRI,QGLD7KHWHUP³'DOLW´KDVEHHQXVHGLQWHUFKDQJHDEO\ ZLWK 6FKHGXOHG &DVWHV DQG WKH\ LQFOXGH DOO KLVWRULFDOO\ GLVFULPLQDWHG FRPPXQLWLHV RI ,QGLD¶V ³RXWFDVWH´ RU “Untouchable” castes.

  7KH HPSOR\PHQWEDVHG 0'* WDUJHWV DQG LQGLFDWRUV ZHUH QRW EDVHG RQ D KROLVWLF OLYHOLKRRGV approach, which emphasises organic, bottom-up and community-based economic empowerment, dignity of labour and the pursuance of livelihood and income-generating activities in harmony with the environment.  $OWKRXJKWKHUHYLVHG0'*EDVHGWDUJHWWR³$FKLHYHIXOODQGSURGXFWLYHHPSOR\PHQWDQGGHFHQW work for all, including women and young people” was a step in the right direction, it came eight years late, eating into the MDG progress timeline. The corresponding indicators under the target ZHUHQRWDGHTXDWHO\UHYLVHGWRKHOSDFKLHYHLWLQHDUQHVW7KH\UHPDLQHGIRFXVHGRQQDWLRQDO DJJUHJDWHVDQGSURSRUWLRQVZKLFKIDLOHGWRWULJJHUWKHUHTXLVLWHSXEOLFSROLF\VKLIWVWRGHOLYHUD genuine and effective employment policy based on actual human needs and rights.  $VWKH0'*IUDPHZRUNGLGQRWLQFOXGHDQ\JHQGHUVSHFL¿FWDUJHWVRULQGLFDWRUVRQOLYHOLKRRG DQG HPSOR\PHQW ZRPHQ¶V FRQWULEXWLRQ ² XQSDLG DQG XQGHUSDLG ² WR DOO HFRQRPLF VHFWRUV remained unrecognised. Therefore, the challenges that impede their economic well-being also UHPDLQHGXQDFFRXQWHGIRUDQGXQDGGUHVVHG,QFOXVLRQRILQGLFDWRUVVXFKDV³QXPEHURIZRPHQ working on minimum wage” or “number of women working in formal wage-based employment LQWKHIDUPDQGQRQIDUPVHFWRU´ZRXOGKDYHPRUHOLNHO\LQÀXHQFHGSROLF\EXLOWLQDFFRXQWDELOLW\ and helped promote genuine economic empowerment of women. 4. The framework completely left out farm-based livelihoods and 3UR¿OHRQSDJHRIDWREDFFRJURZHU employment, which engages the bulk provides a clear sense of the strong role of the labour force in most developing that millions of women farmers play in the countries. Women form a large portion, overwhelmingly informal farm economy and LI QRW D PDMRULW\ RI WKLV DJULFXOWXUDO the dual workload they silently carry. labour force.

 0'*  SHUWDLQLQJ WR JHQGHU 3UR¿OHRQSDJHFDSWXUHVWKHGHHS HPSRZHUPHQW DQG HTXDOLW\ SHUVRQDOGHMHFWLRQH[SHULHQFHGE\DQ included only non-farm based unemployed college graduate and the wage employment for women as an KHDY\SV\FKRORJLFDODQG¿QDQFLDOWROO economic empowerment indicator. exacted on a low-to-middle income family However, the share of women in wage in the absence of social and economic employment in non-agricultural returns on investment in education. sector stagnated DW   SHU FHQW RYHU¿YH\HDUVIURP

6. Since it lacked the livelihood approach 3UR¿OHRQSDJHRIDWULEDO DVDEDVLV0'*DOVRGLGQRWIDFWRULQ woman living on a remote hilltop geographical exclusion and how spatially demonstrates the strong links between GLVDGYDQWDJHG SHRSOH ¿QG LW YHU\ KDUG such marginalisation and the increased to earn income or access livelihood likelihood of poverty, hunger and lack of opportunities. education, employment opportunities and mobility, especially for women and girls.

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 7. The MDG framework also eclipsed the entire gamut of labour, worker or migrant rights as it was not rooted in a 3UR¿OHRQSDJHVKHGV human rights framework or linked to any accountability light on how hunger and mechanisms. lack of livelihood options are increasingly forcing  7KH 0'* IUDPHZRUN HQWLUHO\ PLVVHG DQ\ HPSKDVLV RQ women to work as migrants enhancing skills and vocational employment and education without any social security, ² NH\ LQGLFDWRUV WR SURPRWH HFRQRPLF HPSRZHUPHQW social protection or which women repeatedly demanded across the board for workers’ rights. their economic betterment.

Women of India Speak ‡ 0RVWZRPHQDWWULEXWHGWKHLUVXERUGLQDWHSRVLWLRQLQWKHKRXVHKROGDQGVRFLHW\WRORZOLWHUDF\ OHYHOVRUODFNRIHGXFDWLRQDQGWKHUHVXOWLQJLQDELOLW\WR¿QGSURSHUMREVDQGDWWDLQ¿QDQFLDO independence.

‡ :RPHQ IHHO EXUGHQHG E\ WKHLU GDLO\ UROHV DQG UHVSRQVLELOLWLHV ZKLFK DUH GHSULYLQJ WKHP RI personal growth-related opportunities.

‡ :RPHQ ZRUNLQJ LQ IDUPLQJ DQG DOOLHG DFWLYLWLHV VXFK DV OLYHVWRFN PDQDJHPHQW UHSRUWHG D complete lack of employment options except for working on farms as daily wage labour or in construction sites and brick kilns as migrant labour. As a result, women are willing to settle for low wages and work long hours in poor conditions.

‡ :RPHQ HVSHFLDOO\ OLYLQJ in harsh terrains (deserts, remote areas, drylands), “Women toil away in dust and heat all day UHSRUWHG PDMRU OLYHOLKRRG in the employment guarantee scheme. UHODWHG FKDOOHQJHV ,Q ,WLV¿OOHGZLWKZRPHQODERXUHUV 5DMDVWKDQ IRU LQVWDQFH We do it so that our children don’t die of hunger. they shared that farming is If the odd man does work, he loses it in drinking GLI¿FXOWGXHWRODFNRIZDWHU and rain. As a result, women by the evening. The entire responsibility ¿QGLWKDUGWRIHHGDQGWDNH for bringing up children falls on us.” care of their families. Most women work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA). Often, they aren’t paid wages fully, or for the full number of days they worked or suffer long delays in wage SD\PHQWV6RPHWLPHVWKH\DUHQRWDEOHWR¿QLVKZRUNGXHWRWRXJKDQGRSSUHVVLYHZRUNLQJDQG weather conditions. Some women even felt that the hard physical labour they perform is not appropriate for them, but they do it to feed their children.

‡ :RPHQ OLYLQJ LQ FORVH SUR[LPLW\ WR WRZQV DQG FLWLHV IHOW WKDW WKH\ KDYH EHWWHU HPSOR\PHQW opportunities than women living in rural interior villages. Some elected women representatives

 The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), formerly known as NREGA, is DQ ,QGLDQ HPSOR\PHQW VFKHPH HQDFWHG E\ OHJLVODWLRQ RQ  $XJXVW  ,W SURYLGHV D OHJDO JXDUDQWHH IRU DW OHDVW  GD\V RI HPSOR\PHQW LQ HYHU\ ¿QDQFLDO \HDU WR DGXOW PHPEHUV RI DQ\ UXUDO KRXVHKROG ZLOOLQJ WR GR SXEOLFZRUN related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage, which differs by state. For more information, see KWWSQUHJDQLFLQFLUFXODU:DJH5DWHBMDQSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH 

 also shared that local development funds were facilitating loans for women and could be used to set up small businesses.

‡ 0DQ\ZRPHQUHSRUWHGVKLIWVLQZHDWKHUSDWWHUQVDQGFOLPDWHFKDQJHKRZLWLVNLOOLQJWKHLUPDLQ VRXUFHRIOLYHOLKRRG²IDUPLQJ²DQGLQFUHDVLQJIRRGLQVHFXULW\DQGSRYHUW\

‡ :RPHQSRLQWHGWRWKHODFNRIVNLOOEDVHGWUDLQLQJDQGHPSOR\PHQWDQGZKHUHDYDLODEOHWKH\IHOW that there are no opportunities to use those skills effectively to earn income or a livelihood.

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‡ +RZHYHU ZRPHQ DOVR VKDUHG WKDW W\SLFDOO\ RQO\ D TXDUWHU RI WKH ZRPHQ LQ D YLOODJH RU “Women understand saving and less are in SHGs. Also, very poor women are in the habit of it because they ¿QG LW GLI¿FXOW WR MRLQ 6+*V EHFDXVH JURXS know they might need it for a PHPEHUVKLS UHTXLUHV VDYLQJ DQG SRROLQJ RI child’s marriage, for purchasing individual resources, which poor women lack. Still, some elected women representatives livestock or for other necessities. advocated that if efforts are made, even they Men might earn but they don’t could save and pool small amounts as many save much at all.” poor women already deposit money in savings DFFRXQWVRIWKHLUORFDOSRVWRI¿FHV

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‡ :RPHQLQPDQ\VWDWHVGUHZDOLQNEHWZHHQ “We already work in construction reduced investment in girl’s education sites and farms. If we can do such and higher dropout rates due to lack GLI¿FXOWZRUNWKHQZHFDQHDVLO\ RI HPSOR\PHQW RSSRUWXQLWLHV 3DUHQWV TXHVWLRQZK\WKH\VKRXOGHGXFDWHWKHLUJLUOV do other work. We can also set up LIWKH\ZLOOQRW¿QGMREV6RPDQ\RIWKHP shops and tailor clothes. discontinue their daughters’ education after We can do many things — primary and secondary school. give us proper work. ‡ :RPHQ VKDUHG FRQFHUQV DERXW ZKHUH WR leave their children when they go out to work, implying a lack of child care infrastructure and crèches in work places.

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 GAURAMMA Toil, sweat, tears and no high Photo @ UN Women/Divya Gupta

“We do double work because we do domestic work and the bulk of tobacco farming. Sometimes, I do feel that why do I have to do this double work? But I have to because otherwise, how will we eat?” It was a full house at the gram sabha37 in Periyapatna, a tobacco-growing belt and administrative unit located in Mysore, which is the “cultural capital” of India’s southern state of Karnataka. 48-year-old Gauramma was in quiet attendance but after the meeting was over, she was the most forthcoming among a group of women tobacco farmers huddled together to share their challenges. From Karnataka’s dominant Gowda caste — primarily agriculturalists — she’s conscious of EULQJLQJDJXHVWLQWRKHUKXPEOHVXUURXQGLQJVVFUDPEOHVWR¿QGDFKDLUDQGFOHDUVVSDFHWRVLW Soft-spoken with a pleasant smile, there is a simplicity and innocence about her manner, a matter- of-factness in her responses and no time for self-pity. ,QPRVWGHYHORSLQJFRXQWULHVZRPHQFRQVWLWXWHDODUJHSURSRUWLRQRUPDMRULW\RIWKHDJULFXOWXUDO ODERXUIRUFHERWKLQVKHHUQXPEHUVDQGWKHLUFRQWULEXWLRQWRIRRGSURGXFWLRQ:RPHQFRQVWLWXWH SHUFHQWRI,QGLD¶VDJULFXOWXUDOZRUNIRUFH and all farm-related activities Their average contribution LVHVWLPDWHGDWSHUFHQW of the total labour. Most of the women farmers are also marginal or VPDOOIDUPHUVODQGOHVVWHQDQWIDUPHUVDQGIDUPODERXU7KH\PRVWO\FXOWLYDWHRQVPDOOSORWVRI acres and are very often involved in labour-intensive activities such as transplantations and weeding RSHUDWLRQV,QDGGLWLRQWRGHSHQGHQF\RQUDLQVWKH\DUHDOVROLPLWHGE\ODFNRIDFFHVVWRLQQRYDWLYH technologies, capital or credit facilities and low levels of awareness on how to increase production.

INTERSECTIONALITY:,OOLWHUDWHVPDOOVFDOHPDUJLQDOWREDFFRIDUPHUVHDVRQDOPLJUDQW.

Footnotes overleaf

 0\QDPHLV*DXUDPPD,¶PPDUULHGDQGKDYH pile them onto the tractor. The entire tractor can two sons and a girl. All three are married. My EH¿OOHGLQRQHGD\EXWLWWDNHVKRXUV7KHQ younger son stays with me along with his family. we carefully take each leaf and weave it into a We have two acres of land and grow tobacco, URSHWLHGWRDVWLFN²LW¶VOLNHPDNLQJDKDLUSODLW which is our main source of livelihood. We also and once the stick is covered completely with grow Ragi and some other crops but only when WREDFFROHDYHV,KDQJWKRVHVWLFNVXSLQDURRP it rains. For the last two years, it has rained behind my house, apply heat for them to dry very little and so we have been working on rich and then make big bundles to load into a truck. people’s farmlands nearby or slightly far away DVPLJUDQWODERXUIRUVWUHWFKHVRIGD\VDW a time. “I live on medicines and painkillers everyday. The day I , ZRUN IRU IRXU PRQWKV QRQVWRS GXULQJ WKH don’t have medicine, I can’t sleep.” tobacco-growing season. On a small portion of JRRG IHUWLOH ODQG , ¿UVW VSULQNOH WKH VHHGV WR grow saplings. They have to grow in a secure, We do double work because we do domestic work FRQWUROOHG HQYLURQPHQW ² WKHUH VKRXOG QRW EH and the bulk of tobacco farming. Sometimes, too much sand, shade or rain. Depending on the , GR IHHO WKDW ZK\ GR , KDYH WR GR WKLV GRXEOH VHDVRQZHJURZDQ\ZKHUHEHWZHHQ ZRUN" %XW , KDYH WR EHFDXVH RWKHUZLVH KRZ VDSOLQJV 2QH VDSOLQJ JLYHV  OHDYHV 7KHQ , ZLOOZHHDW"6ROLIHLVGLI¿FXOW²WKHSUHVVXUHLV transfer the saplings into tiny containers and always there. nurture and water them for a month before WUDQVIHUULQJ WKHP WR WKH ¿HOG 7KHUH ZH VRZ When it’s time to sell, mostly men go to the HDFKRQHDWOHDVWFHQWLPHWUHVDSDUW market with the tobacco bundles on a tractor or trucks come to our doorstep through agents as ZHOO,IWKHUDLQVDUHJRRGZHFDQJURZWREDFFR “We women do a lot more work SURSHUO\ RQ RXU ODQG )RU SURGXFLQJ  than our men — NLORJUDPV WKH LQYHVWPHQW LV  UXSHHV I feel this from my heart.”  GROODUV  DQG WKH SUR¿W LV DERXW  UXSHHV GROODUV ,ILWGRHVQ¶WUDLQZHOOWKHQ LIWKHLQYHVWPHQWLVUXSHHV GROODUV  :HZRPHQGRDORWPRUHZRUNWKDQRXUPHQ², \RX JHW WKH VDPH DPRXQW EDFN ² WKHUH LV QR feel this from my heart. Men work the tractors in SUR¿W6RZHKDYHWRDVVHVVKRZPXFKZRUNWR WKH¿HOGVEXWZRPHQGRDOOWKHKDQGEDVHGDQG put in if we anticipate losses in some year due to WLPHFRQVXPLQJ ZRUN  ,W LV ZRPHQ ZKR WDNH the lack of rainfall. Recently, there has also been care for three months daily until the saplings LQÀDWLRQ:HJHWGLIIHUHQWUDWHVIRUEODFNOHDYHV grow into big tobacco leaves. We tend to them, >UXSHHV GROODUV SHUNLORJUDP@JUHHQ water them, remove weeds regularly and apply OHDYHV > UXSHHV  GROODUV  SHU NLORJUDP@ fertiliser. DQG\HOORZOHDYHV>UXSHHV GROODUV SHU NLORJUDP@ZKLFKLVWKHEHVWYDULHW\RIWREDFFR $WOHDVWZRPHQZRUNWRJHWKHURQDWREDFFR ,IWKHJRYHUQPHQWFDQKHOSXVWRJHWWKHKLJKHVW IDUPODQG ,W FDQQRW EH GRQH DORQH DQG VR ZH UDWHRIUXSHHVSHUNLORJUDP GROODUV IRU hire each other. When the plant is ripe for the all types of tobacco we sell, whether it is black, leaves to be clipped off, again women do it and JUHHQRU\HOORZ,ZLOOEHVDWLV¿HGDQGKDSS\

*UDP6DEKDLVDPHHWLQJRIDOOWKHDGXOWFLWL]HQYRWHUVRIWKHYLOODJH,WLVHPSRZHUHGWRVXSSRUWRUWRSSOHWKHJUDP SDQFKD\DWERG\ZKLFKLVWKHORFDOVHOIJRYHUQPHQWDWWKHYLOODJHOHYHOLQ,QGLD7KLVJUDPVDEKDFDQSUHVVXUHWKH JUDPSDQFKD\DWWRWDNHGHFLVLRQVDQGIDFLOLWDWHWKHPRGL¿FDWLRQRIZHDNGHFLVLRQVZKHQHYHUWKH\IHHO$FFRUGLQJWRD government act, gram sabha meetings should compulsorily be held two times in a year at a minimum, although they can be convened as and when necessary and as many times as needed. ,QGLD3ODQQLQJ&RPPLVVLRQ5HSRUWRI6XE*URXSRQ*HQGHUDQG$JULFXOWXUH 1HZ'HOKL S$YDLODEOHIURP KWWSSODQQLQJFRPPLVVLRQQLFLQDERXWXVFRPPLWWHHZUNJUSZJBVXEJHQDJUSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH   Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology. Impact of WTO on Women in Agriculture (National &RPPLVVLRQIRU:RPHQ1HZ'HOKL S$YDLODEOHIURPKWWSQFZQLFLQSGIUHSRUWVLPSDFWRIZWR ZRPHQLQDJULFXOWXUHSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH  )LQJHUPLOOHWZKLFKLVDEXQGDQWO\SURGXFHGLQWKHVRXWKHUQ,QGLDQVWDWHRI.DUQDWDND  Growing tobacco generates a lot of heat LQ WKH ERG\ , WU\ WR HDW IRRG WKDW FRROV $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI*DXUDPPD WKH ERG\ , XVHG WR JHW D ORW RI VWRPDFK DPDP During the tobacco-growing DFKHV7KHGRFWRUWROGPH,KDYHVWRQHV and need an operation. My chest hurts VHDVRQ , JHW XS E\ DP RWKHUZLVH E\ DP occasionally but my hands and knees hurt RU DP 7KHQ , PDNH WHD IRU P\VHOI DQG ULFH often because of the all the bending in the EUHDNIDVW ,I WKHUH LV \RJXUW DW KRPH WKHQ , PL[ ¿HOG 3LFNLQJ WREDFFR OHDYHV IRU KRXUV LWLQ2WKHUZLVH,MXVWSXWVRPHhari mirch, salt LQWKHVXQJLYHVPHKHDGDFKHV,OLYHRQ DQG WRPDWRHV ZKLFK , RQO\ EX\ LI WKH\ DUH QRW medicines and painkillers everyday. The expensive. There’s no time to think too much about GD\,GRQ¶WKDYHPHGLFLQH,FDQ¶WVOHHS food. Our staple food is dal44 and rice. We can’t live ZLWKRXW LW  6R , PDNH WKDW IRU WKH GD\ DQG WDNH VRPHIRUP\VHOIWRWKH¿HOGIRUOXQFK7KHUHVWLV “When I don’t work for my family members. There’s no water at home LQWKH¿HOG HLWKHU VR , KDYH WR IHWFK ZDWHU HYHU\GD\ EHIRUH , my hands and feet OHDYHIRUWKH¿HOGZKLFKLVODWHVWE\DP remain cleaner and softer. DPSP , KDYHQ¶W EHHQ DEOH WR JURZ Women who don’t work anything on my land for two years because of lack RXWLQWKH¿HOGVRUGRDVPXFK RIUDLQ6R,ZRUNRQRWKHUSHRSOH¶VIDUPVIRU physical work as women UXSHHV GROODUV SHUGD\,EDUHO\KDYH farmers remain cleaner PLQXWHVIRUOXQFKEUHDNDQGWKHUH¶VQRWLPH and happier.” WR UHVW HLWKHU :KHQ , ZRUN DV PLJUDQW ODERXU DZD\IURPKRPH,VWDUWZRUNDWVL[LQWKHPRUQLQJ DQGFRPHEDFNDWSP7KHQ,PDNHIRRGDIWHU :KHQ,GRQ¶WZRUNLQWKH¿HOGP\KDQGV all that work. We take whatever food we need and feet remain cleaner and softer. for our stay from home like rice, dal, vegetables, :RPHQZKRGRQ¶WZRUNRXWLQWKH¿HOGV VSLFHVHWF,W¶VDORWWRFDUU\EXWLW¶VFKHDSHUWRWDNH and do as much physical work as women LWDORQJ:H¶UHQRWJLYHQIRRGWKHUH,JHWDGDLO\ farmers like me remain cleaner and ZDJHRIUXSHHV GROODUV SHUGD\ KDSSLHU,I,GLGQ¶WZRUNVRPXFK,FRXOG spend more time with my children and 6pm-8pm:,ZDVKFORWKHVDQGDOVRKDYHRQHFRZ grandchildren, take them to school, give WRWHQGWRZKHQ,FRPHEDFNEHFDXVHP\VRQUXQV  WKHPWLI¿Q and help my daughter-in-law DGDLO\QHHGVVKRSDQGRQO\FRPHVEDFNDWSP RXW ZLWK KRXVHZRUN , FRXOG WU\ WR HDUQ 7KHQ,PDNHGLQQHUZKLFKLVdal and rice again. some income weaving rope and making EHGVPDNLQJ5DJLÀRXUDWKRPHVWLWFKLQJ SPSP:HHDWGLQQHUDQGWKHQ,FOHDQXS and making pillows and bed covers made 0\KXVEDQGGULQNVEXWKHKDVQRWKLWPH,FOHDQ  from saris ²LWLVDOVRKDQGEDVHGZRUN up and take medicine before going to bed to prevent EXWOHVVGLI¿FXOWDQGWLULQJ back and body pains at night.

 Lunch box. 6DULZRUQE\ZRPHQLQWKH,QGLDQ6XEFRQWLQHQWPRVWO\LVDORQJSLHFHRIFORWKGUDSHGRYHUDQXQGHUVNLUWDQGEORXVH on top.  Green chillies. 44/HQWLORUVSOLWJUDLQRUSXOVHVFRPPRQIRRGIRUFRQVXPSWLRQLQ,QGLD

 KALYANI SATPATI No wings beneath my feet Photo @ UN Women/Pranab K. Aich

“Earlier, I still had a few dreams but now I don’t have any because they QHYHUJHWIXO¿OOHG,GLGQRWJHWDQ\UHWXUQVIURPP\HGXFDWLRQ,ZDV better illiterate than having wasted everyone’s energy over nothing.” :LWKJUHDWGLI¿FXOW\.DO\DQL¶VZLGRZHGPRWKHUHQVXUHGWKDWDOOKHUQLQHFKLOGUHQZHUHHGXFDWHG at least till college, so that they would not be dependent on anyone later in life. The youngest of the siblings, 27-year-old Kalyani has been unemployed for four years, facing rejection after rejection, despite having a graduate degree in Computer Science. She lives in Odisha’s Dhenkanal District, a densely forested former princely state located on India’s southeast coast and among the most backward districts in the country. With every passing day, her sense of disillusionment grows. Her inability to support her now old and ailing mother, eats away at her. In a desperate act, she FDUULHVKHUHGXFDWLRQDOFHUWL¿FDWHVZUDSSHGLQDSODVWLFVKHHWLQKHUEDJUHDG\WRVKDUHWKHPDW any chance meeting that might result in a job. )RU WKH SDVW VHYHUDO \HDUV ZRPHQ¶V ZDJH HPSOR\PHQW LQ WKH QRQIDUP VHFWRU LQ ,QGLD KDV stagnated against the backdrop of otherwise relatively strong economic growth despite the global GRZQWXUQ6LQFHLWKDVSRVVLEO\GHFUHDVHG46IURPSHUFHQWWRSHUFHQW47 as of June ,WLVDOVRKDOIWKHPDOH:35 SHUFHQW 7KHZDJHGLIIHUHQWLDOV between men and women ZRUNHUVDOVRYDU\ZLGHO\ERWKDVVDODULHGHPSOR\HHV ,15IRUPHQ,15IRUZRPHQ DQG FDVXDOODERXULQUXUDO ,15IRUPHQ,15IRUZRPHQ DQGXUEDQDUHDV ,15IRUPHQ ,15ZRPHQ 

INTERSECTIONALITY: Educated, graduate in computer science, unemployed, single, father died early, eight siblings, lives with mother.

Footnotes overleaf  My name is Kalyani Satpati. My father expired EDQNLQJ VHFWRU EXW ZDV UHMHFWHG HYHU\ZKHUH D ORQJ WLPH DJR , KDYH WZR EURWKHUV DQG VL[ , DP YHU\ IUXVWUDWHG EHFDXVH RI WKLV FRQVWDQW sisters. My mother made sure that all nine disappointment. Clearing the exams was not of us were educated. Everybody in my family an issue. The problem is that some people have has completed graduation but they have been GLUHFWLQÀXHQFHZLWKKLJKHUDXWKRULWLHVDQGVR XQDEOHWR¿QGJRRGMREV DUHDEOHWRJHWWKHMREVHDVLO\,QIDFWDWWLPHVWKH MRELVERRNHGIRUWKHPDQGWKHVHOHFWLRQH[HUFLVH ,JUDGXDWHGZLWKDPDMRULQ&RPSXWHU6FLHQFH LVMXVWDIDUFH3HRSOHZKRKDYHPRUHHGXFDWLRQ (YHU\WKLQJZDVYHU\JRRGXQWLO,FRPSOHWHGP\ and money can avail of anything and people education but after that, my problems started. like us suffer. We are dependent only on luck. 0\DLPZDVWRJHWDJRRGJRYHUQPHQWMREDQG ,WULHGIRUJRYHUQPHQWMREVEXWRQO\SHRSOHZLWK DERYHSHUFHQWPDUNVDUHDEOHWRTXDOLI\IRU “Clearing the exams was not an WKHP,FDQXQGHUVWDQGLIWKH\KDYHDKLJKFXW issue. The problem is that some off but if there is manipulation in the selection of candidates, then it is not acceptable. SHRSOHKDYHGLUHFWLQÀXHQFH with higher authorities and so, 7KHQWKHUHLVWKHTXRWDV\VWHP0RUHWKDQKDOI are able to get the jobs easily. the seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes In fact, at times the job is (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other  booked for them and Backward Classes (OBCs). They don’t even DSSO\ IRU MREV DQG WKHLU VHDWV DUH DOO YDFDQW the selection exercise 3HRSOH EHORQJLQJ WR WKHVH FRPPXQLWLHV FDQ is just a farce.” FRPHDIWHUDORQJYDFDWLRQDSSO\IRUDMREDQG they will still be able to get it but that is not so for general category people like me. For general HDUQDERXWUXSHHV GROODUV  VHDWVWKHFRPSHWLWLRQLVYHU\WRXJK,WLVOLNH2 51 SHU PRQWK WKLQNLQJ LW ZLOO EH VXI¿FLHQW WR EH laddoos and 2,000 rats (Too many candidates ¿QDQFLDOO\ LQGHSHQGHQW DQG \HW FRQWULEXWH WR applying for too few seats). WKHKRXVHKROGH[SHQVHV%XWLWZDVQRWIXO¿OOHG Four out of six sisters are yet to be married EHFDXVH ZH DUH XQDEOH WR IXO¿O WKH GRZU\ , WRRN DQ H[DP WR EHFRPH D VWDII QXUVH DQG demands made by the families of prospective ZDV UHMHFWHG , DOVR DSSOLHG WR MRLQ WKH SROLFH JURRPV ,Q WRGD\¶V DJH QRWKLQJ LV SRVVLEOH force, then to a teacher’s post and even in the without dowry. Everybody is demanding it.

,QGLD&HQWUDO6WDWLVWLFDO2UJDQLVDWLRQ0LQLVWU\RI6WDWLVWLFVDQG3URJUDPPH,PSOHPHQWDWLRQ 0263, Millennium Development Goals, India Country Report 1HZ'HOKL $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSPRVSLQLFLQPRVSLBQHZXSORDG PGJBBDSUSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH  46 2I¿FHRI5HJLVWUDU*HQHUDO &HQVXV&RPPLVVLRQHU0LQLVWU\RI+RPH$IIDLUV*RYHUQPHQWRI,QGLD&HQVXV $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSFHQVXVLQGLDJRYLQ&HQVXVB'DWDB,QGLDBDWBJODQFHZRUNSDUWDVS[ DFFHVVHG-XQH  470LQLVWU\RI6WDWLVWLFVDQG3URJUDPPH,PSOHPHQWDWLRQ 0263, 1DWLRQDO6DPSOH6XUYH\2I¿FH 1662 WKURXQG VXUYH\.H\,QGLFDWRUVRI(PSOR\PHQWDQG8QHPSOR\PHQWLQ,QGLD$YDLODEOHIURPKWWSPRVSLQLFLQ 0RVSLB1HZXSORDGSUHVVUHOHDVHWK( 8SGI DFFHVVHG-XQH  ,ELG 6FKHGXOHG7ULEHVUHIHUVWRVSHFL¿FLQGLJHQRXVSHRSOHVZKRVHVWDWXVLVDFNQRZOHGJHGWRVRPHIRUPDOGHJUHHE\QDWLRQDO OHJLVODWLRQDQGWKH,QGLDQ&RQVWLWXWLRQ7KHOLVWRI6FKHGXOHG7ULEHVFRQVLVWVRIGLVWULFWWULEHVDQGFROOHFWLYHO\ 6FKHGXOHG7ULEHVFRQVWLWXWHDSSUR[LPDWHO\SHUFHQWRUPLOOLRQRI,QGLD¶VWRWDOSRSXODWLRQRIELOOLRQSHRSOH The terms “adivasis” is used interchangeably with Scheduled Tribes and is an umbrella term for a set of ethnic and WULEDOJURXSVFODLPHGWREHWKHDERULJLQDOSRSXODWLRQRI,QGLD7KH\FRPSULVHDVXEVWDQWLDOLQGLJHQRXVPLQRULW\RIWKH SRSXODWLRQRI,QGLD  The list of other backward classes is a dynamic list of castes and communities considered backward and marginalised but which do not fall under Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. Among the most notable recommendations of the ¿UVW³%DFNZDUG&ODVVHV&RPPLVVLRQ´VHWXSE\3UHVLGHQWLDORUGHULQLQ,QGLDZDVWKDWDOO³ZRPHQ´EHWUHDWHGDVD backward class. %DOOVKDSHGSRSXODUVZHHWPDGHRIÀRXUVXJDUDQGRWKHULQJUHGLHQWV

 7KH PLQLPXP GRZU\ GHPDQG LV IRU  UXSHHV GROODUV 7KLVLVIRUDQ\NLQGRIER\:KHUHGRZHJHW $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI that kind of money from if there is no employment? There .DO\DQL are very few educated people who don’t want dowry. DPDP,XVXDOO\ZDNHXS When we were young we had a lot of farmland and we used DW DP DQG DIWHU IUHVKHQLQJ to earn a lot from the crops we grew. That was our main XS , SUHSDUH WHD IRU HYHU\RQH source of income but nowadays, no one is ready to work , WKHQ GR RWKHU KRXVHKROG on the agricultural land. When the government is giving related work, including preparing ULFH IRU  UXSHHV  GROODUV  SHU NLORJUDP WKHQ OXQFK IRU P\ VLVWHU 6LQFH , who will work on farmlands? So, we have land but it is don’t have anything else to do, lying barren. ,IXO¿OVXFKUHVSRQVLELOLWLHV

:KHQ , ZDV VWXG\LQJ P\ DLP ZDV WR EHFRPH D WHDFKHU DPDP My sister leaves for DQGVR,IRFXVVHGRQWKHVXEMHFWRIHGXFDWLRQ$VVRRQDV, KHU ZRUN ZKLOH , VWD\ ZLWK P\ FRPSOHWHGWKHWRSLFZDVUHPRYHGIURPWKHVWDWHVXEMHFWV mother and help her with routine DQGVRWKHUHZHUHQRPRUHYDFDQFLHV,ZRUNHGDVDWHDFKHU DFWLYLWLHV,ZLVK,ZDVDOVRGRLQJ LQDSULYDWHVFKRROEXWWKHVDODU\ZDVQRWVXI¿FLHQWIRUPH VRPHWKLQJ LW ZRXOG KDYH PDGH ,WZDVUXSHHV GROODUV SHUPRQWK²WRR my mother very happy. much work for too little pay. Taking private tutorials is very SPSP , UHKHDW WKH IRRG GLI¿FXOW*RYHUQPHQWVFKRROWHDFKHUVGRQ¶WWHDFKGXULQJWKH prepared in the morning for day but tell students to come to them for private tutorials lunch and then am usually free later at home. So, the students obviously go to them. XQWLO SP 6R , WU\ WR VHDUFK Whether they learn something or not is of no concern to QHZVSDSHUV IRU MRE RSSRUWXQLWLHV these teachers. or speak to people about future SRVVLELOLWLHV 0RVW RI WKH WLPHV , “I try to sleep and be positive end up being disappointed. When about the next day but , DP LGOH DOO VRUWV RI WKRXJKWV the disappointment has cross my mind. already set in very deep.” 6pm-8pm: , ORRN IRUZDUG WR my sister coming back home and , SUHSDUH GLQQHU IRU DOO RI XV 7DNLQJDORDQDQGVWDUWLQJVRPHWKLQJRQP\RZQLVGLI¿FXOW 6RPHWLPHVVKHKHOSVPHEXW,IHHO ,DPVFDUHGRIWKHJRYHUQPHQWV\VWHPDQGFRUUXSWLRQ$QG guilty and so, ask her not to. what is the guarantee that the business will be successful? :LWKUHJXODUMREVRQHLVDWOHDVWVXUHWKDW\RXZLOOJHWVRPH SPSP We have our dinner money at the end of the month. and all of us sit together and watch some television. My sister tells 5LJKW QRZ , DP RQO\ WDNLQJ WXLWLRQV IRU th DQG th class PH DERXW KHU GD\ 6RPHWLPHV , VWXGHQWVLQFRPSXWHUVFLHQFHDQGQRWKLQJHOVH,ZDQWWRJHW GRQ¶WOLNHLW,GRQRWH[SUHVVDQ\ DMREGHVSHUDWHO\IRUWKHVDNHRIP\PRWKHU6KHKDVVXIIHUHG demands or wishes in front of WKURXJKRXW OLIH WR UDLVH XV DQG JLYH XV WKLV NLQG RI OLIH , DQ\RQH EHFDXVH , GRQ¶W ZDQW WR FDQQRWEHDEXUGHQRQKHUDQ\PRUH,KDYHQRZLVKRUGHVLUH feel like a burden. Everyone goes RIP\RZQ(DUOLHU,VWLOOKDGDIHZGUHDPVEXWQRZ,GRQ¶W WRVOHHSE\SP,WU\WRVOHHSDQG KDYHDQ\GUHDPVEHFDXVHWKH\QHYHUJHWIXO¿OOHG,GLGQRW be positive about the next day but JHWDQ\UHWXUQVIURPP\HGXFDWLRQ,ZDVEHWWHUDQLOOLWHUDWH the disappointment has already than having wasted everyone’s energy over nothing. set in very deep.

 6$9,75,%2,<$1 Life’s all downhill Photo @ UN Women/Praveen Kaliga

“If someone is sick in our village, we have to carry him or her down on a cot for three kilometres; sometimes people just die on the way down.” Belonging to the Sabar tribe, Savitri lives on a remote hilltop in Gajapati District, located in the southern coastal state of Odisha and among the 250 most backward districts in India. There are no schools, colleges, hospitals, proper roads or reliable electricity connections available in her village. To earn income, she carries a bundle of broomsticks on her head and a polythene bag containing some rice and water for the day and travels to the local weekly market, which is 8-9 kilometres away from her village. On a good day, she earns 50-80 rupees (0.85-1.35 dollars) by selling the EURRPVWLFNV6KHNQRZVWKHPRQH\LVQRWVXI¿FLHQWEXWKDVQRRWKHUOLYHOLKRRGRSWLRQV+HUJUHDWHVW fear is that her children will lead the same life of insecurity and deprivation that she has. ,W LV ZLGHO\ NQRZQ DQG UHFRJQLVHG that the most marginalised and poorest people have been largely by-passed by MDG progress. Tribal people, living mostly in hilly, forested or remote terrain, FRQVWLWXWHSHUFHQW DSSUR[LPDWHO\PLOOLRQSHRSOH RI,QGLD¶VSRSXODWLRQ$OPRVWKDOIWKH tribal population lives in poverty and their poverty level is closer to where the general population ZDV\HDUVDJR$WSHUFHQWWKHOLWHUDF\UDWHDPRQJWULEDOZRPHQLQUXUDO,QGLDLVPRUHWKDQ SHUFHQWORZHUWKDQWKHQDWLRQDODYHUDJH SHUFHQW). Child and maternal mortality remain much higher among tribal people than the general population. Tribal women are also the most malnourished and tribal children are most likely to be undernourished, stunted or wasted than any other social grouping.

INTERSECTIONALITY: Tribal woman, illiterate, lives on remote hilltop, lives in a stone house, marginal farmer.

Footnotes overleaf

 0\QDPHLV6DYLWUL%RL\DQ,DPIURP%DGDRQMDR had to build our houses afresh. The land on YLOODJH ORFDWHG LQ WKH KLOOV , DP PDUULHG DQG which our house stands is not even balanced. KDYH WZR FKLOGUHQ ,Q RXU WULEDO FXOWXUH ZH The condition is slightly better today but there choose our own husbands. The only important is still no material available to build houses. thing is the girl’s consent. We cannot use cement or any other binding material because vehicles needed to transport these materials cannot reach our village. “There was no material available to build our houses except big ,W LV YHU\ GLI¿FXOW WR IDUP KHUH WRR :H WU\ WR JURZ 5DJL PDL]H DQG RWKHU FURSV :H FDQQRW stones. We used to heat these grow paddy because there is no water available ELJVWRQHVLQ¿UHWRDYHU\KLJK IRULUULJDWLRQ7KHUHDUHQR¿HOGVDVVXFKLWLV temperature. When they would a cleared forestland. We only farm for self- weaken, we would break them consumption and even that produce is not VXI¿FLHQW ,W KDV DOVR GHFUHDVHG ZLWK WLPH into small manageable pieces There is no food security of any kind. We live and use those to build our houses. D YHU\ GD\WRGD\ H[LVWHQFH ² ZH PLJKW KDYH We used mud to bind the stones something to eat today and might not have together. After the rains, we had anything tomorrow. to build our houses afresh.” ,DPQRWHGXFDWHGDQGVR,FDQQRWDSSO\DQ\ZKHUH IRU ZRUN 7R ZRUN LQ VRPHRQH HOVH¶V ¿HOG DV DJULFXOWXUDOODERXUUHTXLUHVRZQLQJVRPHFDWWOH 6LQFHP\ELUWK,KDYHEHHQOLYLQJLQWKHVDPH ZKLFKZHFDQ¶WDIIRUG$OVRZKHUHLVWKHWLPH", place. My father and mother also stay in the KDYHWR¿QLVKDOOWKHKRXVHKROGZRUNDQG,OLYHRQ same village. When we were young, there was WKHKLOOWRS,WU\HDUQLQJE\VHOOLQJEURRPVWLFNV  QRWKLQJLQP\YLOODJHEXWIRUHVW²QRHOHFWULFLW\ tamarind and tendu leaves but there is not no water, nothing. There was no material HQRXJKPRQH\LQLW2QHEURRPVWLFNLVIRU available to build our houses except big stones. UXSHHV GROODUV RUZKDWHYHUSULFH :HXVHGWRKHDWWKHVHELJVWRQHVLQ¿UHWRDYHU\ ZHFDQJHWIRULW1RWKLQJLV¿[HG,WWDNHVWKUHH high temperature. When they would weaken, we NLORPHWUHVWRMXVWUHDFKWKHEDVHRIWKHKLOODQG would break them into small manageable pieces WKHQDQRWKHUNLORPHWUHVWRWKHQHDUHVWEXV and use those to build our houses. We used mud stand. From there we either have to take a bus to bind the stones together. After the rains, we and spend money or walk down another two kilometres to sell our things in the local weekly

 The Millennium Development Goals Report 8QLWHG1DWLRQV3XEOLFDWLRQ6DOHV1R(, $YDLODEOHIURP KWWSZZZXQRUJPLOOHQQLXPJRDOVB0'*5HSRUWB(1SGI DFFHVVHG-XQH  2I¿FHRI5HJLVWUDU*HQHUDO &HQVXV&RPPLVVLRQHU0LQLVWU\RI+RPH$IIDLUV*RYHUQPHQWRI,QGLD&HQVXV $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSFHQVXVLQGLDJRYLQ&HQVXVB'DWDB,QGLDBDWBJODQFHZRUNSDUWDVS[ DFFHVVHG-XQH  0DLWUH\L%RUGLD'DV*LOOHWWH+DOO6RXP\D.DSRRUDQG'HQLV1LNLWLQ³,QGLD¶V$GLYDVLV´LQIndigenous Peoples, Poverty and Development*LOOHWWH+DOODQG+DUU\$QWKRQ\3DWULQRVHGV  $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSVLWHUHVRXUFHV ZRUOGEDQNRUJ(;7,1'3(23/(5HVRXUFHV,QGLDBEULHIBFOHDQBSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH   0LQLVWU\RI6WDWLVWLFVDQG3URJUDPPH,PSOHPHQWDWLRQ 0263, *RYHUQPHQWRI,QGLD1DWLRQDO6DPSOH6XUYH\2I¿FH 1662 $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSZZZQLUGRUJLQ5XUDO'HYHORSPHQW6WDWLVWLFVGDWDVHF SGI DFFHVVHG-XQH  ³,QGLD¶VOLWHUDF\UDWHULVHVWR&HQVXV´Livemint 1HZ'HOKL 0DUFK$YDLODEOHIURPKWWSZZZ OLYHPLQWFRP3ROLWLFV8W+\5K/XOF77,KJ\U41,QGLDVOLWHUDF\UDWHULVHVWR&HQVXVKWPO DFFHVVHG -XQH  0LQLVWU\RI+HDOWKDQG)DPLO\:HOIDUH*RYHUQPHQWRI,QGLD1DWLRQDO)DPLO\+HDOWK6XUYH\ 1)+6  $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSZZZWULEDOJRYLQ:ULWH5HDG'DWD&06'RFXPHQWV+($/7+352),/ (2)6&+('8/('75,%(6SGI DFFHVVHG-XQH  )UHG$UQROG6XODEKD3DUDVXUDPDQ3$URNLDVDP\DQG0RQLFD.RWKDULNutrition in India. National Family +HDOWK6XUYH\ 1)+6 ,QGLD0XPEDL,QWHUQDWLRQDO,QVWLWXWHIRU3RSXODWLRQ6FLHQFHV&DOYHUWRQ0DU\ODQG 86$,&)0DFUR &RURPDQGHO(ERQ\RU(DVW,QGLD(ERQ\ZKLFKLVDVSHFLHVRIÀRZHULQJWUHHWKDWLVQDWLYHWR,QGLDDQG6UL/DQND 7HQGXOHDYHVPDNHH[FHOOHQWZUDSSHUVDQGDUHUHVSRQVLEOHLQSDUWIRUWKHVXFFHVVRIWKHELGGLDWKLQ,QGLDQFLJDUHWWH ¿OOHGZLWKWREDFFRÀDNH%LGL±$VKRUWKLVWRU\&XUUHQW6FLHQFH%DQJDORUH,QGLD&XUUHQW6FLHQFH$VVRFLDWLRQ  PDUNHW7KHPRQH\HDUQHGLVQRWHYHQVXI¿FLHQW to buy onions, peppers, oil or anything else. So, $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI6DYLWUL my focus is on producing food for my family so that we can at least eat something. DPDP , XVXDOO\ ZDNH XS DW DP DQGJHWRXWRIEHGHYHQLI,GRQ¶WZDQWWR We want to live in the plains but there is no land ,I , GRQ¶W WKHQ WKH HQWLUH URXWLQH IRU WKH available there. We don’t have enough money day gets disturbed. After freshening up, to buy land even for a house, so we have no , LPPHGLDWHO\ VWDUW ZRUNLQJ DQG ZDQW WR option but to stay on the hilltop. Who will give ¿QLVKHYHU\WKLQJTXLFNO\VR,FDQJHWVRPH us the land? Who will let us stay on their land? rest before leaving home for work, which is ,I ZH OLYHG LQ WKH SODLQV ZH ZRXOG ¿QG EHWWHU ODWHVWE\DP employment. Everybody there is able to do something. They are leading a better life than DPDP , ZDNH XS P\ FKLOGUHQ DQG us. They are more modern. There have been husband so that they can start their day. changes in our village, too, but we are still lagging 0HDQZKLOH,TXLFNO\SUHSDUHWKH¿UVWPHDO of the day so that everyone is served in time. “If we lived in the plains, 7am-8am:$IWHUKDYLQJRXUPHDO,OHDYH ZHZRXOG¿QGEHWWHUHPSOR\PHQW IRU WKH ¿HOG RU IRUHVW ZLWK P\ KXVEDQG , Everybody there is able to do DVNP\HOGHUVRQWRJRWRVFKRROEXW,GR something. They are leading a QRW NQRZ LI KH JRHV RU QRW 6LQFH ,¶P RXW better life than us. They are more ZRUNLQJDOOGD\,FDQ¶WNHHSDFKHFNRQKLP modern. There have been changes 8am-2pm: , ZRUN LQ WKH ¿HOG ZLWK P\ in our village, too, but we are still husband so that we can get something to lagging far behind.” HDW:KHQ,DPLQWKHIRUHVW,FROOHFWIRUHVW SURGXFH DOO GD\ , JHW YHU\ WLUHG ZRUNLQJ long hours in the sun but cannot refuse to far behind. The poles are there but we do not GRLW,WLVP\kartavya. receive any electricity. There is no availability of drinking water, especially in the months of April SPSP%\SP,UHDFKKRPHDQGWHQG and May. We really have to struggle for those two WRP\IRUHVWSURGXFH²LWKDVWREHGRQHWKH months. We have to travel a minimum of three same day, otherwise the whole day’s hard kilometres to access an anganwadi or medical work goes to waste. FHQWUH,IVRPHRQHLVYHU\VLFNLQRXUYLOODJHZH have to carry him or her down on a cot for three SPSP,WDNHDEDWKDQGWKHQSUHSDUH NLORPHWUHV VRPHWLPHV SHRSOH MXVW GLH RQ WKH dinner. My husband usually goes out to way down. We have a school, but hardly anyone drink with his friends. FRPHVWRWHDFKEHFDXVHRIWKHXSKLOOFOLPE,JRW 6pm-7pm: 0\ FKLOGUHQ DQG , ¿QLVK RXU my younger son admitted in a school but he had GLQQHU EHFDXVH , NQRZ WKHUH LV QR SRLQW WR ZDON D GLVWDQFH RI ¿YH NLORPHWUHV HDFK ZD\ waiting for my husband. He usually returns everyday. So, he left it. KRPHODWHDIWHUSP,IWKHUHLVQRTXDUUHOLQ ,WLVXQOLNHO\WKDWWKHUHZLOOEHDZRUNLQJVFKRRO the house after my husband comes back, we RUKRVSLWDOLQP\YLOODJHHYHU,ZDQWWRVWD\LQ XVXDOO\JRRIIWRVOHHSE\SP,JHWVRWLUHG the plains because it will take a lot of time for after the day’s work that it hardly takes me GHYHORSPHQW WR UHDFK WKH KLOOWRSV , GRQ¶W ZDQW two minutes to go off to sleep. DQ\FDUPRQH\RUELJWKLQJV,MXVWZDQWHQRXJK for my family to live and eat well.

 Anganwadi PHDQV³FRXUW\DUGVKHOWHU´LQ+LQGLDQGUHIHUVWRQXWULWLRQFHQWUHVWKDWZHUHVWDUWHGE\WKH,QGLDQ JRYHUQPHQWLQDVSDUWRIWKH,QWHJUDWHG&KLOG'HYHORSPHQW6HUYLFHV6FKHPHVWRFRPEDWFKLOGPDOQXWULWLRQDQG hunger at the village level.  “Duty” in Hindi.

 LACHAMMA Home is where the heart and hunger is Photo @ UN Women/Praveen Kaliga

“The routine at the construction site was only work and sleep; there was no interaction because everybody was so tired. Village life is certainly better but there is no source of income here.” Lachamma keeps staring at her hands, which have developed hard skin edges, signalling that she’s been engaged in hard physical labour to earn a living. She lives in Salur, a predominantly tribal municipality about 100 kilometres away from the port city of Vishakapatnam, located on India’s south-eastern coast. Dressed in a sari62 with torn ends, she is a widow and 40-45 years of age although she feels like an 80-year-old “buddi63 amma.64” Desperate for regular income, her physical appearance is telling of her abject state, which has forced her into seasonal migration and to perform backbreaking labour at construction sites far away from home. She vows never to go through that anguish and drudgery again, even if she goes hungry. 7KH 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &RQYHQWLRQ RQ WKH 3URWHFWLRQ RI WKH 5LJKWV RI $OO 0LJUDQW Workers and Members of Their Families was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly as IDUEDFNDV,WFRQVWLWXWHGDFRPSUHKHQVLYHWUHDW\IRUWKHSURWHFWLRQRIPLJUDQWZRUNHUV¶ULJKWV DQGHQWHUHGLQWRIRUFHLQ$OWKRXJK,QGLDKDVQRWUDWL¿HGWKHWUHDW\LQDQHVWLPDWHG PLOOLRQ66SHRSOH DSSUR[LPDWHO\SHUFHQWRIWKHSRSXODWLRQ ZHUHUHFRUGHGDVPLJUDQWVLQ WKHFRXQWU\2YHUWKH\HDUSHULRGEHWZHHQWKHLQFUHDVHLQIHPDOHPLJUDQWV SHU cent) was more than double67RIPHQ SHUFHQW 0LJUDWLRQ can provide a vital source of income IRUZRPHQDQGWKHLUIDPLOLHVDQGHDUQWKHPJUHDWHUDXWRQRP\VHOIFRQ¿GHQFHDQGVRFLDOVWDWXV However, particularly if they are seasonal or irregular migrants, it also exposes them to greater possible verbal, physical and sexual abuse, poor housing and living conditions, low wages and economic exploitation, long working hours, insecurity and upon return, broken families, ill-health and poverty. INTERSECTIONALITY: Seasonal migrant, tribal woman, illiterate, widow, abandoned by children, hunger, landless, asset less, unskilled, no source of livelihood in village.

Footnotes overleaf  0\QDPHLV/DFKDPPDDQG,DPDZLGRZ,KDYH My neighbour, who is a close family member WZRFKLOGUHQ²DJLUODQGDER\7KH\DUHERWK and also like my father, took the initiative and HGXFDWHGEXWGRQ¶WOLYHZLWKPHDQ\PRUH,DP got me married to a boy from the neighbouring VRROGQRZWKDW,PXVWEH\HDUVROG YLOODJHULJKWDIWHU,JDLQHGSXEHUW\0\KXVEDQG ZDVDJRRGPDQKHVPRNHGEXWQHYHUGUDQN+H $V D \RXQJ JLUO , UHPHPEHU ZRUNLQJ D ORW LQ QHYHUEHDWPHHYHQRQFH+HXQGHUVWRRGWKDW, WKH IRUHVW DQG ¿HOGV ZLWK P\ IDPLO\ 7KUHH had to take care of my sister and supported me. days after my birth, my mother expired. My He died at a very young age, when my children father remarried soon after. My stepmother’s were still babies. He suffered from tuberculosis. treatment towards me was not very good and , EURXJKW XS P\ FKLOGUHQ DOO E\ P\VHOI DQG , XVHG WR IHHO YHU\ EDG DERXW LW $IWHU VRPH ¿QDQFHGWKHLUZHGGLQJVEXWWKH\DEDQGRQHGPH time, my father expired, too. Our stepmother and now, at this age, there is no one to support abandoned my younger sister and me and so, PH,XVHGWRZRUNLQWKH¿HOGVHDUOLHUEXWQRZ the responsibility to take care of her fell on me. WKHUH LV QR ZRUN 6R , FKRVH WR ZRUN RXWVLGH RXUYLOODJH6LQFH,OLYHDOODORQHP\QHLJKERXUV IRUFHGPHWRFRPHDORQJZLWKWKHPDQG,ZDV “When I left the village, I was told WROGWKDW,ZRXOGEHSDLGJRRGPRQH\IRUZRUN that it is not very hard work but RXWVLGH WKH YLOODJH 7KH ZLGRZ SHQVLRQ RI  UXSHHV GROODUV SHUPRQWKLVQRWVXI¿FLHQW when I went to the construction site, I found out that the work was , WUDYHOOHG IURP P\ YLOODJH WR 9L]LDQDJDUDP very hard and we were not paid ZKLFKLVDERXWNLORPHWUHVRUDQKRXUDZD\E\ enough for our work.” EXV)URPWKHUH,ZHQWWR%LMRSXUE\WUDLQDQG then travelled the whole day to the construction VLWHE\EXV,WZDVDYHU\WLULQJMRXUQH\,ZHQW WKHUHWZLFH²WKLV\HDUDQGWKH\HDUEHIRUHODVW 0\VLVWHUDQG,XVHGWRPDNHYHU\OLWWOHPRQH\ for two months each. and whatever we made was spent on her HGXFDWLRQ,WRRNLWXSRQP\VHOIWRHGXFDWHKHU Life at the construction site was very tiring. so that she could do something with her life. She , KDYH QHYHU GRQH VXFK ZRUN , XVHG WR VHLYH FRPSOHWHGth standard and is an anganwadi and dump mud from nine in the morning to ZRUNHU WRGD\ $W WKH WLPH ZKHQ , ZDV \RXQJ six in the evening, with only a lunch break in , GLG QRW UHDOLVH WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI HGXFDWLRQ the afternoon. We were three people working because there was so much work to do but together, taking turns to sieve and carry the WRGD\ZKHQ,VHHRWKHUV,UHDOLVHWKDW,VKRXOG VDQG :H ZHUH SDLG  UXSHHV  GROODUV  have studied, too.

 Also spelt as “Saree,” it is a strip of unstitched cloth, worn by women, ranging from four to nine yards in length that is GUDSHGRYHUWKHERG\LQYDULRXVVW\OHVZKLFKLVQDWLYHWRWKH,QGLDQ6XEFRQWLQHQW  Old or aged. 64$PPDPHDQVPRWKHULQPDQ\ODQJXDJHVRULJLQDOO\GHULYHGIURPWKH(DVW6\ULDFZRUG(PPD,WFDQDOVRPHDQ JUDQGPRWKHU,QFROORTXLDOXVDJHLQWKH,QGLDQ6XEFRQWLQHQWLWLVRIWHQXVHGWRGHVFULEHDQROGZRPDQLQDVRPHZKDW mocking manner. KWWSZZZRKFKURUJHQJOLVKERGLHVFPZFPZKWP DFFHVVHG-XQH  665/XVRPHDQG5%%KDJDW³7UHQGVDQG3DWWHUQVRI,QWHUQDO0LJUDWLRQLQ,QGLD´-XQH3DSHU SUHVHQWHGDWWKH$QQXDO&RQIHUHQFHRI,QGLDQ$VVRFLDWLRQIRUWKH6WXG\RI3RSXODWLRQ ,$63 7KLUXYDQDQWKDSXUDP (OGLV $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSFRPPXQLW\HOGLVRUJED7UHQGVDQG3DWWHUQVRI ,QWHUQDO0LJUDWLRQLQ,QGLDSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH  67,ELG 6XVLH-ROO\DQG+D]HO5HHYHV³*HQGHUDQG0LJUDWLRQ´&XWWLQJ(GJH3DFN%5,'*(,QVWLWXWHRI'HYHORSPHQW6WXGLHV ,'6  %ULJKWRQ,'6%RRNVKRS $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSZZZEULGJHLGVDFXNUHSRUWV&(30LJ25SGI DFFHVVHG -XQH   Anganwadi PHDQV³FRXUW\DUGVKHOWHU´LQ+LQGLDQGUHIHUVWRQXWULWLRQFHQWUHVWKDWZHUHVWDUWHGE\WKH,QGLDQ JRYHUQPHQWLQDVSDUWRIWKH,QWHJUDWHG&KLOG'HYHORSPHQW6HUYLFHV6FKHPHVWRFRPEDWFKLOGPDOQXWULWLRQDQG hunger at the village level.  SHUGD\DQGSURYLGHGIRRGDQGDPDNHVKLIWVKHOWHU,W ZDV YHU\ GLI¿FXOW WR OLYH LQ WKRVH KRXVHV (YHU\ERG\ $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI had to cram up and sleep in one room. The routine Lachamma WKHUHZDVRQO\ZRUNDQGVOHHSWKHUHZDVQRLQWHUDFWLRQ DPDP We used to wake up because everybody was so tired. The contractor at the E\ DP DQG VWDQG LQ TXHXHV FRQVWUXFWLRQVLWHGLGNHHSD¿UVWDLGNLWEXWKHZRXOGQRW WRXVHWKHWRLOHW,XVHGWRUHOLHYH even give us a tablet if we fell sick. Even when we were P\VHOILQWKHQHDUE\¿HOGVDQGWDNH sick, we had to work. They were not concerned about our a bath in the makeshift bathrooms KHDOWKZHKHOSHGHDFKRWKHU0\YLOODJHSHRSOHZHUHP\ ZHKDGFUHDWHGRXUVHOYHV,WZDVD PDLQVXSSRUW:KHQHYHU,IHOWIHYHULVK,XVHGWRGULQN horrible experience. hot water to get better. 8am-9am: We were given tea and bread for breakfast. We are It was very tiring work; nothing QRWXVHGWRVXFKIRRGEXWDGMXVWHG like the kind of work we used to do in somehow. the forests. I felt cheated because we 9am-7pm: We used to work at were told that the work would not the construction site with a lunch be very laborious. EUHDN LQ WKH DIWHUQRRQ ,W ZDV YHU\WLULQJZRUNQRWKLQJOLNHWKH kind of work we used to do in the IRUHVWV,IHOWFKHDWHGEHFDXVHZH :KHQ,OHIWWKHYLOODJH,ZDVWROGWKDWLWLVQRWYHU\KDUG were told that the work would not ZRUNEXWZKHQ,ZHQWWKHUH,IRXQGRXWWKDWWKHZRUN EHYHU\ODERULRXV,GLGQRWZDQW was very hard and we were not paid enough for our work. WRGRLWEXW,KDGQRRWKHURSWLRQ :HZHUHDOVRQRWXVHGWRLW,IHOWYHU\EDGWKHUH7KHUH till the work was completed. ZDV QR ZD\ , FRXOG KDYH OHIW WKDW SODFH DORQH DQG ZH could not leave the construction site before completing 7pm-8pm: We would wait in two months. TXHXHWREHVHUYHGGLQQHU 8pm-9pm: After dinner, we 9LOODJHOLIHLVFHUWDLQO\EHWWHUEXWWKHUHLVQRVRXUFHRI would go back to our rooms LQFRPH KHUH , XVHG WR HDUQ  UXSHHV  to sleep. There were too many dollars) per day in the village through the government people sharing the same room and employment guarantee scheme but the work is not FRXOGKDUGO\¿QGVSDFHWRHYHQ¿W DOZD\V DYDLODEOH ,W LV RQO\ IRU  GD\V DQG WKH VRPHZKHUH , XVHG WR FU\ RIWHQ DJULFXOWXUDO VHDVRQ LV DOVR IRU D SHULRG RI  PRQWKV thinking of my village and the only. For the rest of the year, there is a gap. IRUHVW,GLGQRWZDQWWRVWD\WKHUH 6WLOO,PLVVHGP\YLOODJHDOOWKHWLPHZKHQ,ZDVDWWKH My village people used to console FRQVWUXFWLRQVLWH6RPHWLPHV,XVHGWRFU\LQWKHQLJKW PHDQGVR,VWD\HGWKLQNLQJWKDW DQGFRXOGQ¶WVOHHS,ZLOOQHYHUJREDFNWRWKDWNLQGRI it will all be over soon. work now.

 N UTRITIO N, FOOD S E C U R I T Y & HUNGER

Food security70 exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to VXI¿FLHQWVDIHDQGQXWULWLRXVIRRGWRPHHWWKHLUGLHWDU\QHHGVDQGIRRGSUHIHUHQFHVIRUDQDFWLYH DQGKHDOWK\OLIHDVGH¿QHGE\)$2&RQYHUVHO\DKRXVHKROGLVFRQVLGHUHGIRRGVHFXUH71 when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation.

Nutrition72 is the sum total of the processes involved in taking and utilising food substances by which growth, repair and maintenance of the body are accomplished. It involves ingestion, digestion, absorption and assimilation. Nutrients are stored by the body in various forms and GUDZQXSRQZKHQWKHIRRGLQWDNHLVQRWVXI¿FLHQW

Hunger73 is the uneasy or painful sensation and the exhausted condition caused by want of food and the scarcity of food in a country.

Starvation74 is a state of extreme hunger resulting from lack of essential nutrients over a prolonged period.

INTERSECTIONALITY:$VWKHGH¿QLWLRQVDERYHUHYHDOKXQJHURUVWDUYDWLRQDUHWKHPRVWEDVLF DQGLPPHGLDWHFRQVHTXHQFHVRISRYHUW\ZKLOHQXWULWLRQDQGIRRGVHFXULW\DUHKROLVWLFPHDVXUHVIRU long-term development.

Women, especially in rural societies, are the fulcrum around which a family’s food security revolves. $ PDMRULW\ RI UXUDO ZRPHQ DUH HQJDJHG LQ DJULFXOWXUH DV VPDOOVFDOH DQG PDUJLQDO IDUPHUV DQG ZKHQVXFFHVVLYHUDLQIDLOXUHWKUHDWHQVWKHLUOLYHOLKRRGVDQGIRRGVHFXULW\ZRPHQDUHWKH¿UVWWR IHHOWKHLPSDFWDQGUHVSRQGWRWKHWKUHDW,QUHFHQWWLPHVLQ,QGLDVPDOOVFDOHIDUPLQJLVEHFRPLQJ LQFUHDVLQJO\XQYLDEOHDQGLVPRUHDFXWHO\LPSDFWLQJZRPHQZKRIRUPWKHPDMRULW\RIPDUJLQDO and small-scale farmers. They are thus being forced to work as daily wage agricultural labour or migrant labour to make ends meet and feed their children and families. Women are also taking on WKHWUDGLWLRQDOEUHDGZLQQLQJUROHRIPHQDVWKH\QRZIRUPWKHPDMRULW\RIODERXUHPSOR\HGWKURXJK the government employment guarantee scheme in village construction works. The government’s SXEOLFGLVWULEXWLRQV\VWHPLVQRWDGGUHVVLQJWKHEDVLFIRRGQHHGVRISRRUKRXVHKROGVDGHTXDWHO\GXH WRFRUUXSWLRQOHDNDJHDQGLQFRUUHFWLGHQWL¿FDWLRQRIWKHSRRU

,QDGGLWLRQH[LVWLQJVRFLDODQGFXOWXUDOQRUPVVWLOOSURPRWHQXWULWLRQDOGLVFULPLQDWLRQHVSHFLDOO\ in rural households. The nutrition of boys and men is given priority over that of girls and women DQG WKH ZKROH IDPLO\¶V QXWULWLRQ WDNHV SUHFHGHQFH RYHU WKDW RI WKH ZRPDQ RI WKH KRXVHKROG ,Q marginalised populations, undernourishment and malnutrition are pronounced due to remoteness,

 FAO Practical Guide: Basic Concepts of Food Security (&)$2)RRG6HFXULW\3URJUDPPH $YDLODEOHIURP ZZZIDRRUJGRFUHSDOHDOHSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH  )RRG6HFXULW\3ROLF\%ULHI)$2-XQH,VVXH$YDLODEOHIURPIWSIWSIDRRUJHV(6$SROLF\EULHIVSEBSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH ZZZKHDOWKJXLGDQFHRUJHQWU\:KDW,VWKH'H¿QLWLRQRI1XWULWLRQKWPO DFFHVVHG-XQH  :RUOG +XQJHU (GXFDWLRQ 6HUYLFH :RUOG +XQJHU DQG 3RYHUW\ )DFWV DQG 6WDWLVWLFV   $YDLODEOH IURP ZZZZRUOGKXQJHURUJDUWLFOHV/HDUQZRUOGKXQJHUIDFWVKWP DFFHVVHG-XQH 74ZRUGQHWZHESULQFHWRQHGXSHUOZHEZQ DFFHVVHG-XQH

 lack of livelihood options and structural neglect and discrimination. There is also an increased threat to the traditional sources of nutrition and protein accessed from forests by tribal people due WRHVFDODWLQJFRQÀLFWRYHUQDWXUDOUHVRXUFHVIRXQGLQDEXQGDQWVXSSO\ZKHUHVXFKSRSXODWLRQVDUH concentrated. Again, single women (elderly, widows, disabled, orphaned, abandoned, living with GLVDELOLW\RU+,9DQG$,'6 DUHIRXQGWREHWKHPRVWYXOQHUDEOHLQWHUPVRIIRRGLQVHFXULW\KXQJHU and starvation. 0'*V1XWULWLRQ)RRG6HFXULW\ +XQJHU

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TARGETS INDICATORS 7DUJHW&+DOYHEHWZHHQDQGWKH 3UHYDOHQFHRIXQGHUZHLJKWFKLOGUHQ proportion of people who suffer from hunger XQGHU¿YH\HDUVRIDJH 3URSRUWLRQRISRSXODWLRQEHORZPLQLPXP level of dietary energy consumption

 $GGUHVVLQJ VWDUYDWLRQ DQG H[WUHPH KXQJHU LV FHUWDLQO\ WKH PRVW LPPHGLDWH SULRULW\ RI DQ\ country’s food policy. However, it was a minimalist target to set for an otherwise ambitious JOREDOGHYHORSPHQWIUDPHZRUNZLWKD\HDUWLPHOLQHZKLFKVKRXOGKDYHLQFOXGHGWDUJHWVWR promote strong nutritional intake at the individual level, especially among the most vulnerable sections of the population and strongly bolster food security at the country level.  &RQVHTXHQWO\ WKH 0'* IUDPHZRUN IDLOHG WR IDFWRU LQ PXOWLSOH DVSHFWV ZLWK D EHDULQJ RQ DGGUHVVLQJKXQJHUDQGIRRGVHFXULW\VXFKDVVXI¿FLHQWIRRGSURGXFWLRQHTXLWDEOHDQGHIIHFWLYH distribution and factors such as rise of food prices, which can be extraneous.  (YHU\ WKLUG ZRPDQ LQ ,QGLD LV XQGHUQRXULVKHG DQG HYHU\ VHFRQG ZRPDQ LV DQDHPLF ,QUXUDO,QGLDDQDHPLDDQGPDOQRXULVKPHQWLVPRUHSURQRXQFHGDPRQJZRPHQDQGJLUOVGXH to the nutritional discrimination76 WKH\ IDFH ZLWKLQ WKH IDPLO\ 3UHJQDQW ZRPHQ DUH OLNHO\ WR be more anaemic than non-pregnant women77. Maternal under-nourishment, in turn, can OHDGWRELUWKRIXQGHUZHLJKWEDELHVZKRPD\EHPRUHSURQHWRLOOQHVVDVFKLOGUHQDQGDGXOWV,W has serious adverse implications for physical growth (stunting) and intellectual development. Maternal deprivation adversely affects the health of the foetus, which, in turn, leads to long- term health risks that extend into childhood and adulthood. Despite such alarming trends of systemic under-nourishment found among women over time, the MDG on hunger did not factor DQ\JHQGHUVSHFL¿FLQGLFDWRUVRUFUXFLDOVRFLDOFXOWXUDOHFRQRPLFJHRJUDSKLFDQGJHQHUDWLRQDO factors responsible for these trends or the strong links between women’s nutrition and child health. 4. Although the goal did include an indicator on minimum level of dietary energy consumption, its HI¿FDF\ZDVDJDLQGLOXWHGGXHWRWKHHPSKDVLVRQQDWLRQDODJJUHJDWHVDQGFDOFXODWLQJ³SURSRUWLRQ of population” rather than more direct and accountable indicators such as “number of people” OLYLQJEHORZDPLQLPXPOHYHORIGLHWDU\HQHUJ\FRQVXPSWLRQ,WZDVDOVRQRWHQWLUHO\FOHDUZKDW the minimum level of dietary energy consumption entailed as measures of calorie and nutritional consumption also differ from country to country, like poverty lines.

$DVKD.DSXU0HKWD6DQMD\3UDWDSDQG$NKWDU$OL³,QWHJUDWHG&KLOG+HDOWK6HUYLFHV´1R3ROLF\LV*HQGHU1HXWUDO 81:RPHQ 1HZ'HOKL $YDLODEOHIURPZZZXQZRPHQVRXWKDVLDRUJFDWHJRU\GLJLWDOOLEUDU\XQZRPHQ UHVRXUFHV DFFHVVHG-XQH 76,ELG 77,ELG ,ELG

 Women of India Speak

‡ 0DQ\ ZRPHQ LQ GLIIHUHQW VWDWHV LGHQWL¿HG shifting weather patterns and successive rain “Earlier women used to eat and crop failure as the reasons for increased ZHOOWKH\DWHGHVLJKHH FODUL¿HG food insecurity and poverty. These women butter) and had more strength; VDLG WKH\ FDQ QR ORQJHU ZRUN RQ WKHLU ¿HOGV QRZWKH\XVHUH¿QHGRLODQGDUH and climate change manifests in the shape of therefore, weak. Earlier women reduction in crop yield as well as loss of fertile used to eat healthy food and soil. The effects are being felt in the form of FKDNNLNDDWWD JURXQGHGÀRXU  displacement from their primary occupation, Earlier they didn’t work outside food insecurity, debt burden and, in extreme so much because there wasn’t cases, landlessness. so much alcoholism among men and they used to work more. Strength comes from eating Men were also more aware of their responsibilities earlier. proper food but women think of Now women have to work more themselves last. because their men are in the habit of drinking ‡ :RPHQ DUH FRQFHUQHG DERXW WKH LPSDFW RI and remaining idle.” climate change on nutrition and increased household expenditure as they now have to buy vegetables instead of growing them. They also screen food items based on cost rather than nutrition. The reduced intake of nutritious food is especially impacting women, who eat the last or least due to their nurturing caregivers roles and nutritional discrimination in rural households. 3UR¿OHRQSDJHH[DPLQHVWKHGHYDVWDWLQJLPSDFWRIFOLPDWHFKDQJHRQUXUDOOLYHOLKRRGV especially in entirely rain-dependent areas and how it is adversely impacting nutrition and leading to extreme food insecurity.

‡ 6RPH ZRPHQ SRLQWHG RXW WKDW IRRG VHFXULW\ LV QRW DQ LVVXH ZLWK YLOODJHV ZKR KDYH DOWHUQDWH irrigation sources, as they are not dependent on the rains. These villages have green pastures and the yield is excellent. On the other hand, villages without irrigation are suffering from crop failure and food insecurity and are caught in a debt trap. Women from these villages shared that WKH\IDFHGVXFKDFULVLVWKLV\HDUWKDWWKHLU¿HOGVGULHGXSDQGWKHUHZDVQRIRRGRUZDWHUHYHQ for the livestock. Women belonging to this group reported a total regression in their standards of living. 3UR¿OHRQSDJHVKHGVOLJKWRQKRZWKHODFNRIOLYHOLKRRGRSWLRQVDQGUHVXOWLQJ hunger are forcing women to increasingly work as migrants without any social security, social protection or workers’ rights.

‡ 6RPHZRPHQUHSRUWHGFDVHVRIVHYHUHPDOQXWULWLRQDPRQJZRPHQDQGFKLOGUHQLQWKHLUYLOODJHV

‡ :RPHQ FLWHG FKDOOHQJHV ZLWK WKH JRYHUQPHQW IRRG GLVWULEXWLRQ system, targeted mainly at people living below the poverty line. They shared that food insecurity is so acute that they have witnessed incidents of violence over even one kilogram of rice distribution.

3XEOLF'LVWULEXWLRQ6\VWHP 3'6 LVDQ,QGLDQIRRGVHFXULW\V\VWHPHVWDEOLVKHGE\WKH*RYHUQPHQWRI,QGLDZKLFK distributes subsidised food and non-food items to people living below the national poverty line.

 ‡ 0DQ\ZRPHQGUHZDOLQNEHWZHHQDOFRKROLVPDQGJUHDWHUSRYHUW\IRRGLQVHFXULW\DQGJHQGHU based violence in the household.

‡ :RPHQVKDUHGWKDWWKHUHLVEHWWHUDYDLODELOLW\ of nutritional facilities for children through “Men are not bothered if there anganwadis and increased number of is anything in the house to eat institutional deliveries, resulting in improved or not but at the time of eating, overall health of mothers and children. they want a full meal. If it is not However, women living in remote areas reported concerns about nutrition centres provided or served late, it becomes being too far from their villages to access, a reason for violence” LQDGHTXDWHLQIUDVWUXFWXUHRIWKHFHQWUHVDQG arbitrary distribution of meals.

‡ 6RPHZRPHQSRLQWHGRXWWKDWHQVXULQJQXWULWLRQIRUSHRSOHZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVUHTXLUHVJUHDWHU attention but there was positive feedback regarding the current availability “food cards” for SHRSOHOLYLQJZLWK+,9 3/+,9 LQVRPHSODFHV

 AnganwadiPHDQV³FRXUW\DUGVKHOWHU´LQ+LQGLDQGUHIHUVWRQXWULWLRQFHQWUHVWKDWZHUHVWDUWHGE\WKH,QGLDQJRYHUQPHQW LQDVSDUWRIWKH,QWHJUDWHG&KLOG'HYHORSPHQW6HUYLFHV6FKHPHVWRFRPEDWFKLOGPDOQXWULWLRQDQGKXQJHUDWWKH village level.

 E DUCATIO N & LITERACY

7KH 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV (GXFDWLRQDO 6FLHQWL¿F DQG &XOWXUDO 2UJDQLVDWLRQ 81(6&2  LGHQWL¿HV WKH UHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQOLWHUDF\HGXFDWLRQDQGGHYHORSPHQWE\¿UVWGH¿QLQJ GHYHORSPHQW as a SURFHVVIRUHQODUJLQJSHRSOH¶VFKRLFHVZKLFKSULPDULO\UHÀHFWWKHGHVLUHWROHDGDORQJDQGKHDOWK\ life; acquire basic knowledge and have access to resources essential for a decent standard of living. Development thus is thought of as a dynamic process, which empowers people and promotes LPSRUWDQW FKDQJHV LQ WKHLU OLYHV EXW DOVR UHTXLUHV WKH SDUWLFLSDWLRQ RI HGXFDWHG VNLOOHG DQG competent people in order to take place. %DVHGRQWKHDERYHLWGH¿QHV education as a process that provides knowledge, information and skills, which, in turn bring about desirable changes in the way people think, feel and act. 7KH\DOVREXLOGDVWURQJVHQVHRIVHOIHVWHHPVHOIFRQ¿GHQFHDQGFRQWULEXWHYHU\FRQVFLRXVO\WRWKH realisation of human potential. The impact of education on development thus depends on content and teaching methods. For education to become meaningful, it must provide the knowledge and VNLOOVRIUHDGLQJZULWLQJVLPSOHDULWKPHWLFDQGSUREOHPVROYLQJIRULPSURYLQJWKHTXDOLW\RIOLIH which implies OLWHUDF\GH¿QHGE\81(6&2DVWKH³ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts.” Education, organised and oriented along the lines mentioned above, UNESCO argues, will have a lasting impact on income, agricultural productivity, fertility rate, birth spacing, pre and post-natal KHDOWKQXWULWLRQNQRZOHGJHDWWLWXGHVDQGYDOXHV3HRSOHZLWKUHDVRQDEOHOLWHUDF\DQGQXPHUDF\ VNLOOVWHQGWRSURGXFHPRUHIDUPFURSVKDYHOLPLWHGQXPEHURIFKLOGUHQDQGHQMR\DUHODWLYHO\EHWWHU TXDOLW\RIOLIH INTERSECTIONALITY:/DFNRIHGXFDWLRQHPSOR\PHQWDQG¿QDQFLDOLQGHSHQGHQFHGHWHUPLQH shape and perpetuate women’s subordinate status in their households, marriages and society. 6HYHUDOIDFWRUVKLQGHUJLUOV¶HGXFDWLRQHVSHFLDOO\KLJKHUHGXFDWLRQ²GLVWDQFHWRVFKRROVDQGFROOHJHV security concerns, poverty, poor infrastructure such as poor roads and lack of sanitation, heavy rains, social norms and pressures of contributing to household work, fetching water, early marriage, producing children and working on farmlands. All of the above result in higher dropout rates among girls, especially after primary school. Alcoholism and gender-based violence in the household also impact children’s education adversely. Adult women suffer from very low levels of literacy and WKXV¿QGLWGLI¿FXOWWRDFFHVVWKHLUEDVLFHQWLWOHPHQWVOHDGLQJWRDOLIHRIKDUGVKLSDQGVWUXJJOHDQG exposing them to economic exploitation. Women belonging to marginalised communities such as scheduled tribes and castes similarly suffer from low levels of literacy due to historic neglect, social discrimination, poverty, socio-economic factors, living in remote areas and inaccessibility to schools and colleges.

 UNESCO, “Relationship between literacy, education and development,” (Training Manual for Local Government 5HSUHVHQWDWLYHV LQ 1RQ)RUPDO (GXFDWLRQ  $YDLODEOH IURP KWWSZZZXQHVFRENNRUJHOLESXEOLFDWLRQV 7UDLQLQJ0DQXDO02'8/(3') DFFHVVHG-XQH  ,ELG ,ELG

 MDGs: Education & Literacy

MDG 2 – ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION

TARGETS INDICATORS 7DUJHW$(QVXUHWKDWE\ 1HWHQUROPHQWUDWLRLQSULPDU\HGXFDWLRQ children everywhere, boys and girls alike, 3URSRUWLRQRISXSLOVVWDUWLQJJUDGHZKRUHDFK will be able to complete a full course of last grade of primary primary schooling /LWHUDF\UDWHRI\HDUROGVZRPHQDQGPHQ

 %DVHGRQWKHGH¿QLWLRQVDQGFRQFHSWVDERYHZKLOHSDULW\LQQXPEHURIJLUOVDQGER\VDWWHQGLQJ VFKRRO LV LPSRUWDQW WR SURPRWH JHQGHU HTXDOLW\ RI D FHUWDLQ NLQG WKH TXDOLW\ RI HGXFDWLRQ LV HTXDOO\LPSRUWDQWLIQRWPRUHVRWKDWFKLOGUHQFDQDFWXDOO\OHDUQDEVRUEJDLQNQRZOHGJHJUDVS concepts, open and grow their minds and develop the capacity for clear, original and independent thinking. For these to take shape, especially for girls and women, other enabling factors in their environments, referred to in the intersectionality section above, are crucial.

 (YLGHQFHDOVRGHPRQVWUDWHV that enrolment and completion rates are more accurate indicators than the ratio of girls to boys in schools.

 $OWKRXJKIHPDOHOLWHUDF\LVDJRRGLQGLFDWRURIZRPHQ¶VDGYDQFHPHQWWKHTXDOLW\RIWKHOLWHUDF\ GDWDFDQEHTXHVWLRQHG as some countries collect literacy information using sophisticated and FRPSUHKHQVLYHWHFKQLTXHVZKLOHRWKHUVDUHQRWHYHQDEOHWRSURYLGHWKHPRVWEDVLFLQIRUPDWLRQ Different countries also measure literacy differently.

4. The MDG framework as a whole failed to address social exclusion implicitly 3UR¿OH on page 46 sheds light on the or explicitly, which has meant that impact and pitfalls of low literacy among certain categories of women with DGXOWZRPHQLQUXUDO,QGLDWKHUHVXOWLQJ historically low levels of education economic exploitation, inability to access DQGUHTXLULQJWDUJHWHGDWWHQWLRQKDYH basic entitlements and the increased LQVWHDG EHHQ ODUJHO\ E\SDVVHG ,Q vulnerability, especially of single women. ,QGLDWKH\LQFOXGHDGXOWZRPHQWULEDO 3UR¿OHRQWDNHVDMRXUQH\LQWRWKH  women, Dalit women and Muslim world of a Muslim woman, who managed women. to get a good education and professional  7KH 0'* IUDPHZRUN DOVR PLVVHG RSSRUWXQLWLHVXQOLNHDPDMRULW\RIZRPHQ vital components of education such as from her community, but not without vocational education, legal education going through all the hoops of resistance and life skills, all of which have very to her mobility, freedom and choices from strong utility for poor people with little childhood into adulthood. or no formal literacy.

-DPLODK$ULI¿Q³*HQGHU&ULWLTXHVRIWKH0LOOHQQLXP'HYHORSPHQW*RDOV$Q2YHUYLHZDQGDQ$VVHVVPHQW´3DSHU SUHVHQWHGDW,QWHUQDWLRQDO&RXQFLORQ6RFLDO:HOIDUH ,&6: VW,QWHUQDWLRQDO&RQIHUHQFHRQ6RFLDO3URJUHVVDQG6RFLDO -XVWLFH  $XJXVW  .XDOD /XPSXU 0DOD\VLD $YDLODEOH IURP ZZZGRFVWRFFRPGRFV$*HQGHU &ULWLTXHRIWKH0LOOHQQLXP'HYHORSPHQW*RDOV DFFHVVHG-XQH  ,ELG ,ELG  Dalit or Scheduled Caste is a designation for a group of people regarded as “untouchable” and occupying the lowest rung of the Hindu caste system, which ordered and ranked humanity by innate spiritual purity.

 Women of India Speak ‡ 2QWKHSRVLWLYHIURQWZRPHQIHOWWKDWDZDUHQHVVOHYHOVKDYHLQFUHDVHGDPRQJUXUDOSHRSOHDERXW the importance of education and health. This has helped accelerate development and improve OLYLQJ VWDQGDUGV :RPHQ DUH PRUH DZDNHQHG DQG KDYH VWDUWHG UDLVLQJ WKHLU YRLFHV ,Q VRPH communities and villages, women’s self-help groups are vigilant about girl child education and are monitoring the activities of government programmes. ‡ :RPHQDOVRUHSRUWHGSRVLWLYHFKDQJHVLQSULPDU\HGXFDWLRQDQGLPSURYHPHQWLQWKHIXQFWLRQLQJ of schools. They felt that there is no discrimination between girls and boys. However, some women did share that poor rural families still prefer to invest in education for boys rather than girls, especially beyond primary level. Others alluded to subtle caste exclusion and differential behaviour in child care and nutrition services delivered in villages through government schemes. ‡ *LUOV ZKR FRPSOHWH VHFRQGDU\ VFKRRO DUH JHWWLQJ MREV VXFK DV PDQDJLQJ WKH “If someone has the means like a anganwadi, which is a good trend. Those car or motorbike, then they drop ZKRVWXG\IXUWKHUDUHJHWWLQJSULYDWHMREVLQ their girls to school or college. hospitals as nurses or in schools as teachers If they can afford even a horse- but these are still few. pulled rickshaw, it is possible. ‡ 6HYHUDO IDFWRUV VXFK DV GLVWDQFH Most of us our poor, so how do we inaccessibility, safety and lack of send them? We can’t send them transportation still constrain girl’s education, alone. If someone’s the daughter especially after primary school. RIDJRYHUQPHQWRI¿FLDORUKDVD ‡ *HQGHU UROHV UHPDLQ DQ LPSHGLPHQW IRU government job or a professional education-related growth for girls, as they job or has some land and their are expected to assist their mothers in daily farming work is good and household activities, taking away time abundant, they can study well; from their study or play, both of which are those who are poor cannot.” important for experiencing childhood and overall growth. Social norms and pressures for early marriage among girls in rural households are also strong inhibiting factors against their education.

‡ 3RYHUW\FDPHXSUHSHDWHGO\DVDFRQVWUDLQLQJ “Girls have to work and they factor for investing in girl’s education. Some help their mothers in cooking, women shared that poor families tend to cleaning and going to the forest. discontinue girls’ studies after primary Boys? They play cricket” school as it is free until then.

‡ :RPHQOLYLQJLQUHPRWHDUHDVFLWHGUDLQVDQGEDGURDGVODFNRIHOHFWULFLW\DQGJHQHUDOO\SRRU infrastructure as constraining factors for girl’s education.

 AnganwadiPHDQV³FRXUW\DUGVKHOWHU´LQ+LQGLDQGUHIHUVWRQXWULWLRQFHQWUHVWKDWZHUHVWDUWHGE\WKH,QGLDQJRYHUQPHQW LQDVSDUWRIWKH,QWHJUDWHG&KLOG'HYHORSPHQW6HUYLFHV6FKHPHVWRFRPEDWFKLOGPDOQXWULWLRQDQGKXQJHUDWWKH village level.

44 ‡ $OWKRXJK WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI HGXFDWLRQ HVSHFLDOO\ IRU JLUOV KDV LQFUHDVHG DPRQJ WULEDO communities, literacy levels are still very low among tribal women. Women also cited untimely delivery of study material, school uniforms and scholarships as contributing factors for dropouts, especially among girls. Teachers in hostel-based schools and colleges admonish girls for returning WRWKHLUYLOODJHVIUHTXHQWO\WRDWWHQGIHVWLYDOVDQGIDPLO\IXQFWLRQVZKLFKDOVROHDGVWRGURSRXWV ‡ 7KHUHLVDQLQFUHDVHGWUHQGRIVHQGLQJFKLOGUHQWRSULYDWHFRQYHQWVFKRROVLQWULEDODUHDVZKLFK cost more than government schools. Since parents prefer to invest in educating their sons more, the education of girls suffers. ‡ /LWHUDF\ OHYHOV DPRQJ DGXOW ZRPHQ DOVR remain very low. Some women estimated that “Our (tribal) girls PRUH WKDQ  SHU FHQW RI DGXOW ZRPHQ DUH have to catch the local train to LOOLWHUDWH LQ WKHLU YLOODJHV +RZHYHU  SHU reach school or college – still they FHQWRIJLUOVDUHDWWHQGLQJVFKRROVDQGWKH are studying and working hard per cent who are not studying, are from very poor families. under candlelight.” ‡ :RPHQGUHZDVWURQJOLQNEHWZHHQDOFRKROLVP and its negative impact on children’s education.

‡ ,Q5DMDVWKDQHOHFWHGZRPHQUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVIHOWWKDWDOWKRXJKLWLVJRRGIRUZRPHQWRVWXG\WKH\ might have to deal with more oppression and domestic violence, suggesting a possible backlash to woman’s education and employment, especially in settings with entrenched patriarchy and feudalism.

‡ :RPHQDFNQRZOHGJHGWKDWDZDUHQHVVOHYHOVDERXWJRYHUQPHQWVFKHPHVDQGVHUYLFHVLQFOXGLQJ for education, are still very low, especially in remote areas.

 MAYA DEVI ‘Twas fate’s folly or I’d know ABC

“Educated people know how to talk, negotiate, do their own work and appreciate its value. I had to be at the mercy of other people and work in their KRXVHVDQG¿HOGV6LQFH we are simpletons, we just took whatever money we got for our labour.”

Maya Devi is one of those granny ¿JXUHV HYHU\RQH ORYHV ± VKH¶V JRW a quick wit, rustic humour and is slightly overbearing in a caring and warm sort of way. Beneath her XQFRPPRQO\ MRYLDO DQG FRQ¿GHQW nature hides a back story of a 72-year old widow who had a child marriage, lost her parents and husband early, leaving her to fend for herself and raise four daughters alone in deeply patriarchal and feudal Rajasthan — a life of hard knocks that is all-too-common among women there. Despite it or perhaps because of it, she wears an air of cool, as she amusingly oscillates between making fun of the “gentle manners” and “low threshold” of the educated and yet, bemoans her own fate for never having studied herself. Photo @ UN Women/Divya Gupta

,QDERXWSHUFHQWRIWKHHQWLUHDGXOWIHPDOHSRSXODWLRQ DJHG\HDUVDQGDERYH LQ ,QGLDFRXOGQRWUHDGRUZULWH²IDUEHORZWKHSHUFHQWRIDGXOWPDOHVZKRDUHLOOLWHUDWH$GXOW illiteracy among women is particularly high in rural areas, especially among socially marginalised communities. Although a few government schemesH[LVWLQ,QGLDWRDGGUHVVIXQFWLRQDOOLWHUDF\ WKHUHKDVEHHQDQLQFUHDVHRIMXVWSHUFHQW in male and female adult literacy rates over the past GHFDGH,QWKHDEVHQFHRIFULWLFDOIRUZDUGPRPHQWXPLQWKLVDUHQDZRPHQLQUXUDO,QGLDFRQWLQXH WRIDFHPDMRULPSHGLPHQWVLQDFFHVVLQJWKHLUEDVLFHQWLWOHPHQWVOLYHOLIHVRIKDUGVKLSDQGVWUXJJOH and remain highly vulnerable to all forms of exploitation and violence.

INTERSECTIONALITY: ,OOLWHUDWH RUSKDQHG DQG ZLGRZHG DW DQ HDUO\ DJH PRWKHU RI IRXU daughters, lack of land and assets, daily wage agricultural labourer.

Footnotes overleaf 46 , ZDV PD\EH MXVW DURXQG  \HDUV ROG ZKHQ ,GLGQ¶WKDYHDQ\GUHDPV,MXVWWKRXJKWWKDWOHW , ZDV PDUULHG 0\ SDUHQWV ZHUH SRRU DQG DW OLIH SDVV E\ VRPHKRZ JHWWLQJ D VTXDUH PHDO D that time, there was no tradition to educate girls day, that’s all. Studying was not in my destiny. DQGVHQGWKHPRXWRIWKHKRXVH$OVR,VWDUWHG ,GRWKLQNWKDWLI,KDGEHHQHGXFDWHG,PLJKW helping my mother with all the household work KDYHEHFRPHVRPHWKLQJRUJRWDMREDQGHDUQHG at a very young age. So, there was neither the time some money. My pension would have kept nor the money to get educated. My parents were DXWRPDWLFDOO\ FRPLQJ LQWR WKH EDQN ,Q IDFW , mainly worried about earning some income, probably would not have even needed pension. feeding their children and getting us married. Educated people know how to talk, negotiate, After some time, they passed away. GR WKHLU RZQ ZRUN DQG DSSUHFLDWH LWV YDOXH ² , KDG WR EH DW WKH PHUF\ RI RWKHU SHRSOH DQG “I have four daughters. ZRUN LQ WKHLU KRXVHV DQG ¿HOGV 6LQFH ZH DUH VLPSOHWRQVZHMXVWWRRNZKDWHYHUPRQH\ZHJRW My husband died when IRURXUODERXU,GLGQ¶WHYHQNQRZKRZWRFRXQW they were very young. HDUOLHU , FRXOG RQO\ KDQGOH UXSHH QRWHV I’ve brought them up and QRWKLQJKLJKHUWKDQWKDW1RZ,FDQUHFRJQLVHD UXSHHQRWHEXWQRWKLJKHU6RPDQ\WLPHV got them all married. ,KDYHZRUNHGIRUMXVWUXSHHV  None of my daughters could study. dollars) for a full day’s labour cutting Bajra I’m not even sure how IURP DP WLOO WKH VXQ KLGHV DQG FRPLQJ EDFN I managed to feed them, KRPHZLWKMXVWRQHELJEXQGOHRIOLYHVWRFNIHHG let alone educate them.” :H XVHG WR JHW XS DW DP DQG VWDUW ZRUNLQJ on the chakki, while the children were still DVOHHS7KHQ,ZRXOGPDNHIRRGIRUWKHFKLOGUHQ , KDYH IRXU GDXJKWHUV 0\ KXVEDQG GLHG ZKHQ DQG IHHG WKHP ,Q ZLQWHU LW ZDV Bajra and in WKH\ZHUHYHU\\RXQJ,¶YHEURXJKWWKHPXSDQG WKHVXPPHULWZDVZKHDWPRVWO\,XVHGWRFXW got them all married. None of my daughters the grass, feed it into a machine to churn out FRXOGVWXG\,¶PQRWHYHQVXUHKRZ,PDQDJHGWR smaller portions, feed and milk the buffaloes IHHGWKHPOHWDORQHHGXFDWHWKHP,GLGKDYHWKH DQG JULQG PRUH WKDQ ¿YH NLORJUDPV RI ÀRXU desire to educate them but it was not possible. ZLWKP\KDQGVQRQVWRSLQDGD\,VWLOOJULQG ,DOVRKDGWRSURWHFWWKHPDQGWDNHUHVSRQVLELOLW\ ÀRXU,W¶VEHHQ\HDUVVLQFHP\KXVEDQGGLHG for their security since their father passed away ,XVHGWRGRWKLVZRUNIRUPDQ\\HDUVEHIRUHKH SDVVHGDZD\ULJKWIURPWKHWLPHZKHQ,ZDVD HDUO\ , ZRUNHG LQ RWKHU SHRSOH¶V ¿HOGV GLG small girl. We learned how to do all the work SK\VLFDOODERXUDOOGD\¿OOHGZDWHULQVRPHULFK DWDYHU\\RXQJDJH²JRLQJWRWKH¿HOGVGRLQJ PDQ¶VKRXVH²,GLGZKDWHYHUZRUN,FRXOG¿QG ODERXU ¿OOLQJ ZDWHU PDNLQJ rotis, sweeping so that my girls would not have to work outside. the house, washing the utensils and clothes and milking the cows.

ZZZXQHVFRRUJXLOOLWEDVH"PHQX  SURJUDPPH  DFFHVVHG-XQH  ,ELG 1LUDQWDU±DQDWLRQDOFHQWUHIRUJHQGHUDQGHGXFDWLRQ±KDVVLQFHEHHQZRUNLQJWRZDUGVKHOSLQJUXUDOSRRU women access literacy and educational opportunities, enabling their access to information and engendering educational SURFHVVHV1LUDQWDULQLWLDWHG6DKDMDQL6KLNVKD.HQGUD 66. LQµ6DKDMDQL¶LQWKHORFDOODQJXDJHPHDQVµRQHZKR helps women’. The programme broadly aims at empowering women and adolescent girls through literacy and education ±DQHGXFDWLRQWKDWPDNHVFRQQHFWLRQVZLWKWKHLUOLYHGUHDOLWLHVDQGULJKWVDQGHQDEOHVWKHPWRGHYHORSDQDO\WLFDOVNLOOV RQJHQGHUGHYHORSPHQWDQGRWKHULVVXHV7KURXJKLWVGLIIHUHQWDFWLYLWLHVWKHSURJUDPPHUHDFKHVRYHUZRPHQDQG adolescent girls belonging to the most marginalised communities like Dalits (Scheduled Castes) and Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes). 81(6&2,QVWLWXWHIRU6WDWLVWLFV 8,6 $GXOWDQG

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 SYEDA NOOR FATHIMA Allah would want us to read and write Photo @ UN Women/Divya Gupta

“Muslim women don’t have a choice in what they wear, whom they can speak to and even if they want to they are not allowed – the lack of choice and freedom are the biggest challenges facing them.” Syeda Noor Fathima’s manners are gentle and seasoned and her expressions, purposeful and intense. Her English, though heavily accented with a Kannada102ÀDYRXULVÀXHQW+HUWKRXJKWVKLW the high notes and are visionary and idealistic. As she sprints tirelessly from one village meeting to another in Mysore District, the second largest city in the southern state of Karnataka, 34-year- ROG)DWKLPDWDNHVWRWKHSRGLXPHDFKWLPHZLWKDVWHDG\VHOIDVVXUHGFRQ¿GHQFH²WKHNLQGWKDW comes from having endured life’s trials and tribulations. Ostracised by her family and community for marrying a non-Muslim, she poignantly shares, “has been more painful than the combined pain from all my other life struggles.” Muslim women are among the least literate, most economically impoverished and politically and VRFLDOO\PDUJLQDOLVHGVHFWLRQVRI,QGLDQVRFLHW\:LWKOHVVWKDQSHUFHQWOLWHUDF\ rate, they are WKHOHDVWHGXFDWHGRIDOOUHOLJLRXVPLQRULWLHVLQ,QGLD,QUXUDO,QGLDDQRYHUZKHOPLQJSHUFHQWRI Muslim women reportedWKDWWKH\DUHLOOLWHUDWH,QKLJKHUHGXFDWLRQ0XVOLPZRPHQDFFRXQWIRU a mereSHUFHQW&XUUHQWUHVHDUFKLQGLFDWHVWKDWSRYHUW\DQG¿QDQFLDOFRQVWUDLQWVDUHWKH PDMRUFDXVHVWKDWSUHYHQW0XVOLPJLUOVIURPDFFHVVLQJµPRGHUQ¶DQG¶VHFXODU¶HGXFDWLRQ$VDUHVXOW RIYLROHQWFRPPXQDOFRQÀLFWVWKHUHLV³LPPHQVHIHDUDIHHOLQJRIYXOQHUDELOLW\DQGFRQVHTXHQWO\D visible impact on mobility and education, especially of girls.” Muslim women are also overwhelmingly self-employed or engaged in low-skilled and low-income work due to discrimination and the lack of education and technical skills, keeping them in a cycle of poverty. INTERSECTIONALITY: Muslim woman, educated, college graduate, married to a non-Muslim, ostracised by community, suffered brain haemorrhage.

Footnotes overleaf  ,JUHZXSDVDWUDGLWLRQDO0XVOLPJLUOLQDMRLQW P\HGXFDWLRQIHHVDQGEX\LQJERRNVEHFDXVH, family, which means offering prayers, keeping ZDQWHGWREHFRPHDQ,$6RI¿FHU. At around fasts, wearing clothes that cover fully, talking to the same time, there were lots of marriage elders with respect and not standing and talking proposals coming my way and one proposal in front of them. At the same time, we had HYHQJRW¿QDOLVHG(YHQ,DFFHSWHGLWEHFDXVH, freedom within the family and had fun because wanted my mother to be happy but at the last there were so many children. minute, they demanded dowry and my brother UHIXVHG 7KHQ , GHFLGHG WR FRQWLQXH VWXG\LQJ Even though my father was from a rich family, got scholarships and opted for a Master’s in he was addicted to alcohol and so we ran into 6RFLDO:RUN 06: EHFDXVH,KDGVHHQDORWRI D ¿QDQFLDO FULVLV 0\ PRWKHU EHORQJHG WR D suffering at an early age in my family itself. very traditional but educated Muslim family and even though she had only studied until high school, her ideas were very progressive. She never wore a burqa, she never offered “Just going to college was a namazDQGPD\EHWKDW¶VZK\,ZDVLQÀXHQFHG very great thing at that time, by her at a very young age. For her ideas and ways, my granny used to scold her because she especially for a Muslim girl.” was old and conservative. She insisted that ,VWXG\LQDFRQYHQWVFKRRODQGIRUWKDWWRRWKHUH ZDVRSSRVLWLRQIURPP\JUDQQ\¶VIDPLO\²ZK\ $URXQGWKHVDPHWLPH,PHWP\IXWXUHKXVEDQG don’t you send your children to Urdu schools? ,WZDVYHU\LQFLGHQWDO,PHWKLPGXULQJDFROOHJH She felt that they teach religion but more than strike. He is from the Hindu community. Even WKDWVKHIHOWWKDW,ZLOOOHDUQUHVSHFWDEOHKDELWV WRGD\ P\ PDUULDJH LV D XQLTXH WKLQJ DQG WKHUH $V , JUHZ ROGHU WKH RSSRVLWLRQ ZLWKLQ EHLQJD0XVOLPZRPDQ,KDYHVXIIHUHGDORWRI P\KRXVHJUHZ,ZDVGRLQJYHU\ZHOOLQVFKRRO ostracisation in my community. and my mother supported me in every way but WKHIDPLO\¶V¿QDQFLDOFULVLVIRUFHGPHWRMRLQD ,Q  DIWHU ¿QLVKLQJ P\ 06: , ZHQW WR government aided-school because we had to %DQJDORUH DQG P\ ¿UVW DSSRLQWPHQW ZDV DV D pay fees at the convent school. This new school KXPDQUHVRXUFHV +5 RI¿FHULQDYHU\IDPRXV was for Muslim girls and my thoughts were JDUPHQW FRPSDQ\ (YHU\GD\ , XVHG WR VHH FKDQQHOLVHGLQWRUHOLJLRQ,HYHQZRUHWKHburqa IRUDZKLOHEXWPDLQO\RXWRIOD]LQHVV VXIIHULQJ ,I ZRPHQ FRPPLWWHG HYHQ VPDOO PLVWDNHVWKH\ZHUHEHDWHQXS,UHVLJQHGDQG 0\¿UVWWZR\HDUVRIFROOHJHZHUHDOVRLQD0XVOLP DIWHU ZRUNLQJ DW RQH PRUH FRPSDQ\ EULHÀ\ college. Just going to college was a very great PRYHGEDFNWR0\VRUH7KHUH,JRWDQRIIHUIURP thing at that time, especially for a Muslim girl. an NGO, which was working for the cause of My father was not supporting me economically YLFWLPVRIWUDI¿FNLQJSURVWLWXWLRQDQGGRPHVWLF EXWP\PRWKHUWRRNXSDGDLO\ZDJHMREDVDJHP YLROHQFH , JRW DSSRLQWHG DV D FRXQVHOORU DQG cutter to support my education. She worked on machines to cut big gems and stones into GXHWRWKHQDWXUHRIP\ZRUN,XVHGWRLQWHUDFW smaller ones and it involved a lot of work. She GDLO\ZLWKWUDI¿FNHGYLFWLPVDQGUHVFXHGJLUOV ZDV GUDZLQJ RQO\  UXSHHV  GROODUV  SHU 7KHLU VWRULHV ZHUH H[WUHPHO\ VDG ² KRZ WKH\ day and whatever she earned, she spent on were sexually harassed, raped and gang-raped

$ODQJXDJHVSRNHQSUHGRPLQDQWO\LQWKHVRXWKHUQ,QGLDQVWDWHRI.DUQDWDND ,QGLD0LQLVWU\RI0LQRULW\$IIDLUVSocial, Economic and Educational Status of Muslim Community of India, Sachar &RPPLWWHH5HSRUW 1HZ'HOKL $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSPLQRULW\DIIDLUVJRYLQVLWHVXSORDGB¿OHVPRPD¿OHV SGIVVDFKDUBFRPPSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH  ,ELG ,ELG ,ELG %XUTDLVDQHQYHORSLQJRXWHUJDUPHQWZRUQE\ZRPHQLQVRPH,VODPLFWUDGLWLRQVWRFRYHUWKHLUKHDGVDQGERGLHV especially when they appear in public.  Muslim prayer. ,QGLDQ$GPLQLVWUDWLYH6HUYLFH &LYLO6HUYLFH   by men, how they were lured into prostitution besides a non-Muslim. Where is it written in the on the pretext of getting employment and 4XUDQWKDW\RXVKRXOGQ¶WWROHUDWHRWKHUWKLQJV" locked up in basements in brothels from where ,WLVWKHXOWLPDWHERRN,UHDOO\ORYHWKH4XUDQ WKH\FRXOGQ¶WHVFDSH,KDYHOLWHUDOO\VHHQJLUOV 5HJDUGLQJ ZRPHQ ,VODP LV D UHOLJLRQ ZKLFK ZKRVH VH[XDO RUJDQV ZHUH GDPDJHG ,W ZDV teaches utmost respect for them. The option to really terrible. marry more than one woman is to rid them of economic or social problems they might face in Unfortunately, after working there for two \HDUV,OHDUQHGWKDWWKHGLUHFWRUVRIWKLV1*2 were themselves using women sexually. Then “Why should property cases for WKH\ DWWDFNHG P\ FKDUDFWHU DQG , OHIW EXW WKH Muslim women be decided under harassment had impacted me psychologically. Muslim personal law — let the , VXIIHUHG D EUDLQ KDHPRUUKDJH ZKLFK DOVR court decide. As a result of this, affected my womb and chances of fertility. Muslim women are neglected.” 0\KXVEDQGZDVYHU\VXSSRUWLYH$IWHUWKDW, GHFLGHGWRZRUNIRUWKHFDXVHRIZRPHQ,KDYH seen my mothers suffering, my cousin suffering VRFLHW\ 3URSKHW 0RKDPPDG KLPVHOI PDUULHG DQGRWKHUV²DOORIWKHPKDYHEHHQZRPHQ a widow and said you can marry up to four women, depending on your socio-economic Muslim women don’t have a choice in what VWDWXV DQG LI \RX DUH ¿QDQFLDOO\ VWURQJ $QG they wear, whom they can speak to and even if marry whom? The needy and distressed WKH\ZDQWWRWKH\DUHQRWDOORZHG±WKHODFNRI women in order to support them. That is what choice and freedom are the biggest challenges ,VODP WHDFKHV DQG ZKDW 3URSKHW 0RKDPPDG facing them. preaches. But nowadays, these fanatics marry one after another for their satisfaction and have OLQHVRIFKLOGUHQWRJHWKHU²WKH\DUHPLVXVLQJ “I strongly say that it. And even Muslim women blindly follow that. development programmes, ,Q ,VODPLF IDLWK \RX KDYH WR SD\ Mahr. But if they have to contribute, should again, male-dominated society has reversed this focus on ‘progressive education,’ practice. Everything has been changed to their especially for minority women. convenience. Generally, Muslim communities, especially women, don’t avail of government facilities 7KHRWKHUFKDOOHQJHLVWKHIRFXVRQUHOLJLRQ² and schemes. One is an attitudinal problem it is so strong that even if there is something but the treatment in the government facilities wrong or illogical, people will still follow it. LV DOVR YHU\ SRRU DQG GLVUHVSHFWIXO , VWURQJO\ Being a Muslim girl and after marrying a non- say that development programmes, if they have 0XVOLPPDQLW¶VQRWOLNH,GRQ¶WRIIHUSUD\HUV to contribute, should focus on “progressive ,GRRIIHUSUD\HUV,EHOLHYHRQO\LQ$OODKEXW, HGXFDWLRQ´ HVSHFLDOO\ IRU PLQRULW\ ZRPHQ ,I SUD\WRKLPLQP\RZQZD\,VODPDVDUHOLJLRQ you don’t pay special attention to them, it will DV,KDYHXQGHUVWRRGLWSDYHVZD\IRUVFLHQWL¿F EH GLI¿FXOW WR EULQJ WKHP RXW , DOVR VWURQJO\ knowledge and understanding, which teaches advocate a uniform civil code. Why are there tolerance of other faiths and everything. separate marriage laws for Muslims and for the However, nowadays, our upbringing is done in rest of the nation? Why should property cases such a way that we don’t even tolerate sitting

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 $Q HVWLPDWHG  SHU FHQW RI WKH JOREDO 3UR¿OH illustrates the serious population suffers from disabilities. impacts of disability on a woman’s sense ,Q ,QGLD DORQH DQ HVWLPDWHG  of security, ability to earn livelihood, SHU FHQW  PLOOLRQ  people access nutrition and shelter and suffer from disability. An additional experience independence, mobility,  PLOOLRQ reportedly suffer from freedom, personal happiness psychiatric disorders. Women comprise and prospects for companionship almost half of the disabled population and and motherhood. VXIIHUXQLTXHGLVSURSRUWLRQDWHDQGDGYHUVH LPSDFWVGXHWRGLVDELOLW\,QVWHDGRIJLYLQJ special attention to SHRSOH OLYLQJ ZLWK GLVDELOLWLHV and particularly women among them, the MDG framework entirely failed to address their challenges within its scope.

6. As stated above, when health 3UR¿OH of a domestic violence victim who kept LV GH¿QHG DV ³D VWDWH RI losing her babies due to brutalisation and violence complete physical, mental by her husband and his family, even during and social well-being and not pregnancy, validates this strong link between merely the absence of disease gender-based violence and women’s health. RU LQ¿UPLW\´ WKHQ WKH HQWLUH

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Women of India Speak Reproductive, Sexual and Child Health ‡ $FURVV DOO ¿YH VWDWHV ZRPHQ JDYH SRVLWLYH IHHGEDFN RQ LPSURYHPHQWV LQ KHDOWKFDUH VHUYLFHV for pregnant women and lactating mothers, infants and children, free vaccinations and immunisations, reduced maternal and child mortality, greater awareness of women and children’s KHDOWK DQG WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI IDPLO\ SODQQLQJ 3ULPDU\ KHDOWK FDUH FHQWUHV DQG KRVSLWDOV DUH FORVHUDOWKRXJKZRPHQLQWULEDOSRSXODWHGGLVWULFWVVWLOO¿QGPHGLFDOIDFLOLWLHVLQDFFHVVLEOHLQ some places. Women in these areas also shared that post-natal health issues for women and FKLOGUHQDUHRQWKHULVHLQGLFDWLQJWKDWSURJUHVVRQ0'*DQG0'*KDVQRWEHHQXQLIRUP ‡ ,PSURYHPHQWVKDYHRFFXUUHGLQUHGXFLQJPDOQXWULWLRQDPRQJFKLOGUHQDOWKRXJKLQVRPHSODFHV cases of severe malnutrition among women and children were also reported, again indicating XQHYHQ SURJUHVV 7KHUH ZDV DOVR FRQÀLFWLQJ DQG PL[HG IHHGEDFN RQ WKH JRYHUQPHQW SXEOLF service delivery system and scheme aimed at checking malnutrition and supplementing women’s nutrition through village centres called anganwadis,QRQHGLVWULFWLQ5DMDVWKDQVRPHZRPHQ UHSRUWHG WKDW FKLOGUHQ ZKR DUH UHFHLYLQJ LQRFXODWLRQV DQG LPPXQLVDWLRQ LQMHFWLRQV UHPDLQ protected from illness and are much healthier now. Women here also felt, however, that the food distributed at the nutrition centre is not according to local taste and was better earlier, when it was served hot and fresh instead of the packaged food handed out now. ‡ :RPHQLQPDQ\VWDWHVUDLVHGFRQFHUQVUHJDUGLQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHGHOD\VDEVHQWHHLVPRIGRFWRUV and nurses and long waiting hours, which often force rural people to seek private health services UHVXOWLQJLQDKXJH¿QDQFLDOEXUGHQ,QUHPRWHDQGWULEDODUHDVZRPHQVKDUHGWKDWRYHUFURZGLQJ is discouraging and often, pregnant women are sent back the same day or a few hours after child GHOLYHU\:KHQSULYDWHKHDOWKFDUHLVUHTXLUHGZRPHQDOVRVKDUHGWKDWZKHQSULYDWHKHDOWKLV UHTXLUHGWKH\SULRULWLVHWKHKHDOWKFRQFHUQVRIRWKHUIDPLO\PHPEHUVRYHUWKHLURZQ ‡ 6RPH ZRPHQ FLWHG FRQFHUQV WKDW WKH PRQHWDU\ LQFHQWLYH RI  UXSHHV  GROODUV  pregnant women are supposed to receive for delivering in government hospitals with a skilled birth attendant is often delayed by several months. Some also said that if they don’t have a bank DFFRXQWWKHQUXSHHV GROODUV JHWVGHGXFWHGWRRSHQRQHZKLFKOHDYHVWKHPZLWKYHU\ little in hand.

Gender-Based Violence

‡ :RPHQ LQWHUYLHZHG DFURVV DOO VWDWHV DQG “Quit Drinking” – the government districts unanimously shared that men’s should take out such an order in habit of alcoholism has remained unchanged every village. Only then will tribal over time and has the most damaging effect society progress – if dowry and on a household. They linked alcoholism alcohol are eliminated.” to diminished income and savings, loss of livelihood and unemployment, poverty,

 SV\FKRORJLFDOVWUHVVDQGSK\VLFDOYLROHQFHHVSHFLDOO\GLUHFWHGDWZRPHQ,WZDVDOVRIRXQGWRKDYH a negative impact on children’s education, household nutrition and women’s health, resulting in their physical weakness and mental depression.

‡ :RPHQLGHQWL¿HGGRPHVWLFYLROHQFHDQGDEXVHDVDGLUHFWUHVXOWRIDOFRKROLVPZKLFKDIIHFWV pregnant women most adversely. They reported that miscarriages due to domestic violence are not uncommon.

‡ :RPHQ IHOW WKDW GRZU\ LV DPRQJ WKH PRVW pervasive and disempowering challenges “Women are not weak but they WKH\IDFH7KH\FLWHGIUHTXHQWGRZU\UHODWHG don’t know what to do about the deaths, which some associated with prestige. drinking problem. Even if they Often resulting in extreme physical and mental torture for women, they felt that such do know, they can’t seem to do YLROHQFHDOVROHDGVWRODFNRIVHOIFRQ¿GHQFH anything about it. You have to DPRQJWKHYLFWLPV9LHZHGDVDEXUGHQRQWKH stay in the same house, whether SDUHQWVRIWKHJLUOVLWLVDOVRUHÀHFWHGLQWKH you are beaten or not.” upbringing and treatment towards the girl child, including her nutritional intake and FDUH'RZU\LVHVSHFLDOO\SUHYDOHQWDQG¿QGV VRFLDO DQG WUDGLWLRQDO VDQFWLRQ DPRQJ FHUWDLQ FRPPXQLWLHV VXFK DV 5DMSXWV IURP 5DMDVWKDQ where feudalism and patriarchy are deeply entrenched with serious implications for women’s health, social mobility, ability to earn and opportunities for education and growth. Women also shared that cases of dowry-related domestic violence often go unreported in the rural areas.

‡ :RPHQ FLWHG SROOXWLRQ DQG KHDOWK DQG ZRPHQ¶V VHFXULW\ DQG ULVLQJ FULPH DJDLQVW WKHP DV emerging concerns.

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‡ 2QWKHSRVLWLYHIURQWVRPHZRPHQUHSRUWHGDQLQFUHDVHGDZDUHQHVVRIZRPHQ¶VULJKWVDQGPRUH instances of women seeking police assistance and legal recourse compared to the past. Some women also reported that they are coming together through SHGs and pressurising men to stop drinking or beating their wives.

‡ :RPHQ LGHQWL¿HG YLROHQFH DJDLQVW ZRPHQ DW WKH ZRUN SODFH HVSHFLDOO\ LQ LQIRUPDO VHFWRUV (e.g. garment industry, as domestic help) where they are mostly employed, as a blind spot in SXEOLFSROLF\,WDOVRKDVPDMRULPSOLFDWLRQVIRUWKHLUKHDOWKDQGZHOOEHLQJ

Health and Infrastructure ‡ :RPHQIHOWWKDWODFNRIZDWHUDQGVDQLWDWLRQDIIHFWVWKHPPRVWDFXWHO\GXULQJPHQVWUXDWLRQ and pregnancy.

‡ :RPHQOLYLQJLQUHPRWHDUHDVGUHZDVWURQJOLQNEHWZHHQSRRUURDGVLPSDFWLQJKHDOWKDGYHUVHO\ HVSHFLDOO\ GXULQJ SUHJQDQF\ 7KH\ UHSRUWHG WKDW IUHTXHQW FDVHV RI SUHJQDQF\ FRPSOLFDWLRQV DQGPDWHUQDOGHDWKVDUHUHSRUWHGGXHWRQRWEHLQJDEOHWRUHDFKWKHKRVSLWDOLQWLPH,QWULEDO populated areas, women shared that pregnant women face challenges during the rainy season, ZKHQYLOODJHVHZHUFDQDOVDQGZDWHUZD\VÀRRG

 ‡ :RPHQIURPSHULXUEDQDUHDVUDLVHGFRQFHUQVDERXWODFNRIWRLOHWVWKHTXHVWLRQRIZKHUHWR defecate in the absence of open spaces, scarcity of drinking water, power cuts and the impact of all of the above, especially on children’s health.

‡ $OWKRXJKGHDWKVUHODWHGWRFRPPRQGLVHDVHVKDYHFRPHGRZQGUDVWLFDOO\ZRPHQDOVRUDLVHG FRQFHUQVDERXWTXDOLW\RIZDWHU KLJKOHYHORIÀXRULGH VSUHDGRIGLVHDVHVGXHWRXQWUHDWHGZDWHU and new diseases such as TB, typhoid, chicken guinea, dengue, kidney stones and cancer.

Health and Climate Change ‡ :RPHQ GUHZ D VWURQJ OLQN EHWZHHQ VKLIWLQJ ZHDWKHU SDWWHUQV FURS IDLOXUH IRRG LQVHFXULW\ poverty and lack of nutrition. Some women also reported undesirable cultural traditions such as Jogini Pratha²PDUU\LQJ\RXQJJLUOVWR³*RGV´²PDNLQJWKHPYXOQHUDEOHWRVH[XDODQGRWKHU forms of exploitation.

‡ :RPHQIDUPHUVVKDUHGWKDWZRUNLQJLQKDUVKZHDWKHULVLPSDFWLQJWKHLUKHDOWKDGYHUVHO\)RU LQVWDQFHLQGHVHUWFRYHUHG5DMDVWKDQWKH\GUHZDOLQNEHWZHHQWKHQDWXUHRISK\VLFDOZRUNWKDW women perform in rural areas in village and construction works and common health symptoms WKH\H[SHULHQFHDVDUHVXOWVXFKDVKHDGDFKHVDFLGLW\DQGGL]]LQHVV

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HIV and AIDS ‡ ,W ZDV UHSRUWHG WKDW LW LV YHU\ FRPPRQ LQ UXUDO ,QGLD IRU ZRPHQ “A man does not like eating only at home WR FRQWUDFW +,9 DQG $,'6 IURP — he likes to taste different meals their husbands unknowingly and transmission of the virus is far more from different hotels. likely through sexual intercourse Women become the sufferers. than through blood transfusions The husband usually dies and the DQGLQMHFWLRQV woman, whether she wants to live or not, ‡ 7KH VWLJPD DQG GLVFULPLQDWLRQ has to stay alive for her children. DVVRFLDWHGZLWK+,9DQG$,'6LVYHU\ A woman thinks of her family; KLJK LQ UXUDO ,QGLD ZKLOH DZDUHQHVV a man thinks only of himself.” levels remain very low. ‡ :RPHQ OLYLQJ ZLWK +,9 DUH PRVW FRQFHUQHGDERXWWKHLUFKLOGUHQDVWKH\¿QGLWGLI¿FXOWWRHDUQDOLYLQJDQGLIWKHFRPPXQLW\ knows the status, their children also suffer stigma and discrimination. One woman living with +,9VKDUHGWKDW³WKH\DUHPDGHWRVLWLQDFRUQHUDQGDZD\IURPRWKHUFKLOGUHQLQVFKRROVDQG RWKHU SXEOLF SODFHV QXWULWLRQ FHQWUH ZRUNHUV GLVFULPLQDWH DJDLQVW WKHP E\ QRW VHUYLQJ WKHP IRRGPDUULDJHSURSRVDOVDUHKDUGWRFRPHE\ZKHQWKH\JURZXSWKH\¿QGLWGLI¿FXOWWRJHW DFFRPPRGDWLRQRQUHQWQRERG\VSHDNVWRWKHPDQGHYHQH[WHQGHGIDPLO\PHPEHUVVWD\DZD\´ ‡ 2Q WKH SRVLWLYH IURQW ZRPHQ HVSHFLDOO\ LQ VRXWK ,QGLD UHSRUWHG WKDW DQWLUHWURYLUDO WKHUDS\ $57 LVSURYLGHGLQDWLPHO\PDQQHUDQGSHRSOHOLYLQJZLWK+,9DUHDOVRSURYLGHGIRRGFDUGVVR their basic nutrition needs are taken care of.

 Disability ‡ $ZRPDQZLWKGLVDELOLW\VKDUHGWKDWHDUOLHURQHZRXOGQRWFRPHWRNQRZLIWKHUHLVDGLVDEOHG person in a neighbour’s house. There is no focus or programmes for disabled people. She cited improvements in her own village and area over time with the coming of a local NGO. However, she emphasised that discrimination and stigma against people with disabilities is still very strong and starts within the family. A lot of superstitions are also associated with disabled people, which pose a further challenge. ‡ :RPHQZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVZHUHIRXQGWREHH[WUHPHO\YXOQHUDEOHWRVH[XDOKDUDVVPHQWH[SORLWDWLRQ DQGYLROHQFH3DUHQWVSUHIHUWRNHHSWKHLUGLVDEOHGGDXJKWHUVLQVLGHWKHKRPHVWRSURWHFWWKHP ZKLFK VHYHUHO\ UHVWULFWV WKHLU IUHHGRP DQG PRELOLW\ ,Q FDVHV RI SV\FKLDWULF GLVDELOLW\ WKH UHVWULFWLRQVYXOQHUDELOLW\DQGVWLJPDDUHPDJQL¿HG ‡ 0DUULDJHLVQRUPDOO\QRWDQRSWLRQIRUZRPHQZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVDQGWKH\DUHQRWDEOHWRHQMR\DQ\ RIWKHHPRWLRQDOSK\VLFDODQGSV\FKRORJLFDOMR\VRIURPDQWLFFRPSDQLRQVKLSOHDGLQJWRIHHOLQJV of loneliness, frustration and depression. Financial dependency, neglect by family members and society and lack of any assets including inheritance and property, which they normally do not UHFHLYHH[DFHUEDWHVWKHYXOQHUDELOLW\DQGIHHOLQJVRIZRUWKOHVVQHVV,QPDQ\FDVHVLWOHDGVWR suicidal thoughts or acts. ‡ 2OG GLVDEOHG ZRPHQ ZHUH IRXQG WR EH DPRQJ WKH PRVW YXOQHUDEOH ODFNLQJ EDVLF KHDOWK FDUH provisions and any social security blanket.

Old Age ‡ ,QWKHDEVHQFHRISURSHUVRFLDOVHFXULW\RUKHDOWKFDUHROGDJHLWVHOIEHFRPHVDVHULRXVKHDOWK issue for all categories of single women who cannot rely on anyone else for their survival needs.

 KALI How seen is my valley? Photo @ UN Women/Divya Gupta

“The cost for child delivery came to 65,000-70,000 rupees (1098-1182 dollars) at the private hospital. We don’t make so much in farming. I had to call an aunt to borrow money and also pawned my jewellery.” 22-year-old Kali belongs to the Pataliya tribe and lives in a Gundipada village in Jhabua, which is located in central India in Madhya Pradesh. Jhabua’s terrain is unforgiving — degraded wastelands, highly drought-prone and so spread out that people from the same hamlet of 50-100 families can be living several kilometres apart from each other. In 2006, it was named among the 250 most backward districts in the country, qualifying for special development assistance from the government. Shy and very soft-spoken, Kali was breast-feeding her 4-month-old infant intermittently throughout the conversation, which was punctuated with sudden silences and YDFDQWVWDUHVDVVKHUHFDOOHGKHUFORVHEUXVKZLWKPRUWDOLW\LQWKH¿QDOPRQWKRISUHJQDQF\ 7KH0'*IUDPHZRUNKDVEHHQFULWLTXHGIRUOLPLWLQJUHSURGXFWLYHDQGVH[XDOKHDOWKWRUHGXFLQJ PDWHUQDO PRUWDOLW\ DQG LQFUHDVLQJ VNLOOHG ELUWK DWWHQGDQFH 7KH *RYHUQPHQW RI ,QGLD¶V SROLFLHV DQGVFKHPHVDOLJQHGZLWKPHHWLQJWKHVHWZLQREMHFWLYHVKDYHXQGRXEWHGO\UHVXOWHGLQSURJUHVV Maternal mortality has been reduced E\  SHU FHQW VLQFH  EXW DQ HVWLPDWHG  PDWHUQDO GHDWKV VWLOO WDNH SODFH LQ ,QGLD HDFK \HDU GXULQJ FKLOGELUWK IURP SUHYHQWDEOH FDXVHV $ OLRQ¶VVKDUHRIWKHVHGHDWKVRFFXUDPRQJWULEDOZRPHQLQ,QGLD¶VFHQWUDODQGQRUWKHDVWVWDWHVGXH to geographical and social inaccessibility of medical facilities and infrastructure, their socio-cultural EDFNJURXQG WULEDO ZRPHQ¶V GLVWUXVW RI KHDOWK IDFLOLWLHV DQG WKH KHDOWK V\VWHP¶V LQÀH[LELOLW\ DQG inability to accommodate tribal realities. INTERSECTIONALITY: Tribal woman, illiterate, lives in remote and harsh terrain, complicated pregnancy, lives below the poverty line (entitled to free medical health care), forced to go to private KRVSLWDOIRUFKLOGGHOLYHU\UHVXOWLQJLQKLJKRXWRISRFNHWH[SHQGLWXUHLQGHEWHGSDZQHGMHZHOOHU\

Footnotes overleaf

 0\QDPHLV.DOL,EHORQJWRWKH3DWDOL\DWULEH child’s life and your own are at stake? Then we We are three sisters and two brothers. All of OHIWIRU'DKRGZKLFKLVDQRWKHUNLORPHWUHV XVZHUHGHOLYHUHGDWKRPH²QDWXUDOGHOLYHULHV DZD\ LQ WKH QHLJKERXULQJ VWDWH RI *XMDUDW with the help of midwives. Nowadays, so many We took a private car because the government GLI¿FXOWLHV DULVH ZLWK KDYLQJ MXVW WZR RU WKUHH FDUZDVQRWJRLQJIXUWKHU,WFRVWUXSHHV children. GROODUV WRKLUH

,JRWPDUULHGWZR\HDUVDJR,VWLOOUHPHPEHUWKH When we went upstairs to the private hospital QLJKWP\ODERXUSDLQVWDUWHGRQth September. LQ 'DKRG DW ¿UVW WKH\ WROG XV WKDW ZH PLJKW 7KHQH[WPRUQLQJDWDPZHZHQWWRWKHQHDUHVW have to go even further, either to Baroda or government-run Community Health Centre Ahmedabad. This time, family members who &+&  LQ .DO\DQSXUD 'LVWULFW ,W¶V DERXW  ZHUH DFFRPSDQ\LQJ PH WROG WKH VWDII WR MXVW kilometres away from my village. We went in the proceed with the operation and leave the rest to government car, which brings pregnant women God. Finally, they said, they will try to have a to the hospital free of charge. We stayed there QRUPDOGHOLYHU\DQGZHHYHQERXJKWLQMHFWLRQV during the day but they told us that they can’t IRU  UXSHHV  GROODUV  EXW LW ZDV QRW operate and we should go to the government SRVVLEOH , ZDV KDYLQJ LPPHQVH SDLQ LQ P\ KRVSLWDO LQ -KDEXD ZKLFK LV DQRWKHU  VWRPDFKDQGWKHEDE\KDGMXVWJRWVWXFNLQWKH kilometres away. Many normal deliveries ZRPE , KDG EHHQ LQ ODERXU IRU WZR GD\V DQG take place at the CHC but my case was more even the labour had stopped. There was no place complicated and the district hospital in Jhabua IRUWKHEDE\WRFRPHRXW,QVXFKFLUFXPVWDQFHV has more doctors. LW¶V HYHQ GLI¿FXOW IRU WKH PRWKHU WR VXUYLYH , RQO\ VXUYLYHG EHFDXVH RI WKH FDHVDUHDQ “Only junior doctors were on duty operation. The baby was also in danger because (at the government hospital). it was not moving anywhere in the womb and LW ZDV GLI¿FXOW IRU LW WR EUHDWKH 7KHQ ¿QDOO\ They said, “Who’s going to call the ZH GHSRVLWHG  UXSHHV  GROODUV  LQ WKH doctor at 12 at night? hospital and called the doctor. He had also gone So, we thought it best to proceed RXW  ,W WRRN WKH ZKROH QLJKW 7KH EDE\ ¿QDOO\ further. Who’s going to argue FDPHRXWDWIRXULQWKHPRUQLQJ,WZDVDER\ when your child’s life and your own are at stake?” The baby stayed with me for one day and then had to be admitted into another hospital because KHZDVZHDNDQGKLVEORRGKDGIUR]HQ6RZH 6RZHZHQWWR-KDEXDWKDWHYHQLQJDWSPLQWKH were both alone and separate. They kept me same government car. The main doctor was not IRUHLJKWGD\VDQGWKHEDE\IRUGD\VDQGWKH RQGXW\ZKHQZHUHDFKHG2QO\MXQLRUGRFWRUV WRWDOFRVWIRUERWKRIXVFDPHWRDOPRVW were on duty. They said, who will call the doctor  UXSHHV  GROODUV  :KHQ ZH DWDWQLJKW"6RZHWKRXJKWLWEHVWWRSURFHHG were discharged, the outstanding amount was further. Who’s going to sit and argue when your VWLOO  UXSHHV  GROODUV  :H GRQ¶W

9LG\D.ULVKQDQ³,QGLDKDVWKHKLJKHVWLQFLGHQFHRIPDWHUQDOGHDWKV¿QGUHSRUW´Livemint0D\$YDLODEOH IURPKWWSZZZOLYHPLQWFRP3ROLWLFV;\L1,J7N-445KP/W712YHUGD\ROGEDELHVGLHHDFK\HDULQ ,QGLDUHSRUWKWPO DFFHVVHG-XQH  ,ELG 0ULGXO(DSHQ³1DWLRQDO5XUDO+HDOWK0LVVLRQ,GHQWLI\LQJ&ULWLFDO*HQGHU&RQFHUQV´1R3ROLF\LV*HQGHU1HXWUDO 81:RPHQ 1HZ'HOKL $YDLODEOHIURPZZZXQZRPHQVRXWKDVLDRUJFDWHJRU\GLJLWDOOLEUDU\XQZRPHQ UHVRXUFHV DFFHVVHG-XQH  %DURGDLVWKHWKLUGODUJHVWFLW\LQWKHVWDWHRI*XMDUDWLQZHVWHUQ,QGLDDQGLVORFDWHGDERXWNLORPHWUHVIURP *XQGLSDGDYLOODJHLQ-KDEXD0DGK\D3UDGHVKZKHUH.DOLOLYHV $KPHGDEDGLVWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHKHDGTXDUWHUVDQGMXGLFLDOFDSLWDORIWKHVWDWHRI*XMDUDWLQZHVWHUQ,QGLDDQGLV ORFDWHGDERXWNLORPHWUHVIURP*XQGLSDGDYLOODJHLQ-KDEXD0DGK\D3UDGHVKZKHUH.DOLOLYHV  PDNHVRPXFKLQIDUPLQJ,KDGWRFDOODQDXQWWR ERUURZPRQH\DQGDOVRSDZQHGP\MHZHOOHU\7KH $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI.DOL EDE\LVVWLOORQPHGLFLQHVZKLFKFRVWVDERXW DPSP , JHW XS DOPRVW HYHU\ GD\  UXSHHV  GROODUV  HYHU\ PRQWK 2XU DW DP 7KHQ , FOHDQ DQG VZHHS WKH family is categorised as below the poverty line but ÀRRU PDNH IRRG DQG ZDVK FORWKHV we could not avail the free medical services that we and utensils. There are four people DUHHQWLWOHGWR,DOVRFRXOGQ¶WJHWWKHUXSHHV in the house including my husband, GROODUV ZKLFKSUHJQDQWZRPHQDUHVXSSRVHWR P\ LQODZV DQG P\VHOI , ZDV GRLQJ receive if they deliver with skilled birth personnel DOO WKH KRXVHZRUN XQWLO WKH GD\ , JRW LQDJRYHUQPHQWKRVSLWDOEHFDXVH,KDGWRJRWRD labour. Elders who have gone through private hospital. childbirth tell you that you experience PRUHGLI¿FXOW\LI\RXUHVWEXWLI\RXNHHS busy and moving, you don’t experience “In government hospitals, DVPXFKGLI¿FXOW\ they don’t charge but they also don’t take care because the staff members 2pm-6pm:,UHSHDWWKHVDPHVFKHGXOH LQ WKH HYHQLQJ ² PDNH IRRG FOHDQ WKH get salaries anyway. house if it’s dirty and also work in the They write a prescription, ¿HOGV(YHQXQWLOWKHODVWGD\WKDW,JRW give you some medicines and ODERXU,ZDVFXWWLQJJUDLQLQWKH¿HOGV send you packing off.” Only on the last day, when my labour started, my husband’s sister came over to cook. Women are more aware and are having fewer 7pm-9pm: We eat dinner. My mother- children now because they understand it increases LQODZDQG,VHUYHWKHPHQRIWKHKRXVH poverty and you have to feed your children, too. ¿UVW DQG WKHQ HDW %XW ZKHQ , ZDV 7KH\DOVRGHOLYHUPRUHIUHTXHQWO\LQKRVSLWDOVQRZ pregnant, my husband also made food Still our community is sceptical of government PDQ\ WLPHV $IWHU , FDPH EDFN IURP KHDOWKVHUYLFHVDQG,GRQ¶WOLNHWKHEHKDYLRXUDQG GHOLYHU\,KDGWRWDNHUHVWIRURQHPRQWK environment at government hospitals. They only My mother-in-law did most of the keep you for one day after the delivery is done. KRXVHZRUNWKHQ,DPOXFN\²QRUPDOO\ Many times, they send you back after a few hours of it does not happen like this. Women GHOLYHU\EHFDXVHWKHKRVSLWDOLVVRFURZGHG3ULYDWH VWDUWZRUNLQJGD\VDIWHUGHOLYHU\RU hospitals cost more but the service is better. They sometimes, even the next day. change sheets every morning and evening. Nurses keep checking on you. They charge so much. So, SPSP We go to sleep. These , JXHVV WKH\ KDYH WR WDNH URXQGV ,Q JRYHUQPHQW days, my son keeps me awake at night hospitals, they don’t charge but they also don’t take sometimes. He’s only four months old care because staff members get salaries anyway. and is still on medicines because of the They give you some medicines, write a prescription weakness and condition he suffered DQGVHQG\RXSDFNLQJRII$IWHUP\H[SHULHQFH,IHHO from after delivery. WKDW,GRQ¶WZDQWWRKDYHDQ\PRUHFKLOGUHQ,ZDQW WRMXVWWDNHFDUHRIP\FKLOGQRZDQGKH¶OOWDNHFDUH of us when we get older.

 %+$5$7+$00$ Fighting the last betrayal Photo @ UN Women/Praveen Kaliga

“My husband did not give me any security or love, only this disease. I think of this and feel angry. But what can I do now? Half the cases I come across are like mine. One man contracts this disease and spreads LWWR¿YHZRPHQ´ The quiet manner in which BharathammaVLWVDQGREVHUYHVHYHU\RQHWDONLQJFDPRXÀDJHVKHU own inner thoughts and feelings as a woman living with HIV. She only uses her own water bottle and maintains a safe distance from everyone out of fear of inviting any suspicion of her HIV condition. Fuelled by lack of awareness and intolerance, it invites life-crippling and soul-crushing stigma and discrimination, especially in rural India. She lives in Mahbubnagar District, among the most backward districts in India, ironically located only a 100 kilometres from Hyderabad, known as the country’s “pharmaceutical capital.” A frail 45-year-old widow showing signs of undernourishment and weakness, Bharathamma unsuspectingly contracted HIV from her husband, who died and left her to fend for herself and their two children alone. $OWKRXJK,QGLDLVPRGHUDWHO\RQWUDFNWRDFKLHYH0'*RQWKHWDUJHWRIKDOWLQJRUUHYHUVLQJWKH VSUHDG RI +,9 DQG $,'6 WKH LQFLGHQFH RI UHODWHG GHDWKV UHPDLQV YHU\ KLJK DQG DQ LQFUHDVLQJ “feminisationRI+,9DQG$,'6´LVWDNLQJSODFH7KHUHDUHDQHVWLPDWHGPLOOLRQ people living ZLWK+,9DQG$,'6LQ,QGLDRIZKLFKDQHVWLPDWHGSHUFHQWDUHZRPHQ,QUXUDO,QGLDZRPHQ DUHSDUWLFXODUO\DW³KLJKULVN´DVDVLJQL¿FDQWQXPEHURIQHZLQIHFWLRQVRFFXULQZRPHQZKRDUH in monogamous marriages and have been infected by their husbands, who may have multiple VH[SDUWQHUV%KDUDWKDPPD¶VVWRU\XQGHUVFRUHVWKHHVSHFLDOO\DGYHUVHLPSDFWRI+,9DQG$,'6RQ women and their children, the resulting heavy burden of care, domestic work, economic vulnerability and social stigma they face. INTERSECTIONALITY: :RPDQ OLYLQJ ZLWK +,9 ZLGRZ PRWKHU RI WZR FKLOGUHQ ZRUNV DV GRPHVWLFFOHDQHU LQIRUPDOODERXU ZRUNVZLWKDQ1*2RQ+,9UHODWHGLVVXHVOLYHVLQUXUDOYLOODJH ZKHUH+,9UHODWHGDZDUHQHVVLVORZDQGDVVRFLDWHGVWLJPDYHU\KLJK

Footnotes overleaf  My name is Bharathamma. My husband died in Nobody comes forward to disclose their status. IURP+,9DQG$,'6+HNQHZDERXWLWVLQFH When we are given tablets for anti-retroviral a long time but did not inform anyone at home. therapy, we hide them in a paper so that no one He only told us about it about one month prior can see them. Even my friends do not know, WRKLVGHDWKZKHQKHEHFDPHYHU\LOO,KDYHQR RWKHUZLVH , ZLOO IDFH D ORW RI GLVFULPLQDWLRQ , idea where he contracted it. He never informed fear that they will not speak to me. PHRIDQ\WKLQJ+HMXVWNHSWVLFNIRUORQJSHULRGV RIWLPH+H¿QDOO\GLHGRIWXEHUFXORVLV 3HRSOH GR QRW WUHDW XV ZHOO 9LOODJHV DUH WKH ZRUVW,QFLWLHVSHRSOHVWLOOKDYHVRPHDZDUHQHVV and the treatment is better but in villages, if “After his death, I got myself one person comes to know, a hundred others tested and was diagnosed with will also come to know. Their whole behaviour HIV. I was in disbelief. FKDQJHV²WKH\ZRQ¶WWRXFKDVWDONWRXVRUVLW next to us. They cover their mouths and noses I thought, how could this happen while talking to us out of fear that it will spread to me? I am a healthy woman.” LIZHVQHH]HRUWDONWRWKHP(YHQRWKHUSHRSOH

$IWHU KLV GHDWK , JRW P\VHOI WHVWHG DQG ZDV “People do not treat us well. GLDJQRVHGZLWK+,9,ZDVLQGLVEHOLHI,WKRXJKW Villages are the worst. KRZ FRXOG WKLV KDSSHQ WR PH" , DP D KHDOWK\ ZRPDQ,GRQ¶WJHWIUHTXHQWIHYHUVQRERG\DFKH In cities, people still have some QROHJDFKH,DP¿QH,FULHGIRUQHDUO\D\HDU awareness and the treatment DQGWKRXJKW,DPJRLQJWRGLHLQWKHVDPHZD\ is better but in villages, WKDWP\KXVEDQGGLG,IHDUHGIRUP\FKLOGUHQ if one person comes to know who were not even married then. At that time, a hundred others will also come P\GDXJKWHUZDVDQGP\VRQZDV\HDUVRI DJH7KDWZDVZKHQ,ORVWDORWRIZHLJKW to know. Their whole behaviour changes — they won’t touch us, ,DP\HDUVROGQRZDQGIRXQGRXWDERXWP\ talk to us or sit next to us. FRQGLWLRQVL[\HDUVDJR,ZDVVFDUHGRIKRZ,ZLOO They cover their mouths and noses DIIRUGWKHWUHDWPHQW/XFNLO\ZKHQ,FRQVXOWHG the doctor, he referred me to a local government while talking to us out of fear hospital, where they gave me free tablets. Since that it will spread if we sneeze WKHQ , KDYH EHHQ RQ DQWLUHWURYLUDO WKHUDS\ or talk to them. ,KDYHQHYHUEHHQODWHLQWDNLQJWKHP Even other people with HIV treat , DP VWLOO XQGHU D ORW RI VWUHVV WKRXJK EHFDXVH us poorly — they think that their , KDYH QR PRQH\ WR VXVWDLQ P\VHOI , ZDVK infection will increase if they are utensils at other people’s homes. They don’t near us. At least, NQRZRIP\+,9VWDWXV,I,WHOOWKHPWKH\ZLOO they should treat us equally.” ¿UHPH,I,FXWP\VHOIZKLOHZDVKLQJXWHQVLOV WKHQ , GRQ¶W JR WR ZRUN IRU D FRXSOH RI GD\V and take care of myself. My neighbours also ZKRKDYH+,9WUHDWXVSRRUO\²WKH\WKLQNWKDW don’t know because if they did, my landlord will their infection will increase if they are near us. remove me from my house. $WOHDVWWKH\VKRXOGWUHDWXVHTXDOO\

 Name changed to protect identity. ZZZXQLFHIRUJLQGLDFKLOGUHQBKWP DFFHVVHG-XQH  ,ELG %DVDQWD.3UDGKDQDQG5DPDPDQL6XQGDUGender Impact of HIV and AIDS in India81'31$&2DQG1&$(5  $YDLODEOHIURPZZZXQGSRUJFRQWHQWLQGLDHQKRPHNQRZOHGJHDQGVROXWLRQVJHQGHUDQGLQFOXVLRQ JHQGHUBLPSDFWBRIKLYDQGDLGVLQLQGLDKWPO DFFHVVHG-XQH 

64 2XURZQ1*2WUHDWVXVEDGO\²RWKHUVWDIIPHPEHUVGR not even offer us a glass of water, no matter how hot it is. 'D\LQWKHOLIHRI They give us hard water instead of normal water. When we %KDUDWKDPPD JRWRWKH¿HOGZHFDUU\RXURZQZDWHUERWWOHVDQGOXQFK DPDP , ZDNH XS E\ DP WR boxes. When they organise daylong trainings, they don’t ¿QLVK DOO WKH KRXVHKROG ZRUN , HYHQSURYLGHXVZLWKDFXSRIWHD,IDQ1*2LVWUHDWLQJXV in this way, then how can we blame others? clean my house and prepare lunch IRU P\ VRQ DQG P\VHOI ,I , NHHS ,PDQDJHGWR¿QGZRUNZLWKDQ1*2EXWJHQHUDOO\ZH P\VHOI EXV\ WKHQ , GRQ¶W WKLQN GRQ¶WJHWMREV3ULYDWHRUJDQLVDWLRQVGRQ¶WJLYHXVMREVDW about my condition. DOO 7KH 1*2 SD\V PH  UXSHHV  GROODUV  SHU month. We have to travel daily to interior villages to talk DPDP After my son leaves WRSHRSOHOLYLQJZLWK+,9DQG$,'6ZKLFKFDQFRVW IRU ZRUN , OHDYH WKH KRXVH WRR UXSHHV GROODUV SHUGD\:HSD\RXWRISRFNHWZKLFK , FOHDQ XWHQVLOV DW RWKHU SHRSOH¶V HDWVXSKDOIRXULQFRPH)RUDKRXVHDERXWVTXDUH\DUGV houses to earn some extra money. LQVL]HZHSD\DPRQWKO\UHQWRIUXSHHV GROODUV  ,FDQQRWOHWWKHPNQRZRIP\+,9 ,QWKDWVPDOOKRXVHZHGRHYHU\WKLQJ²FRRNVOHHSDQG status, otherwise they will remove HDW7KHURRPUHQWDQGELOOVKDYHDOVRLQFUHDVHG,QWKLV amount of money, how can we take good care and afford me from the work. a nutritious diet? DP,OHDYHIRURI¿FHDWWKH1*2 My husband didn’t give me any security or love, only this and attend trainings and meetings GLVHDVH,WKLQNRIWKLVDQGIHHODQJU\%XWZKDWFDQ,GR ZLWKZRPHQZKRKDYH+,9,OLNH QRZ"+DOIWKHFDVHV,FRPHDFURVVDUHOLNHPLQH2QHPDQ being a part of these groups. They FRQWUDFWVWKLVGLVHDVHDQGVSUHDGVLWWR¿YHZRPHQ+H JLYHPHDVHQVHRIEHORQJLQJDQG, will have sex with a different woman daily and spread this IHHOWKDW,DPFRQWULEXWLQJWRZDUGV disease to each one. The husband usually dies and the something. woman, whether she wants to live or not, has to stay alive for her children. So, women suffer more. Some people SPSP , KDYH WR FRPH EDFN ZLWK+,9DUHPDUU\LQJHDFKRWKHU,WLVEHWWHUWRHDWVDOW and clean utensils at people’s and roti than get married again or have a partner. Even if KRPHV , JHW WLUHG E\ WKH HYHQLQJ KHKDV+,9KHZLOOVWLOOGULQNKLWPHDQGEHFUXHOWRZDUGV but constantly want to keep PH,WZLOORQO\FUHDWHPRUHSUREOHPVIRUPH pushing myself.

Our biggest fear is for our children. My daughter is very SPSP,UHWXUQKRPHE\ pretty but no one was ready to marry her because people around 6pm and after freshening came to know of my condition. Even my relatives were XS , VWDUW ZLWK  KRXVHKROG ZRUN QRW UHDG\ WR WDNH UHVSRQVLELOLW\ RU VXSSRUW PH , JRW KHUWHVWHGIRU+,9DQGRQO\ZKHQLWFDPHQHJDWLYHDQG and prepare dinner for my son and WKHUHZDVSURRIFRXOGP\GDXJKWHU¿QDOO\JHWPDUULHG myself. My son supports me but till when? He also has to get SPSP $IWHU GLQQHU , PDUULHG VRPHGD\ DQG , IHHO WKDW KH LV QRW JHWWLQJ WKH watch television. My son always right proposals because of my condition. Sometimes, ¿JKWV ZLWK PH EHFDXVH KH ZDQWV ,IHHOWKDWLWZRXOGEHEHWWHULI,GLHVRRQ$WOHDVWWKH\ won’t have to suffer all this ostracisation. We live for our WR ZDWFK VRPHWKLQJ HOVH , HQMR\ children and if their lives are getting ruined because of us, WKHVH ¿JKWV EHFDXVH , GRQ¶W NQRZ then what is the purpose of our living? KRZORQJ,ZLOOOLYH,JRWREHGEXW am not able to sleep immediately. ,NQRZWKDW,KDYHQRFRQWURORYHUP\OLIHDQGFDQGLHDW The thought of my condition keeps DQ\PRPHQW,IHHOWLUHGDOOWKHWLPHEXWMXVWWREHVXUH ,JHWP\&'FRXQWWHVWGRQHHYHU\VL[PRQWKVVRWKDW, coming into my mind. This has know well in time if something is wrong. We hope that a become routine now. FXUHIRU+,9DQG$,'6LVGHYHORSHGLQRXUOLIHWLPH,IQRW in our lifetime, we want to see a cure for our children’s generation. Our life is almost over now.

 MUGALLAMA I get by with a little help from myself

“Financial independence is the answer to everything. Today, if I was not earning, I would be dependent on others. It gives other people the power to dominate you. Financial independence provides us security.”

When 33-year-old Mugallama came out of the auto-rickshaw, it was surprising for all the bystanders to see how well she managed herself. Maybe it always is. Paralysed from waist down, she swiftly crawled her way inside the village rural GHSDUWPHQWRI¿FHVKDNLQJKDQGVDQG greeting people as she passed them E\$OOH\HVZHUH¿[HGRQKHUDVVKH climbed the stairs and took the chair in her unique style. Easily offended if offered help, Mugallama, who lives in Mahbubnagar District located 100 kilometres from Hyderabad, is FRQ¿GHQW DQG GHWHUPLQHG WR OHDG D “normal” life. Photo @ UN Women/Praveen Kaliga

$Q HVWLPDWHG  SHU FHQW  PLOOLRQ SHRSOH  RI ,QGLD¶V SRSXODWLRQ OLYHV ZLWK GLVDELOLWLHV RI ZKLFK DOPRVW KDOI DUH ZRPHQ 3HRSOH OLYLQJ ZLWK GLVDELOLWLHV DUH UHFRJQLVHG WR EH PXOWLSO\ disadvantaged, experiencing exclusion on account of gender and disability. Social pressures deprive women with disabilities of their social, economic and political opportunities. As a result, they are vulnerable to sexual exploitation, abandonment, social exclusion, improper medical facilities and lack of education. They remain largely unrepresented and are invariably left out of the decision and policy-making processes, including those that affect their own lives the most. For women suffering IURPSV\FKLDWULFGLVRUGHUVDOOWKHVHFKDOOHQJHVDUHIXUWKHULQWHQVL¿HG

INTERSECTIONALITY: Disabled (paralysed from waist down), single, lives with parents, NGO worker (on disability issues), tailors clothes to earn extra money to sustain herself.

Footnotes overleaf

66 0\QDPHLV0XJDOODPD,ZDVERUQZLWKRXWDQ\ 9HQNDWHVKZDUDQGKHKDGRUJDQLVHGDGHWDLOHG GLVDELOLW\,QIDFW,ZDVERUQDYHU\KHDOWK\FKLOG WUDLQLQJLQ+\GHUDEDG,OHDUQWDORWHVSHFLDOO\ :KHQ,ZDVPRQWKVROG,GHYHORSHGDIHZ KRZZH²VRFLHW\²GLVFULPLQDWHDJDLQVWSHRSOH boils on my back. My mother took me to a local with disabilities, which results in their poverty. GRFWRUIRUWUHDWPHQW+HJDYHPHWZRLQMHFWLRQV 6LQFHWKHQ,KDYHEHHQZRUNLQJIRUWKHULJKWVRI on both the sides of my waist. Later that night, the people with disabilities in my village. P\OHJVVWRSSHGZRUNLQJDQG,FRXOGQHYHUXVH WKHPDJDLQ$URXQGWKHWLPH,ZDVJLYHQWKRVH ,QWKHHQWLUH.RVJL%ORFNWKHUHDUHSHRSOH LQMHFWLRQVWKHUHZHUHVLPLODUFDVHVRILQIHFWLRQ ZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVRIZKLFKRYHUDUHZRPHQ ²PD\EHSROLR²EHLQJUHSRUWHGLQVXUURXQGLQJ DQGJLUOVDQGDUHFKLOGUHQ7KH\VXIIHUIURP YLOODJHVWRR,KDYHKHDUGLQGLVDELOLW\WUDLQLQJV D ZLGH UDQJH RI GLVDELOLWLHV ² VLJKW VSHHFK that when one suffers from polio and very high hearing, locomotor disability and, to some WHPSHUDWXUH QR LQMHFWLRQV VKRXOG EH JLYHQ DW extent, mental disabilities, but not severe ones. all as it only aggravates the situation. We are ,DPDOVRDQDFWLYLVWIRUWKHULJKWVRISHRSOHZLWK sure that my condition developed because of the psychiatric disorders. LQMHFWLRQV

My mother took me to local faith healers, “I was born without any temples and applied a lot of pastes and leaves on P\OHJVEXWQRWKLQJZRUNHG,FRXOGQRWZDONRU disability. In fact, I was born a even stand again. There is a big hospital to treat very healthy child. When I was people with disabilities about three hours south 10 months old, I developed a few of Hyderabad in Kurnool District. My father boils on my back. My mother took sold two acres of land to take me there but the GRFWRUJDYHD¿QDOGLDJQRVLVWKDWQRWKLQJFDQEH me to a local doctor for treatment. GRQHDERXWP\FRQGLWLRQDQGWKLVLVKRZ,ZLOO He gave me two injections on have to live. After that, we did not get any more either side of my waist. treatment. Later that night, my legs stopped My parents were supportive and my mother working and I could never use was especially dedicated. She made sure them again.” ,OHDUQHGKRZWRGRHYHU\WKLQJP\VHOILQFOXGLQJ housework and taking personal care of myself KHDOWKDQGK\JLHQH /LNHRWKHUJLUOV,ZHQWWR My work is to mobilise and motivate people with DQRUPDOVFKRRODQGFROOHJH$OWKRXJK,GLGQ¶W GLVDELOLWLHVWROHDGDEHWWHUOLIH,KDYHEHHQGRLQJ feel any discrimination in my immediate family, WKLVZRUNIRUWKHSDVW\HDUV,HLWKHUJRWRWKH WKHH[WHQGHGIDPLO\ZDVYHU\PHDQ,DOVRNQHZ RI¿FHRUWKH¿HOGGLUHFWO\LQDQDXWRULFNVKDZ ,ZLOOQHYHUEHDEOHWRJHWPDUULHG 7KHUH,XVXDOO\RUJDQLVHRUDWWHQGPHHWLQJVZLWK disability groups to discuss various problems Earlier, there was no focus on people with VXFKDVKRZWRSURFXUHGLVDELOLW\FHUWL¿FDWHVRU disabilities. After coming to this region, the arrange for physiotherapy needs or deal with 1*2,ZRUNIRU²³&RPPLWPHQWV´²FUHDWHG QXWULWLRQDO UHTXLUHPHQWV RI WKH SHRSOH ZLWK awareness among people with and without GLVDELOLWLHV , UHWXUQ LQ DQ DXWRULFNVKDZ DIWHU GLVDELOLWLHV,ZDVYHU\LQVSLUHGE\RQHSHUVRQLQ ZRUNLVRYHU,QP\RZQYLOODJH,XVHDWULF\FOH particular who also had a disability. His name is to get around.

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 VIJAYA Enduring heights Photo @ UN Women/Praveen Kaliga

“I hope I am able to study and earn something for my children and myself and raise my sons in such a way that they do not become like their father — the reason for someone else’s sorrow.”

Married at the young age of 13, mother of two by 19 and divorced by 26 — Vijaya, who lives in Vizianagram District located on India’s southeast coast by the Bay of Bengal, has seen and experienced more in 10 years than most others do in a lifetime. Now 31, when Vijaya quit studying and was sent to her matrimonial home at the tender age of 16, she never imagined that her husband and his family would trap her in a vicious cycle of mental torture and physical violence to extract dowry. As the greed and abuse escalated, Vijaya endured for seven arduous years for the sake of KHUFKLOGUHQDQGKHURZQSDUHQW¶VKRQRXUEHIRUH¿QDOO\PDQDJLQJWRHVFDSH)LYH\HDUVRQVWLOO trying to heal her broken spirit, she seems surprised when asked about her dreams. “Dreams?” she asks, nonplussed.

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INTERSECTIONALITY: Child marriage, mother of two children, divorced, suffered dowry- related mental, psychological and physical abuse, lives with parents, member of a SHG.

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 me. My husband and his brother used to beat LI,OHDYHWKHUHZLOOEHQRRQHWRWDNHFDUHRIP\ WKHLURZQIDWKHU2QFH,IRXQGP\IDWKHULQODZ FKLOGUHQ6RRQH¿QHGD\ZKHQWKHUHZDVQRRQH O\LQJXQFRQVFLRXVE\WKHEHG,WRRNFDUHRIKLP LQWKHKRXVH,WRRNP\FKLOGUHQDQGZHQWWRWKH and when he regained consciousness, he told EXVVWDQG,ZDVVLWWLQJWKHUHDQGWKLQNLQJDERXW me repeatedly to leave the house. One night, he ZKHUHWRJREHFDXVHLI,ZHQWEDFNWRP\SDUHQWV MXVWSDVVHGDZD\,QHYHUFDPHWRNQRZKRZKH KRPH,ZRXOGEHDEXUGHQRQWKHPEXW,KDGQR expired. place else to go to. When the bus to my mother’s YLOODJH VWRSSHG ULJKW LQ IURQW RI PH , GHFLGHG to go to her place and see what happens. My ³,¿OHGDFDVHDJDLQVWP\ priority was to get my children out of that place. husband and his family in the court. Initially, the court gave a $IWHUWKDW,¿QDOO\¿OHGDFDVHIRUGLYRUFHDQG the court agreed. My husband transferred all his decision that I should stay with property to his brother. So, at time of deciding my husband for a few more days the alimony it was proven that my husband has so I went back. It was worse after no property and so the maintenance was settled that — they used to employ new DW  UXSHHV  GROODUV  RQO\ ZKLFK P\KXVEDQGKDVQRWSDLGWLOOWRGD\,WKDVEHHQ methods of beating me using all ¿YH\HDUVVLQFHZHKDYHEHHQGLYRUFHG kinds of things.” )RU DOPRVW WZR \HDUV , GLG QRW GR DQ\WKLQJ , ZDV YHU\ GLVWXUEHG DW WKDW WLPH , ZDV QRW ,QLWLDOO\,GLGQRWLQIRUPP\SDUHQWVDERXWWKH PHQWDOO\ ZHOO , KDG VXLFLGDO WHQGHQFLHV 0\ PHQWDODQGSK\VLFDOWRUWXUH,XVHGWRWKLQNWKDW ,ZLOOEHDEOHWRKDQGOHLWRQP\RZQDQGZKDW I am living only for my children is the point of troubling my parents? However, ZKHQ WKH WRUWXUH LQFUHDVHG , LQIRUPHG P\ now. I want to be independent. mother and maternal uncle and they suggested I do not want to get married. WKDW , ZDLW DQG ZDWFK IRU VRPH WLPH VR WKH Once has been enough for a situation is resolved by itself. Waiting for things lifetime. If such a thing happens WR LPSURYH , KDG WR EHDU WKH DEXVH IRU VHYHQ \HDUV )LQDOO\ , GHFLGHG WKDW , FRXOG QRW VWD\ to you, then the world does not let with them anymore. Seven years of beating and you live peacefully. mental harassment was too much for me. My kids were also suffering because of it. family was supportive and they encouraged +LGLQJ IURP HYHU\RQH , ZURWH D OHWWHU WR P\ PHWRVWDUWZRUNLQJVRPHZKHUHVRWKDW,HDUQ parents one day but could not post it for a long PRQH\IRUP\FKLOGUHQ6R,MRLQHGD6+*LQWKH WLPH EHFDXVH , FRXOG QRW JR RXW RI WKH KRXVH YLOODJH,ZDQWHGWRMRLQVRPHWKLQJGHVSHUDWHO\ 6RPHKRZ , PDQDJHG WR SRVW LW EXW , NQHZ LW VRWKDW,ZDVQRWUHPLQGHGRIP\SDVW,WJDYH ZRXOGWDNHDWOHDVWGD\VIRUWKHPWRUHFHLYH me some hope for the future and being among the letter. My parents came and took me back women gave me strength. WRWKHLUKRPH,¿OHGDFDVHDJDLQVWP\KXVEDQG DQGKLVIDPLO\LQWKHFRXUW,QLWLDOO\WKHFRXUW , DP OLYLQJ RQO\ IRU P\ FKLOGUHQ , ZDQW WR EH JDYH D GHFLVLRQ WKDW , VKRXOG VWD\ ZLWK P\ LQGHSHQGHQW , GR QRW ZDQW WR JHW PDUULHG KXVEDQGIRUDIHZPRUHGD\VVR,ZHQWEDFN,W 2QFHKDVEHHQHQRXJKIRUDOLIHWLPH,IVXFKD ZDVZRUVHDIWHUWKDW²WKH\XVHGWRHPSOR\QHZ thing happens to you then the world does not methods of beating me using all kinds of things. let you live peacefully. My family is kind and has VXSSRUWHGPHWKURXJKHYHU\WKLQJ,ILWZHUHQ¶W , KDG GHFLGHG WR NLOO P\VHOI DV WKHUH ZDV QR IRUWKHP,PD\QRWKDYHEHHQDOLYHWRGD\1RW point in living anymore but then thought that HYHU\ERG\ LV DV OXFN\ ,Q PRVW FDVHV WKH JLUOV

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 %+85,% Where men brutally tread “I was deserted by him and was staying at my mother’s home when my daughter was born and this time the baby survived, maybe because I was not beaten and tortured during pregnancy.”

Bhuri lives with her 4-year- old daughter in her maternal village in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh, located in central India. She has a forlorn look in her eyes and talks nervously. At times, her recollection of the past sounds incoherent, as if she is frozen in time. Life’s cruel experiences and adversity have scarred her and taught her to mistrust. Her life revolves around her daughter, who is her sole emotional reason for existence. Shabbily dressed, with a mud stained face and a runny nose, the little girl clings to her mother and does not let go even for a moment. Photo @ UN Women/Swapna Bist-Joshi

,Q ,QGLD DERXW  SHU FHQW RI PDUULHG ZRPHQ EHWZHHQ WKH DJHV RI  KDYH H[SHULHQFHG emotional, physical or sexual violence committed by their husbands. The impact of intimate partner violence ranges from moderate to severe and manifests in physical and psychological terms. The FRQVHTXHQFHV DUH VHYHUH LQ FDVHV RI YLROHQFH GXULQJ SUHJQDQF\ 5HVHDUFK SRLQWV WR LQFUHDVHG likelihood of premature labour, lower infant birth weight and increased probability of stillbirths. The probability of desertion is also high, which leaves women particularly vulnerable and without recourse to social protection and legal aid, further affecting their health, nutrition and economic and physical security.

INTERSECTIONALITY: ,OOLWHUDWH GDLO\ ZDJH FDVXDO ODERXUHU VXIIHUHG GRPHVWLF YLROHQFH (including during pregnancies), suffered three miscarriages as a result, abandoned by husband while pregnant with their fourth child, lives alone with 4-year old daughter.

Footnotes overleaf

 ,ZDVERUQLQWRDIDPLO\RIVHYHQVLEOLQJV²ZH for her upbringing.” When they shunned and DUH¿YHVLVWHUVDQGWZREURWKHUV0\IDWKHUZDV humiliated me, my mother told them that if she a beggar and my mother worked as a labourer in could nourish me as a child in her womb then WKH¿HOGV,ZDV\HDUVROGZKHQ,ZDVPDUULHG she could also take care of me and feed me. LQWRDIDPLO\VHWWOHGLQ,QGRUH$IWHUPDUULDJH, stayed with my husband and mother-in-law in a ,ZDVKDSS\ZLWKP\PRWKHUDQGGDXJKWHUEXW bastiLQ,QGRUH P\PRWKHUGLHG¿YH\HDUVDJR6KHZDVP\RQO\ VXSSRUW1RZ,OLYHDORQHZLWKP\GDXJKWHU, Six years ago, my husband threw me out, as he have to work every day of the week to ensure GLG QRW ZDQW WR VWD\ ZLWK PH DQ\PRUH , ORVW that she gets enough food. After my mother’s three children. They were stillborn. He accused demise, my brothers did not want me to stay me of not being able to procreate healthy babies ZLWK WKHP ,W ZDV P\ PRWKHU¶V KRXVH 7KH\ and deserted me. He used to beat me up without resented my staying with our mother and that DQ\ UHDVRQ ,W ZDV DQ HYHU\GD\ DIIDLU , KDG she looked after me. They wanted my mother multiple miscarriages. My husband had no work WR JLYH WKHP HYHU\WKLQJ  , ZDV VHHQ DV D or source of income. He used to wander around competitor. My brothers forcefully encroached with friends through the day and drink at night. When he came home drunk, he would beat me “Six years ago, my husband threw with his bare hands and sometimes, even with me out, as he did not want to stay EHOWV DQG VWLFNV , KDG QR PRQH\ , XVHG WR ZDVK XWHQVLOV DQG GR RGG MREV DW P\ EURWKHU with me anymore. I lost three in-law and sister-in-law’s house, for which they children. They were stillborn. ZRXOGJLYHPHIRRG7KLVLVKRZ,KDYH¿OOHGP\ He accused me of not being able to stomach. procreate healthy babies and deserted me.” :KHQ KH ¿QDOO\ DEDQGRQHG PH , ZDV DOUHDG\ H[SHFWLQJDJDLQDOWKRXJK,ZDVQRWDZDUHRILW WKHQ,ZDVVWD\LQJDWP\PRWKHU¶VKRPHZKHQ on my mother’s property and live in the main my daughter was born and this time the baby VHFWLRQRIWKHKRXVH,ZDVWROGWROHDYHDIWHUP\ VXUYLYHGPD\EHEHFDXVH,ZDVQRWEHDWHQDQG PRWKHU GLHG ,QLWLDOO\ ZKHQ , SURWHVWHG WKH\ tortured during pregnancy. My husband was beat me up. The neighbours had to come to informed about it, but he accused me of being an my rescue. They have given me a corner in the adulteress and that it was not his baby. He said KRXVH,SUHSDUHP\RZQIRRG7KHUDWLRQFDUG that no matter what, he would not accept me is in my mother’s name. My brothers take half back into his home. He got another lady before the ration in exchange for the space they have this child was born. She has three children from SURYLGHGPHLQWKHKRXVH1RZ,GRQ¶WWDONWR an earlier marriage. WKHPDWDOOVRWKHUHLVQRFRQÀLFW:KHQP\RZQ brothers don’t empathise with my plight, then ,VSRNHWRKLVIDPLO\PHPEHUV²P\KXVEDQG¶V what is left to talk about? older brother and his other siblings. They were well aware of my plight but supported him. ,ZRUNDVDFDVXDOODERXUHUPRVWO\DWWKHEULFN When my daughter was born, they told me, NLOQQHDUWKHYLOODJH,ZRUNWKHHQWLUHGD\DQG “Take care of your child. We are not responsible HDUQ  UXSHHV  GROODUV  SHU GD\ 7KHUH

,QGLD1DWLRQDO)DPLO\+HDOWK6XUYH\  LQ³6SXUWLQUHJLVWHUHGFDVHVRIGRPHVWLFYLROHQFH´E\.HOO\ .LVOD\D7LPHVRI,QGLD´-DQXDU\$YDLODEOHIURPKWWSDUWLFOHVWLPHVR¿QGLDLQGLDWLPHVFRP UDQFKLBBGRPHVWLFYLROHQFHGRZU\FDVHVSROLFHVWDWLRQ DFFHVVHG-XQH  $OLVVD&+XWK%RFNV$O\WLD$/HYHQGRVN\*$QQH%RJDWEffects of Domestic Violence During Pregnancy on Maternal and Infant Health9LROHQFHDQG9LFWLPVYRO1R    Slum Settlement.  A ration card or stamp is issued by the government to allow the holder (particularly people living below the poverty OLQHLQWKH,QGLDQFRQWH[W WRREWDLQIRRGRURWKHUFRPPRGLWLHVDWVXEVLGLVHGUDWHV 74 DUH WLPHV ZKHQ WKHUH LV QR ZRUN DW DOO , WDNH P\ $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI%KXUL% GDXJKWHU ZLWK PH ZKHUHYHU , JR DV , GRQ¶W WUXVW DQ\RQH 6KH LV  \HDUV ROG , GRQ¶W HYHQ ZDQW WR DPDP,ZDNHXSDWDURXQGDP leave her at the anganwadiFHQWUH,DPVFDUHGWKDW HYHU\ GD\ , WDNH D EDWK DQG PDNH WHD VRPHRQHZLOOKLWRUWRUWXUHKHUDWWKHFHQWUH,QHYHU IRUP\GDXJKWHUDQGP\VHOI,FOHDQWKH let her out of my sight. KRXVHDQGZDVKFORWKHV,WKHQSUHSDUH something for both of us to eat and also to take some food to the work site. “I take my daughter with me DPSP , OHDYH IRU ZRUN wherever I go, as I don’t trust E\ DP $W WLPHV , NQRZ ZKHUH , anyone to leave her alone with them. KDYHWRJREXWDWRWKHUWLPHV,KDYHWR She is 4 years old. I don’t even want ¿QG ZRUN ZKLFK WDNHV D ORW RI WLPH , to leave her at the anganwadi centre. primarily work at the brick kiln, which I am scared that someone will hit or LVDKDOIKRXUZDONDZD\,KDYHWRFDUU\ my daughter, as she is too frail to walk. torture her at the centre. We have our lunch at around noon. I never let her out of my sight.” 7KHQ,PDNHKHUVOHHSLQDVKDG\VSRW ZLWKLQ P\ VLJKW , ZRUN WLOO SP LQ the evening, collect my wage and walk ,ZDVDGYLVHGWRJRIRUDIDPLO\SODQQLQJRSHUDWLRQ EDFN KRPH , SXUFKDVH D IHZ HVVHQWLDO VR WKDW P\ GDXJKWHU FDQ EHQH¿W IURP WKH ³/DDGOL items on my way back. Lakshmi Scheme” as a single daughters’ parent. DPSP:KHQ,UHDFKKRPH %XW,DPVFDUHGWRJRIRUWKHRSHUDWLRQDV,ZLOOKDYH ,SUHSDUHWHDIRUERWKRIXVDJDLQ,EDWKH to leave my daughter alone. Who will take care of her my daughter and take one, too, if there is DQGZKRZLOOIHHGKHUZKHQ,DPRIIWRWKHKRVSLWDO HQRXJKZDWHU,WLVUHIUHVKLQJDQGKHOSV IRUWKHSURFHGXUH",DPWROGWKDWLWZLOOWDNHRQO\ to get rid of the dirt and sweat of the DQKRXUEXWDPDOVRVFDUHG,DOUHDG\IHHOVRZHDN GD\ORQJODERXU7KHQ,SUHSDUHGLQQHU and faint at times. What if the operation affects my IRUERWKRIXV1RUPDOO\LWLVMXVWERLOHG health further? Who will take care of my daughter ULFH ZLWK VRPH ÀDYRXU 0\ GDXJKWHU then? She was very weak and malnourished when is a poor eater. Sometimes, we also sit she was three years old and had to be admitted into with our neighbours, who are good to  a Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre (NRC). They XV , VHUYH GLQQHU E\ DURXQG SP DQG SURYLGHG JRRG FDUH DQG QXWULWLRXV PHDOV , DOVR then clean the kitchen, chulha and VWD\HG ZLWK KHU , ZDV FRPSHQVDWHG IRU WKH ZDJH XWHQVLOV7KHQ,VSUHDGWKHPDWRQWKH ORVVLQFXUUHGIRUWKHGD\VWKDW,VWD\HGWKHUH, ÀRRU DQG SXW P\ GDXJKWHU WR VOHHS $W UHFHLYHG UXSHHV  GROODUV  6LQFH WKHQ P\ times, she wakes in the middle of the GDXJKWHUV¶KHDOWKKDVLPSURYHG,UHDOO\KRSHWKDW QLJKW DQG , KDYH WR VRRWKH KHU EDFN ,JHWPRQH\WREXLOGDVPDOOGZHOOLQJIRUKHUDQG to sleep. myself to live peacefully.

/DDGOL/D[PL6FKHPHZDVLQWURGXFHGE\WKH*RYHUQPHQWRI0DGK\D3UDGHVKZLWKWKHREMHFWLYHWROD\D¿UP foundation of girls’ future through improvement in their educational and economic status and to bring about a positive FKDQJHLQVRFLDODWWLWXGHWRZDUGVELUWKRIDJLUO)ROORZLQJLWVVXFFHVVRWKHU,QGLDQVWDWHVKDYHHPXODWHGWKHVFKHPH 1XWULWLRQ5HKDELOLWDWLRQ&HQWUHLVDMRLQWLQLWLDWLYHRI'HSDUWPHQWRI+HDOWKDQG'HSDUWPHQWRI:RPHQDQG&KLOG 'HYHORSPHQW*RYHUQPHQWRI,QGLD/DXQFKHGLQ-XO\WKHSULPDU\DLPRIWKHFHQWUHVLVWRUHGXFHVHYHUHWR moderate malnutrition.  Cook stove.

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Since the 1980s, sustainability has been used more in terms of human sustainability on Earth. The PRVWZLGHO\TXRWHGGH¿QLWLRQ144 of sustainable development is that which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” 7KHGH¿QLWLRQHQFRPSDVVHVWKHLQKHUHQWWHQVLRQDQGFRQVWDQWUHFRQFLOLDWLRQUHTXLUHGEHWZHHQWKH WKUHHSLOODUVRIVXVWDLQDELOLW\DVLGHQWL¿HGDWWKH:RUOG6XPPLWRQ6XVWDLQDEOH'HYHORSPHQW — environmental, social equity and economic demands. AdaptationWRFOLPDWHFKDQJHFDQEHGH¿QHG145 as a response that seeks to reduce the vulnerability of biological systems to the ecological and social changes caused by the rise in global temperatures. ,WLVHVSHFLDOO\LPSRUWDQWLQGHYHORSLQJFRXQWULHV, which are predicted to bear the brunt of the effects of climate change and where the capacity and potential for humans to adapt is unevenly distributed across different regions and populations. Adaptive capacity for humans to climate change implies, in the immediate instance, the ability to ensure basic survival for oneself and closest of kin, that basic needs continue to be met in the face of climate variability, that there is minimum destabilisation in the short term and creating conditions to ensure alternative survival and means of livelihood over the medium to long-term. INTERSECTIONALITY: %HIRUHPHHWLQJVRFLDOHTXLW\DQGHFRQRPLFGHPDQGLPSHUDWLYHVEDVLF QHHGVUHTXLUHWKDWHYHU\RQHPXVWKDYHWKHULJKWWRZDWHUVDIHKRXVLQJDQGVKHOWHUVDQLWDWLRQDQG basic infrastructure such as electricity and access to proper roads to live a life of dignity. The lack RIDQ\RIWKHVHQHJDWLYHO\LPSDFWVZRPHQDQGJLUOVLQGLVSURSRUWLRQDWHZD\V,QUXUDOFRQWH[WVWKH responsibility of managing and procuring water for all household needs falls on women and girls, with implications for their health, time, opportunity cost to earn a living and pursue growth-related opportunities or education, in the case of girls. Lack of sanitation violates their sense of dignity DQG SULYDF\ ,W LPSDFWV ZRPHQ DQG JLUOV IDU PRUH WKDQ PHQ DQG ER\V GXH WR VHFXULW\ FRQFHUQV biology and the need for hygiene and privacy, especially during menstruation and pregnancy. Lack of water and sanitation even impacts the ability of women to carry out their traditional roles and tasks of washing dishes, clothes, fetching water, cleaning up their children and infants, cleaning WKHKRXVHIHHGLQJWKHOLYHVWRFN,IZRPHQGRQRWSHUIRUPWKHVHUROHVSURSHUO\RQDUHJXODUEDVLV they are faced with the threat of gender-based violence. Lack of proper housing impacts the entire household but especially women, who spend the maximum amount of time at home and are most susceptible to accidents such as a collapsing roof or structure. For single women, elderly, widows, DEDQGRQHGZRPHQGHVWLWXWHZRPHQVXIIHULQJIURP+,9DQG$,'6RUGLVDELOLW\DQGRUSKDQHGJLUOV

:RUOG6XPPLW2XWFRPH'RFXPHQW5HVROXWLRQ$DGRSWHGE\WKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV*HQHUDO$VVHPEO\ RQ6HSWHPEHU$YDLODEOHIURPKWWSGDWDXQDLGVRUJ7RSLFV8QLYHUVDO$FFHVVZRUOGVXPPLWRXWFRPHB UHVROXWLRQBRFWBHQSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH   United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Glossary of Climate Change Acronyms. $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSXQIFFFLQWHVVHQWLDOBEDFNJURXQGJORVVDU\LWHPVSKS DFFHVVHG-XQH  Daniel H. Cole, “Climate Change, Adaptation, and Development,” Faculty Publications,QGLDQD8QLYHUVLW\3DSHU   $YDLODEOHIURPZZZUHSRVLWRU\ODZLQGLDQDHGXIDFSXE DFFHVVHG-XQH  0/3DUU\DQGRWKHUV(GV&OLPDWH&KDQJHImpacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, Contribution of Working *URXS,,WRWKH)RXUWK$VVHVVPHQW5HSRUWRIWKH,QWHUJRYHUQPHQWDO3DQHORQ&OLPDWH&KDQJH &DPEULGJH8QLYHUVLW\ 3UHVV $YDLODEOHIURPZZZLSFFFKSXEOLFDWLRQVBDQGBGDWDSXEOLFDWLRQVBLSFFBIRXUWKBDVVHVVPHQWBUHSRUWBZJB UHSRUWBLPSDFWVBDGDSWDWLRQBDQGBYXOQHUDELOLW\KWP DFFHVVHG-XQH 

76 proper housing provides basic social security whereas its absence leaves them highly vulnerable to poverty, hunger, exploitation and premature death. Lack of access to proper roads impact mobility for women and girls, ability to earn a livelihood, pursue education and health, particularly during SUHJQDQF\DQGFKLOGGHOLYHU\/DFNRIHOHFWULFLW\VLPLODUO\LPSDFWVZRPHQ²WKHFKLHIPDQDJHUVRI WKHKRXVHKROG²E\UHVWULFWLQJWKHLUDELOLW\WRFDUU\RXWKRXVHKROGZRUNHDUQDOLYHOLKRRGFDUHIRU their children and take care of their health as well as their own, especially during summer months. Socially and geographically marginalised women suffer the most from lack of basic infrastructure. As reported by Oxfam Canada, climate change has made the risky business of farming all the PRUHGLI¿FXOWZKLFKLPSOLHVWKDWZRPHQ²WKHPDMRULW\RIVPDOOVFDOHDQGPDUJLQDOIDUPHUVLQWKH ZRUOG²ZRUNKDUGHUDQGWKHLUIDPLOLHVHDWOHVV&OLPDWHFKDQJHKDVLQFUHDVHGÀRRGVGURXJKWVDQG water-related diseases, which alone kill over two million people every year, most of them women and FKLOGUHQ:RPHQDUHWKHDOVRWKHSULPDU\FDUHJLYHUVIRUWKHVLFN,QGLJHQRXVZRPHQEHDUDWULSOH burden, as climate change is threatening their natural habitats and way of life, identity and overall well-being. Women’s long workdays are even longer as unpredictable rainfall leads to scarcity of food, fuel and water and women have to walk longer and farther to collect these resources, often putting themselves at greater risk of violence.

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TARGETS INDICATORS 7DUJHW$,QWHJUDWHWKHSULQFLSOHV 3URSRUWLRQRIODQGDUHDFRYHUHGE\IRUHVW of sustainable development into &2HPLVVLRQVWRWDOSHUFDSLWDDQGSHU*'3 country policies and programmes 333 and reverse the loss of environmental &RQVXPSWLRQRIR]RQHGHSOHWLQJVXEVWDQFHV resources 3URSRUWLRQRI¿VKVWRFNVZLWKLQVDIHELRORJLFDOOLPLWV 7DUJHW%Reduce biodiversity 3URSRUWLRQRIWRWDOZDWHUUHVRXUFHVXVHG ORVVDFKLHYLQJE\DVLJQL¿FDQW 3URSRUWLRQRIWHUUHVWULDODQGPDULQHDUHDVSURWHFWHG reduction in the rate of loss 3URSRUWLRQRIVSHFLHVWKUHDWHQHGZLWKH[WLQFWLRQ 7DUJHW&+DOYHE\WKH 3URSRUWLRQRISRSXODWLRQXVLQJDQLPSURYHGGULQNLQJ proportion of people without water source sustainable access to safe drinking 3URSRUWLRQRISRSXODWLRQXVLQJDQLPSURYHG water and basic sanitation sanitation facility 7DUJHW'%\WRKDYH 3URSRUWLRQRIXUEDQSRSXODWLRQOLYLQJLQVOXPV DFKLHYHGDVLJQL¿FDQWLPSURYHPHQW LQWKHOLYHVRIDWOHDVWPLOOLRQ slum dwellers

ZZZR[IDPFDZKDWZHGRFDPSDLJQVVWRSKDUPLQJVWDUWKHOSLQJZRPHQVULJKWVDQGFOLPDWHFKDQJH DFFHVVHG -XQH  The actual proportion of people living in slums is measured by a proxy, represented by the urban population living in KRXVHKROGVZLWKDWOHDVWRQHRIWKHIRXUFKDUDFWHULVWLFV D ODFNRIDFFHVVWRLPSURYHGZDWHUVXSSO\ E ODFNRIDFFHVVWR LPSURYHGVDQLWDWLRQ F RYHUFURZGLQJ RUPRUHSHUVRQVSHUURRP DQG G GZHOOLQJVPDGHRIQRQGXUDEOHPDWHULDO 2I¿FLDOIRRWQRWHRQUHYLVHG0'*OLVWHIIHFWLYHIURP-DQXDU\ 

77  :KLOH DOO WKH LQGLFDWRUV UHODWHG WR HQYLURQPHQWDO VXVWDLQDELOLW\ ZHUH DLPHG DW SURWHFWLQJ WKH earth’s environment, the goal did not factor in the very real, extensive and devastating impact RIVKLIWLQJZHDWKHUSDWWHUQVDQGFOLPDWHFKDQJHRQSHRSOH¶VOLYHVDQGOLYHOLKRRGV:RPHQ²WKH PDLQFDUHJLYHUVRIIDPLOLHVDQGPDMRULW\RIVPDOOVFDOHDQGPDUJLQDOIDUPHUV²DUHHVSHFLDOO\ LPSDFWHGLQXQLTXHZD\VZKLFKPHULWVHSDUDWHJHQGHUEDVHGLQGLFDWRUV

 7KH0'*IUDPHZRUNULJKWO\DGGUHVVHGWKHWZLQLVVXHVRIODFNRIZDWHUDQGVDQLWDWLRQ+RZHYHU instead of aggregate indicators measuring “proportion of population,” sharper indicators such as “number of people with a toilet in their household” or “number of people with a “piped water connection in their household” would have been more effective at delivering desired public policy shifts and success in extending reliable cover of water and sanitation.

 7KHIUDPHZRUNOHIWRXWFULWLFDODVSHFWVRILQIUDVWUXFWXUHVXFKDVDFFHVVWRURDGVDQGHOHFWULFLW\ ERWKRIZKLFKKDYHPDMRULPSOLFDWLRQVIRUKHDOWKHGXFDWLRQSRYHUW\OLYHOLKRRGVDQGDOORWKHU measures of well-being, especially for women and girls.

Women of India Speak

‡ 2QH RI WKH JUDYHVW FRQFHUQV ZRPHQ VKDUHG is of successive failure of rains, which, in the “We faced such a (water) crisis absence of alternate sources of irrigation, is WKLV\HDUWKDWRXU¿HOGVGULHGXS resulting in crop failure, hunger and poverty. There was no food or water ,W LV DGYHUVHO\ LPSDFWLQJ WKRVH SULPDULO\ even for livestock — dependent on rain-fed agriculture, cows and buffaloes were especially subsistence farmers. The effects are being felt in the form of increased debt burden, literally dying of thirst.” displacement from primary occupation, food insecurity and, in extreme cases, landlessness.

‡ :RPHQVKDUHGWKDWFOLPDWHFKDQJHLVLPSDFWLQJKRXVHKROGQXWULWLRQDVWKH\QRZKDYHWREX\ vegetables instead of growing them, which has increased expenditure. Women are screening food items based on costs, resulting in 3UR¿OHRQSDJHH[DPLQHVWKH reduced nutrition for the family and devastating impact of climate change on rural especially women, who eat the least or farming households, especially in entirely last due to their nurturing caregivers rain-fed areas (absence of irrigation facilities) roles and existing nutritional and how it is forcing women into daily wage- discrimination against them and girls based agricultural labour or migration. in favour of men and boys, especially in many rural households.

Housing ‡ 0DQ\SRRUDQGROGZRPHQH[SUHVVHGPDMRUFRQFHUQVDERXWWHPSRUDU\KRXVLQJ WKDWFKHG DQG living in constant fear of their houses collapsing. They also shared related concerns about, poor GZHOOLQJVWUXFWXUHVVXFKDVZDWHUVHHSDJHGXULQJUDLQKHDOWKLVVXHVDQGWKH¿QDQFLDOEXUGHQRI regular maintenance.

Due to fewer opportunities and higher population of landless households and agricultural labour, poverty is most concentrated in rain-fed regions. Bharat R. Sharma and others, Realising the potential of rain-fed agriculture in India. $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSQUOSLZPLRUJ3'RFV'5HSRUWV3KDVHB3RWHQWLDORI5DLQHG$JULFXOWXUH 6KDUPDHWDOSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH   ‡ 6RPH ZRPHQ FLWHG H[DPSOHV RI IUHTXHQW GLVSODFHPHQW IURP WKHLU KRPHVWHDGV DV SURSHUW\ RZQHUVDUHFOHDULQJWKRVHDUHDVIRUWKHLURZQSURMHFWV

Water and Sanitation

‡ :DWHU²DFFHVVDYDLODELOLW\DQGTXDOLW\²DUH RI XWPRVW SULRULW\ IRU ZRPHQ ,Q DOPRVW DOO “It’s not possible for poor people VWDWHVZRPHQFLWHGODFNRIZDWHUDVDPDMRU to make a toilet themselves. What if not foremost, challenge in their lives. if I take debt, make the toilet and the government doesn’t reimburse 3UR¿OHRQSDJHVKHGV the cost up to the amount we are light on the nature and extent of challenges women and girls face supposed to get as support as a due to lack of water and sanitation family living below the poverty through the personal account of a line? Right now, we are managing ZRPDQOLYLQJLQUXUDO5DMDVWKDQ²D somehow and living in peace. At desert state where the lack of water least we don’t have to deal with is particularly pronounced. the stress of paying debt.” 3UR¿OHRQSDJHSURYLGHVWKH perspective of a Dalit woman i.e. belonging to a socially marginalised ‡ 7KHFKDOOHQJHVRIPDQDJLQJSURFXULQJDQG community and how members fetching water from far distances remain of their community are unable to NH\FRQFHUQVIRUDPDMRULW\RIZRPHQ7KH\ access a water source in their village feel that water shortage and collection is due to caste-based discrimination. very time-consuming and keeps them from attending to more productive activities. They are also concerned about lack of drinking water facilities, which leads to sending girls to fetch water from an early age. ‡ :RPHQVKDUHGWKDWZDWHUVKRUWDJHVGXULQJVXPPHUPRQWKVDUHSDUWLFXODUO\VHYHUHDQGDIIHFW WKHPWKHPRVW7KH\UHSRUWHGUDSLGGHSOHWLRQRIJURXQGZDWHU,QVRPHFDVHVZDWHUVFDUFLW\LV VRDFXWHWKDWSHRSOHDUH¿QGLQJWKHLURZQFRSLQJPHFKDQLVPVVXFKDVSXUFKDVLQJZDWHURQD UHJXODUEDVLVZKLFKLVLQFUHDVLQJWKH¿QDQFLDOEXUGHQRISRRUIDPLOLHV ‡ 6RPHZRPHQUHSRUWHGWKDWWKH\KDGSLSHGZDWHUFRQQHFWLRQLQWKHLUYLOODJHVEXWWKHZDWHUÀRZ RUTXDQWLW\LVYHU\ORZRULQDGHTXDWH6RPHVKDUHGWKDWWKHQXPEHURIKDQGSXPSVSHUYLOODJH DUHLQDGHTXDWH ‡ :DWHUVKRUWDJHLVHVSHFLDOO\DPDMRULVVXHLQYLOODJHVZLWKRXWDQ\LUULJDWLRQ ‡ :RPHQDOVRUDLVHGZDWHUTXDOLW\FRQFHUQVVXFKDVKLJKOHYHORIÀXRULGHRUFRQWDPLQDWHGZDWHU 7KH\ FRUUHODWHG LPSURYHG ZDWHU DQG VDQLWDWLRQ IDFLOLWLHV ZLWK EHWWHU TXDOLW\ RI OLIH DQG OHVV disease burden. They shared concerns about many new diseases (kidney stones, TB, typhoid, chikungunya, dengue fever and cancer), which they felt is due to the use and consumption of untreated water. Some women also shared that most villagers consumed water without boiling it or using any purifying methods.

 Dalit or Scheduled Caste is a designation for a group of people regarded as “untouchable” and occupying the lowest rung of the Hindu caste system, which ordered and ranked humanity by innate spiritual purity. $YLUXVWUDQVPLWWHGWRKXPDQVE\YLUXVFDUU\LQJ$HGHVPRVTXLWRHVZLWKV\PSWRPVVLPLODUWRGHQJXHIHYHUZLWKDQ DFXWHIHEULOHSKDVHRILOOQHVVODVWLQJRQO\WZRWR¿YHGD\VIROORZHGE\DSURORQJHGDUWKUDOJLFGLVHDVHWKDWDIIHFWVWKH MRLQWV

 ‡ 7KHPDMRUFKDOOHQJHVZRPHQIDFHZLWKUHJDUGVWRVDQLWDWLRQDUHQRQDYDLODELOLW\RIWRLOHWVSRRU drainage facilities, poor services in peri-urban areas and behaviourial challenges in terms of people’s use of sanitation facilities and services and lack of maintenance. ‡ :RPHQ IHHO WKH VKRUWDJH RU ODFN RI ZDWHU DQG WRLOHWV PRVW DFXWHO\ GXULQJ PHQVWUXDWLRQ DQG pregnancy.

‡ ,QVRPHGLVWULFWVZRPHQVKDUHGWKDWWKHLUYLOODJHVDUHDSHUFHQWIUHHRIRSHQGHIHFDWLRQEXW this is a rare exception rather than the rule. Women living in peri-urban areas raised concerns UHJDUGLQJXUEDQLVDWLRQZKLFKLVHDWLQJXSDOOWKHRSHQVSDFHDQGODQG,QWKHDEVHQFHRIWRLOHWV and expanding population, they are concerned about the shrinking space to defecate.

‡ :RPHQ LGHQWL¿HG WKUHH UHDVRQV ZKLFK ³,IWKHUHZHUHVXI¿FLHQWWRLOHWV PRWLYDWH SHRSOH WR EXLOG WRLOHWV ² VSDFH crunch, government incentives and villages would remain cleaner increased levels of awareness regarding the and repeated cases of ill-effects of open defecation on health. diarrhoea among children ‡ :RPHQ IURP YHU\ SRRU KRXVHKROGV RU might also be avoided. villages shared that they don’t have the space It will be transformative for us.” to build toilets, or money or water availability and thus focus on other priorities.

‡ :RPHQDOVRGUHZDOLQNEHWZHHQODFNRIWRLOHWVDQGZDWHULQVFKRROVDQGDKLJKHUVFKRROGURSRXW rate among girls as a result, especially among teenagers.

Roads

‡ :RPHQFLWHGODFNRIJRRGDQGZHOOFRQQHFWHGURDGVWRYLOODJHVDVDFULWLFDOFKDOOHQJH

‡ ,QPDQ\VWDWHVZRPHQGUHZDVWURQJOLQNEHWZHHQKHDOWKUHODWHGFRQFHUQV HVSHFLDOO\SUHJQDQF\  DQGSRRUURDGV)UHTXHQWFDVHVRISUHJQDQF\UHODWHGFRPSOLFDWLRQVDQGHYHQPDWHUQDOGHDWKV are directly associated with poor roads and infrastructure.

‡ :RPHQIRXQGODFNRIURDGLQIUDVWUXFWXUHDQGWUDQVSRUWIDFLOLWLHVHVSHFLDOO\LQWKHUDLQ\VHDVRQ DVPDMRUGHWHUUHQWVWRWKHLUPRELOLW\DELOLW\WRIHWFKZDWHUFROOHFWIXHOZRRGJRWRZRUNLQWKH ¿HOGVDQGWKHLUFKLOGUHQ¶VHGXFDWLRQ

Electricity

‡ ,QWULEDODQGUHPRWHDUHDVHVSHFLDOO\ZRPHQFLWHG 3UR¿OHRQSDJHUHYHDOVWKH PDMRUSRZHUUHODWHGSUREOHPVDQGGUHZDVWURQJ full magnitude of lack of electricity link between the lack of electricity and negative on a poor household from a tribal impact on children’s education and health. woman’s perspective. ‡ :RPHQOLYLQJLQUHPRWHYLOODJHVVKDUHGWKDWZKLOH a power connection exists, they don’t receive UHOLDEOHHOHFWULFLW\VXSSO\:RPHQOLYLQJLQSHULXUEDQDUHDVFRPSODLQHGRIIUHTXHQWSRZHUFXWV

 SUVARNA AMRUTAPPA ALKATTI The Gods must be angry “Due to changes in climate and scanty rainfall, the agricultural output has decreased. We have lost hope of seeing returns on the investments we made in our land.”

$W ¿UVW JODQFH RQH PD\ GLVPLVV Suvarna as one among many rural women. Demure and petite, with an unassuming personality, she happens to be the vice-president of her gram panchayat153 in Dharwad District, located in the southern state of Karnataka and a 3-hour drive away from Goa. She reluctantly shares the stage with other elected representatives and maintains complete silence through the duration of the gram sabha,154 hiding the unceasing undercurrents in her mind — the daily rigours of life, her struggle for survival and an uncertain future in the face of shifting weather patterns and climate change. Photo @ UN Women/Mayank Pratap Singh

,QPRVWGHYHORSLQJFRXQWULHVZRPHQDUHWKHPDLQXVHUVDQGPDQDJHUVRIQDWXUDOUHVRXUFHVDQG WKH\ GHSHQG RQ DJULFXOWXUHUHODWHG DFWLYLWLHV IRU WKHLU VXVWHQDQFH ,Q ,QGLD ZRPHQ FRQVWLWXWH SHUFHQW of the agricultural work force and all farm-related activities. Their average contribution LVHVWLPDWHGDWSHUFHQWWRSHUFHQWRIWKHWRWDOODERXU:RPHQDOVRIRUPWKHPDMRULW\RI VPDOODQGPDUJLQDOIDUPHUVZKRFRQVWLWXWHRYHUSHUFHQWRIIDUPLQJKRXVHKROGVLQ,QGLDDQG are the worst affected by climate change. As agricultural labour, they experience loss of production and livelihoods, food insecurity, further vulnerability and marginalisation, fall in a debt trap and in H[WUHPHFDVHVVXIIHUODQGOHVVQHVV'HYHORSLQJFRXQWULHVVXFKDV,QGLDZKLFKDUHKLJKO\YXOQHUDEOH to climate change, also experience patterns of persisting poverty. The ripple effect has impeded the progressive realisation or even reversed progress of many development efforts, including the MDGs.

INTERSECTIONALITY: Small scale farmer, married, mother of four children, owns small plot of land, daily wage agricultural labourer, indebted.

Footnotes overleaf

 , ZDV  ZKHQ , ZDV PDUULHG WR P\ PDWHUQDO especially seen a change for the worse. The uncle. Life was good. My husband took good care climate has changed drastically and this has of the family, my in-laws loved me and we were impacted rains. Due to poor rains, agricultural KDSS\ LQ RXU OLWWOH ZRUOG , KDYH VSHQW DOPRVW productivity has suffered. The produce is not  \HDUV LQ WKLV YLOODJH ,QJDOKDOOL , KDYH IRXU even enough to feed the family, let alone earn FKLOGUHQ²WZRJLUOVDQGWZRER\V²DQGWKH\DOO income from it. This has been the case with DWWHQGVFKRRO,DPDOVRWKHYLFHSUHVLGHQWRIP\ all subsistence farmers in our village. The gram panchayat. agriculture in this region is rain-fed. There is no DOWHUQDWH VRXUFH RI LUULJDWLRQ ,I UDLQ IDLOV RXU crops suffer. For such a small land holding, it “Earlier, we grew crops and is not economical to dig a bore well, as it is very vegetables of our choice in our expensive. ¿HOGV7KHUHZDVYDULHW\LQWKH food I prepared at home. Now we “For the past two years, have to purchase all the grocery I have been working as daily items and vegetables. We have to ZDJHDJULFXOWXUDOODERXULQ¿HOGV prioritise spending on food items in a nearby village because our according to the cost and not crops failed. There are times nutritional value. Only the bare when I have to go asking for work essential is purchased on a and search for opportunities, regular basis.” which is time-consuming and physically exhausting. The nature We are farmers and we own two acres of of works depends on the season. agriculture land. That provides our sole source It is different during harvesting of livelihood and income. Till recent times, but regardless of the season, it is there was ample produce and we had enough to intensive and backbreaking.” last us for a year. We grew crops and vegetables LQRXU¿HOGV7KHUHZDVHQRXJKIRGGHUIRUWKH livestock, food for the family and also cash crops Under the present circumstances, farming is no to sell in the market. longer a viable option for us. We have to spend money on fertilisers, manure and seeds. We have /LIHKDVFKDQJHGGUDVWLFDOO\LQWKHSDVW\HDUV to take loans hoping that we will repay them since my marriage. The past two years have when we reap a good produce. Due to changes

/RFDOVHOIJRYHUQPHQWDWWKHYLOODJHOHYHOLQ,QGLD $PHHWLQJRIDOOWKHDGXOWFLWL]HQYRWHUVRIWKHYLOODJH ,QGLD3ODQQLQJ&RPPLVVLRQ5HSRUWRI6XE*URXSRQ*HQGHUDQG$JULFXOWXUH 1HZ'HOKL S$YDLODEOHIURP KWWSSODQQLQJFRPPLVVLRQQLFLQDERXWXVFRPPLWWHHZUNJUSZJBVXEJHQDJUSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH  5HVHDUFK)RXQGDWLRQIRU6FLHQFH7HFKQRORJ\DQG(FRORJ\,PSDFWRI:72RQ:RPHQLQ$JULFXOWXUH 1DWLRQDO &RPPLVVLRQIRU:RPHQ1HZ'HOKL S$YDLODEOHIURPKWWSQFZQLFLQSGIUHSRUWVLPSDFWRIZWR ZRPHQLQDJULFXOWXUHSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH  $ULHO'LQDUDQG2WKHUV³0HDVXULQJWKH,PSDFWRI&OLPDWH&KDQJHRQ,QGLDQ$JULFXOWXUH´:RUOG%DQN7HFKQLFDO 3DSHU 7KH:RUOG%DQN $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSERRNVJRRJOHFRLQ DFFHVVHG-XQH   German Watch, The Millennium Development Goals and Climate Change:Taking Stock and Looking Ahead. $YDLODEOHIURPKWWSJHUPDQZDWFKRUJNOLPDNOLPGJHSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH   The existing pattern of failure in achieving the MDGs correlates with areas where high climate vulnerabilities are H[SHFWHG

 in climate and scanty rainfall, the agricultural output has decreased and we have lost hope of $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI Suvarna seeing returns on the investments we made on DPDP,ZDNHXSDQGSUHSDUHWHDIRUWKH our land. There is no point working hard to farm family and then wake everyone else up. The on our own lands now. We need money for our children have to get ready for school. daily survival needs. We take loans to sustain ourselves. Our earnings are spent on repayment DPDP , KDYH WR UXVK WR WKH QHDUE\ ¿HOGVEHIRUHGD\EUHDNWR¿QGDFRYHUHGVHFOXGHG RIORDQVDQGWKHQZHWDNHDQRWKHURQHDQG¿QG SODFHWRGHIHFDWH,WDNHP\GDXJKWHUDORQJDV, ourselves trapped in the debt cycle. am scared to leave her alone. Earlier, we grew crops and vegetables of our DPDP,FOHDQWKHFDWWOHVKHG7KLVLVD FKRLFHLQRXU¿HOGV7KHUHZDVYDULHW\LQWKHIRRG ORWRIZRUN,WLVLPSRUWDQWWRPDLQWDLQK\JLHQH ,SUHSDUHGDWKRPH1RZZHKDYHWRSXUFKDVH in the shed, as it is part of the dwelling enclosure. all the grocery items and vegetables. We have to , ¿OO XS WKH ZDWHU DQG IRRG FRQWDLQHUV IRU WKH prioritise spending on food items according to cattle and then milk the cows. the cost and not nutritional value. Only the bare essential is purchased on a regular basis. DPDP,WDNHDTXLFNEDWKLQWKHOLWWOH NLWFKHQ 7KHUH LV QR EDWKURRP , DOVR ZDVK DV , KDYH WZR FRZV 0DLQWDLQLQJ WKHP LV DQ PDQ\FORWKHVDV,FDQLQWKHPRUQLQJEXWWKHUH expensive and arduous task. We now purchase are days when there is no time for this. the fodder for the cows, which was sourced IURP RXU RZQ ¿HOG XQWLO D IHZ \HDUV DJR 7KH DP , ERLO WKH PLON 3UHSDUH WKH PLON RXWSXW KDV DOVR GZLQGOHG IURP  OLWUHV meal for the family. Now that we work in the agriculture land in the neighbouring village, WROLWUHVSHUGD\,VSHQGKRXUVLQDGD\ , KDYH WR HQVXUH WKDW HYHU\WKLQJ PRYHV OLNH WHQGLQJWRWKHFRZV,WLVODERXULQWHQVLYHDQG FORFNZRUN,I,¶PODWHIRUZRUNWKHQHLWKHUZH very expensive maintaining them. Most villagers miss the day’s opportunity for labour or our including myself use fuel wood for cooking. We ZDJHLVVODVKHG,PDNHWLI¿Q for my husband gather it once a week as we have to trek almost and myself to take to work. The children are ¿YHNLORPHWUHVDQGLWWDNHVDOPRVWWZRWRWKUHH provided free mid-day meals in the school itself hours. through a government scheme. )RU WKH SDVW WZR \HDUV , KDYH EHHQ ZRUNLQJ DPSP,OHDYHIRUZRUNLQDKXUU\ DV GDLO\ ZDJH DJULFXOWXUDO ODERXU LQ ¿HOGV LQ D $WWLPHVWKHZRUNSODFHLV¿[HG,KDYHP\PHDO nearby village because our crops failed. There LQWKHIDUPVZLWKRWKHUODERXUHUV,UHWXUQKRPH DUH WLPHV ZKHQ , KDYH WR JR DVNLQJ IRU ZRUN E\ DERXW SP 2Q WKH ZD\ KRPH , FROOHFW and search for opportunities, which is time- WZLJVDQGDJULFXOWXUDOZDVWH²DQ\WKLQJWKDWFDQ consuming and physically exhausting. The EHXVHGDVIXHO0\FKLOGUHQDUHJURZQXSVR, QDWXUH RI ZRUNV GHSHQGV RQ WKH VHDVRQ ,W LV don’t have to worry too much about taking care different during harvesting but regardless of the of them when they return from school. There are VHDVRQLWLVLQWHQVLYHDQGEDFNEUHDNLQJ,DOVR GD\VZKHQ,YLVLWP\IDUPWRVHHLIDQ\ZRUNLV have the added responsibilities of an elected UHTXLUHGWKHUH leader and have to take time out to attend SPSP 2QFH , DP EDFN KRPH to work and meetings. At times, it feels like a ,IUHVKHQXSDQGWKHQPLONWKHFRZVDQGFOHDQ double burden and also leads to loss of daily WKHVKHG,HQVXUHWKDWWKH\KDYHVXI¿FLHQWZDWHU wages. and fodder. , ZDQW P\ FKLOGUHQ WR VWXG\ , QHYHU LQYROYH SPSP , SUHSDUH GLQQHU IRU WKH WKHPLQKRXVHKROGFKRUHVRULQIDUPLQJ,IWKH IDPLO\ $IWHU HYHU\RQH LV GRQH ZLWK GLQQHU , rain fails again, we will never be able to free FOHDQ WKH XWHQVLOV DQG NLWFKHQ , KDYH WR FOHDQ RXUVHOYHV RI GHEW , PD\ DOVR KDYH WR VHOO P\ the chulha as well as it needs to be prepared FRZV,DPQRWYHU\RSWLPLVWLFDERXWRXUIXWXUH. for the next day. SPSP We all go to sleep. Lunch box.  Cook stove.  SAVITRI Water is life, toilets are dignity Photo @ UN Women/Divya Gupta

“The children bathe everyday but I normally have to bathe every alternate day. What to do? One has to tell the truth.” It must have been the largest mahila sabha162 gathering in Alwar District in recent times. Over 150 women clad in Rajasthan’s famed bright-coloured saris163 and jewellery made a banal school classroom appear like colourful coral life under sea or a Van Gogh painting coming alive. The mood was heated at the start — women weren’t happy with the village president sitting across and weren’t hiding it. And yet, fellow women were frowning upon anyone speaking up, which didn’t stop a lanky but assertive lady from getting up and making her point anyway. Luckily, for 6DYLWULZKRZDVDWWHQGLQJKHU¿UVWVXFKPHHWLQJVKHUDLVHGDQLVVXHWKDWIRXQGUHVRQDQFHDFURVV the room and immediate murmurs of support — their demand for access to safe water and toilets. Across developing countries, cultural norms and expectations place the burden of fetching and managing water for all household needs on women and young girls. As a result, they walk long GLVWDQFHVFDUU\KHDY\EXFNHWVDQGZDLWIRUKRXUVLQTXHXHVDWDZHOORUDVROHKDQGSXPS7KH work is time-consuming and back-breaking, often performed during oppressive heat or weather. 7KHZDWHUFDQEHFRQWDPLQDWHGHYHQGHDGO\:RPHQDQG\RXQJJLUOVWKXVIDFHDGLI¿FXOWFKRLFH certain death without water or possible death from illness. Lack of sanitation further violates their VHQVHRIGLJQLW\VHOIUHVSHFWDQGSULYDF\ZKLOHFRPSURPLVLQJWKHLUKHDOWKDQGVDIHW\,WOHDGVWRJLUOV dropping out from school, especially after reaching puberty. Although the MDG target on providing DFFHVVWRVDIHGULQNLQJZDWHUZDVPHWLQLQ,QGLDDFFRUGLQJWRRI¿FLDOVWDWLVWLFVZRPHQUHSRUWHG a widespread and crippling lack of safe water and sanitation facilities.

INTERSECTIONALITY: Below the poverty line, mother of three children, lack of safe water and sanitation, Dalit (scheduled caste).

Footnotes overleaf  :DWHULVOLIH

:KLOHWKHJUDPVDEKDLVDPHHWLQJRIDOOWKHDGXOWFLWL]HQYRWHUVRIWKHYLOODJHWKHPDKLODVDEKDLVWKHZRPHQ¶V FRXQWHUSDUWRIDJUDPVDEKDPHHWLQJZLWKSDUWLFLSDWLRQRQO\E\ZRPHQLQWKHYLOODJH,WLVPHDQWWRSURYLGHDSODWIRUPWR discuss challenges facing women that can be raised by them comfortably without fear of the power dynamics present in a IXOOÀHGJHGRI¿FLDOYLOODJHPHHWLQJZLWKPHQSUHVHQWDVZHOO  Also spelt as “Saree,” it is a strip of unstitched cloth, worn by women, ranging from four to nine yards in length that is GUDSHGRYHUWKHERG\LQYDULRXVVW\OHVZKLFKLVQDWLYHWRWKH,QGLDQ6XEFRQWLQHQW  Dalit or Scheduled Caste is a designation for a group of people regarded as “untouchable” and occupying the lowest rung of the Hindu caste system, which ordered and ranked humanity by innate spiritual purity.  Earthern pot or pitcher made of clay or mud used to carry or fetch water.  Dirt track of mud.  Black tar-topped road. ,QGLDQIHXGDOWLWOHXVHGE\ODQGRZQHUVRUXSSHUFDVWHUR\DOW\PHPEHUV %KLPUDR5DPML$PEHGNDUZDVDQ,QGLDQMXULVWSROLWLFDOOHDGHUSKLORVRSKHUDQWKURSRORJLVWKLVWRULDQRUDWRU HFRQRPLVWWHDFKHUHGLWRUSUROL¿FZULWHUUHYROXWLRQDU\DQGDUHYLYDOLVWRI%XGGKLVPLQ,QGLD+HZDVDOVRWKHFKLHI DUFKLWHFWRIWKH,QGLDQ&RQVWLWXWLRQ%RUQLQWRDSRRU0DKDUIDPLO\ FRQVLGHUHGDQ³8QWRXFKDEOH´FDVWH KHEHFDPHRQH RIWKH¿UVW³Dalits´WRREWDLQDFROOHJHGHJUHHLQ,QGLDDQGFDPSDLJQHGDJDLQVWVRFLDOGLVFULPLQDWLRQDQGWKH+LQGXFDVWH system and converted to Buddhism.

 , VWLOO GRQ¶W KDYH D WRLOHW 6R ZH KDYH WR JR outside to relieve ourselves and bathe by $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI6DYLWUL HUHFWLQJDUWL¿FLDOZDOOVXVLQJFKDLUVDQGsaris. DPDP,JHWXSDQGWLHWKHEXIIDORHVRXWVLGH , KDYH WR FKRRVH D WLPH ZKHQ QR RQH LV DW the house and then feed them some fodder.  home. We keep our blouse and petticoat on 7KHQ,VZHHSWKHDUHDZKHUHWKHEXIIDORHVDUH ZKLOHEDWKLQJMXVWLQFDVHVRPHPDOHIDPLO\ WLHG $IWHU WKDW , WDNH WKHLU IUHVK GXQJ WR WKH PHPEHU FRPHV WKURXJK ,I WKDW KDSSHQV , ¿HOGVPDNHFDNHVRXWRIWKHPDQGOHDYHWKHP reach for the shawl right next to me and cover to dry so they can be used for fuel and cooking P\VHOIDQGMXVWVLWWKHUHXQWLOKHKDV¿QLVKHG SXUSRVHV7KHQ,FRPHEDFNDQGPDNHWHD his work and gone. During menstruation, it LV PRVW LQFRQYHQLHQW :H QHYHU XVHG SDGV DPDP , JLYH WHD WR P\ FKLOGUHQ P\ we had to use cloth. We wash the cloth and husband and in-laws and then drink a cup recycle it for use, alternating with another P\VHOI,WKHQFOHDQWKHWHDXWHQVLOVDQGVZHHS clean cloth. Now there is a hospital, so women and clean the whole house and wash clothes. get pads there but mostly poor women have 7KHQ,SUHSDUHIRRGIRUHYHU\RQH0\KXVEDQG to use cloth. They can’t even talk about these OHDYHVIRUZRUNDWDPDQGVR,KDYHWRJHWLW things openly. UHDG\ IRU KLP DQG WKHQ , KHOS WKH FKLOGUHQ WR  You can take small children anywhere but JHWUHDG\IRUVFKRROSUHSDUHWKHLUWLI¿Q and once children become mature, like my three they leave for school. When we didn’t have the sons are now, they feel more conscious. KDQGSXPS,XVHGWRFDUU\WZRgaddas on my When children go to relieve themselves in head and maybe take one in the hand and go VRPHRQH¶V¿HOGVWKHQSHRSOHGRQ¶WOHWWKHP to collect water at the well. There were long XVHWKDWDUHD7KH\¿JKWZLWKXVDQGFRPSODLQ lines and it took at least one or two hours to get WKDW \RXU FKLOGUHQ ZHQW LQ RXU ¿HOGV $QG WKHDPRXQWUHTXLUHG)RUWKHHYHQLQJ,KDGWR there’s no space to go anywhere now since collect water again. more people have settled in the village. Men and boys can still manage but women and DPSP%\DP,DOVROHDYHIRUZRUNRQWKH  girls really struggle. Where should they sit? days that it is available through MGNREGA . They have look for a spot where there are no 7KHQ,JREDFNKRPHDQGUHSHDWWKHPRUQLQJ men. Either they have to go very early in the F\FOHRIKRXVHZRUNLQWKHHYHQLQJ,FROOHFWVRPH mornings or a girl’s mother has to go along in JUDVV RQ WKH ZD\ EDFN KRPH ,I ZRUN WKURXJK the dark. After all, we have to take care of a the scheme is not available, then we work in girl’s security. RWKHU SHRSOH¶V ¿HOGV 3HRSOH LQ RXU FRQGLWLRQ have to work, no matter what. ,I,ZHUHJLYHQDFKDQFH,ZRXOGUHTXHVWWKH government to build toilets in our houses so SPSP , IHHG WKH OLYHVWRFN DQG WKHQ children and women don’t have to go outside. prepare dinner. After my children, husband and Also, if we get proper water supply in houses LQODZV HDW , ¿QLVK P\ GLQQHU WRR ,I WKHUH¶V or at least a tank close by from where women food left then well and good but if there isn’t any RIWKHYLOODJHFDQFROOHFWZDWHUDQGRXW¿WWKH OHIWWKHQ,HYHQJRWREHGKXQJU\VRPHWLPHV WDQN ZLWK  WDSV WKHQ SHRSOH ZLOO VWRS ¿JKWLQJ)RUWDSSHGZDWHUVXSSO\LQKRXVHV SPSP,FOHDQXSWKHNLWFKHQDUHDZDVK WKHJRYHUQPHQWFDQWDNHRXWDVFKHPHLQ¿YH the utensils and go to sleep. \HDUVEXWWRLOHWVDUHUHDOO\XUJHQW²ZHQHHG them now.

 An ankle-length underskirt worn with the Sari by women in South Asia, usually matching the colour of the sari.  Lunch Box. 7KH0DKDWPD*DQGKL1DWLRQDO5XUDO(PSOR\PHQW*XDUDQWHH$FW 0*15(*$ IRUPHUO\NQRZQDV15(*$LVDQ,QGLDQ HPSOR\PHQWVFKHPHHQDFWHGE\OHJLVODWLRQRQ$XJXVW

 NAGARATHNAMMA Stand by us Photo @ UN Women/Swapna Bist-Joshi

“I know that caste-based discrimination is an offence but we cannot complain. It is a question of our daily bread and butter. Most of us have no land. Only some families possess smallholdings. Working in the XSSHUFDVW¿HOGVSURYLGHVRXURQO\VRXUFHRILQFRPH´ Nagarathnamma lives an hour away from south India’s culturally rich city of Mysore. Born into a family of human scavengers, she has breathed and lived social exclusion and marginalisation throughout her life. Like other members of her community, she has internalised this marginal status as a constant in life. She does have a modest desire — the right to equal access and control over the natural source of water provided by a small lake in her village. Upper-caste families of the village have barred her and members of her community from using or even going near it. 1DJDUDWKQDPPD H[XGHV DQ DLU RI VHOIDVVXUHG FRQ¿GHQFH DQG LV RSWLPLVWLF WKDW MXVWLFH ZLOO EH served. Her dream and aspiration for her children is a just and equitable future, which she hopes to experience in her lifetime. Social exclusion is a discriminatory practice that segregates and excludes a group of people on the basis of identity leading to oppression and exploitation of such groups. This phenomenon is PRVWO\LQWHUJHQHUDWLRQDODQGGHHSO\HQWUHQFKHG3RYHUW\LVERWKDFDXVHDQGFRQVHTXHQFHRIVRFLDO H[FOXVLRQ7KHLQFLGHQFHRISRYHUW\GHFOLQHGLQ,QGLDRYHUWKHSDVWWZRGHFDGHVDQGZDVHVWLPDWHG DWSHUFHQWLQEXWLWZDVKLJKHU among marginalised communities such as scheduled FDVWHV DOPRVWSHUFHQWLQUXUDODUHDVDQGSHUFHQWLQXUEDQDUHDV 7KH$FFHVV,QGH[RIDVVHW RZQHUVKLS GH¿QHGDVWKHVKDUHRIDVVHWVRZQHGE\WKHFRPPXQLW\GLYLGHGE\WKHFRPPXQLW\¶VVKDUH of population) across social groups was the lowestIRUVFKHGXOHGFDVWHVDVRI0DUJLQDOLVHG people such as scheduled castes have suffered social exclusion and alienation for generations, exhibit poor human development indicators and capabilities agency as compared to the general population and are often bypassed by development efforts and progress. INTERSECTIONALITY: Woman belonging to a scheduled caste, father was a human scavenger, KDV  VLEOLQJV VWXGLHG WLOO th standard, owns a small plot of land, lives in a segregated hamlet for scheduled castes, unable to access water and other common resources due to caste-based discrimination.

Footnotes overleaf  0\ QDPH LV 1DJDUDWKQDPPD , ZDV ERUQ LQ 7KH YLOODJH KDV D QDWXUDO VRXUFH RI ZDWHU ² D 6DW\DJDODYLOODJHRI0\VRUH'LVWULFW,ZDVSDUW small lake. The Gowdas (upper caste) have RI D KXJH IDPLO\ :H DUH  EURWKHUV DQG WZR total control over who uses it. We are Dalits or sisters. My father worked as a human scavenger. “untouchables” and so, we are not permitted , KDYH VWXGLHG RQO\ WLOO WKH th standard. My even close to it, let alone use it. They tell us, SDUHQWV PDUULHG PH RII ZKHQ , ZDV  \HDUV µ

,QGLD,QVWLWXWHRI$SSOLHG0DQSRZHU5HVHDUFK3ODQQLQJ&RPPLVVLRQIndia Human Development Report 2011: Towards Social Inclusion$YDLODEOHIURPKWWSZZZLPFKDQJHRUJGRFV,+'5B6XPPDU\SGI DFFHVVHG-XQH   ,ELG 66XEUDPDQLDQDQG'-D\DUDM³7KH'LVWULEXWLRQRI+RXVHKROG:HDOWKLQ,QGLD´5HVHDUFK3DSHU1R :RUOG,QVWLWXWHIRU'HYHORSPHQW(FRQRPLF5HVHDUFK8QLWHG1DWLRQV8QLYHUVLW\ )LQODQG $YDLODEOHIURP ZZZZLGHUXQXHGXVWFUHSHFSGIVUSUSSGI DFFHVVHG-XQH   The Millennium Development Goals Report, 2011 8QLWHG1DWLRQV3XEOLFDWLRQ6DOHV1R(, $YDLODEOHIURP KWWSZZZXQRUJPLOOHQQLXPJRDOVB0'*5HSRUWB(1SGI DFFHVVHG-XQH   Dalit or Scheduled Caste is a designation for a group of people regarded as “untouchable” and occupying the lowest rung of the Hindu caste system, which ordered and ranked humanity by innate spiritual purity.

 , NQRZ WKDW FDVWHEDVHG GLVFULPLQDWLRQ LV DQ RIIHQFHEXWZHFDQQRWFRPSODLQ,WLVDTXHVWLRQRI $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI our daily bread and butter. Most of us don’t own 1DJDUDWKQDPPD land. Only some families possess smallholdings. DPDP , ZDNH DW VL[ LQ WKH We are subsistence farmers. Working in the upper PRUQLQJ , JR WR WKH ¿HOGV WR DQVZHU FDVWH¿HOGVLVRXURQO\VRXUFHRIZRUNDQGLQFRPH the morning call. We don’t have toilets ,I ZH UHDFW DQG FRPSODLQ ZH PD\ KDYH WR VXIIHU LQ RXU KRXVHV 2Q P\ ZD\ WR WKH ¿HOG , the ire of the dominant community and lose our SODFHHPSW\EXFNHWVLQWKHTXHXHLQIURQW only source of living. We cannot afford to make them unhappy and work against their wishes. We of the sole tap water connection for the DOVR WDNH ORDQV IURP WKHP ZKHQ UHTXLUHG ,I ZH FRPPXQLW\2QP\ZD\EDFN,FKHFNWKH make them unhappy they will also not loan us any VWDWXVRIWKHTXHXHDQG¿OOWKHEXFNHWV$W money. How will we take care of our family and times, when it’s my turn, the water supply their needs then? There are no other employment VWRSV,FDUU\WKHEXFNHWORDGEDFNKRPH options close to our village. My children and husband also help with WKLV,SUHSDUHWHDIRUHYHU\RQHFOHDQWKH We are not permitted to visit the village temple as upper caste people visit it. We are not even house and tidy it up.  permitted to set foot near the dewal. We go to DP , WDNH D EDWKH DQG WKHQ the neighbouring village, where our community prepare food for the family. The children has built a dewal. Our children and men are not OHDYH IRU VFKRRO , ZDVK WKH XWHQVLOV SHUPLWWHGDKDLUFXWDWWKHYLOODJHEDUEHUVKRS,IZH go forcefully or complain, then the barber will be DQG FOHDQ WKH NLWFKHQ , DOVR WU\ WR ZDVK boycotted. None of the upper caste members and FORWKHVLI,KDYHWKHWLPHDQGZDWHU$IWHU FKLOGUHQZLOOXVHKLVVHUYLFH,WZLOOKLWKLVEXVLQHVV FRPSOHWLQJWKHPRUQLQJFKRUHV,OHDYHIRU and he will suffer losses. So we take our children to WKH¿HOGVRZQHGE\WKH*RZGDFRPPXQLW\ the barbershop in town. There, no one knows our to work as a daily wager. caste and so, there is no discrimination. DPSP We work from eight in the ,Q VFKRROV DOO WKH FKLOGUHQ VWXG\ WRJHWKHU EXW morning till six in the evening and receive women from my community are ostracised and  UXSHHV  GROODUV  DV RXU ODERXU barred from preparing the free mid-day meals that charges for a day. We also take our food children are supposed to get under a government scheme. Only members from the upper caste can ZLWKXV0\KXVEDQGDQG,ZRUNWRJHWKHU cook and serve food to the children. At the local 2QWKHZD\EDFNIURPWKH¿HOGV,FROOHFW village tea stall, the cups and glasses (mostly IXHOZRRGIURPWKHQHDUE\IRUHVWRU¿HOGV disposable) are separately designated for our 7KLVWDNHVXSDOPRVWKRXUVDGD\ community. The tea is poured into them from a distance. The person who pours the tea then leaves 6pm-9pm: , FRPH KRPH SUHSDUH WKH the spot. Then, we pick our cups from that spot. evening tea and wash clothes if there is After we drink the tea, we have to throw our cups ZDWHU ,Q WKH HYHQLQJ ZH KDYH WR TXHXH or wash our own cups and glasses. up for water again. A lot of my chores and WLPHPDQDJHPHQWLVFRQWLQJHQWRQWKLV, We can bear the rest but the social ostracism related to water affects us the most and our daily routine. prepare the evening meal and serve it to Time is precious for us. We are daily wagers and WKHIDPLO\PHPEHUV,FOHDQWKHNLWFKHQ receive payment according to the number of hours wash the utensils and prepare the chulha ZRUNHG LQ D GD\ ,W LPSDFWV ZRPHQ WKH PRVW for the next day. because we have to wash clothes and manage water. ,IH[FHVVLYHWLPHLVVSHQWFROOHFWLQJDQGPDQDJLQJ SPSP , DP WRWDOO\ H[KDXVWHG E\ ZDWHULWLPSDFWVRXUGDLO\ZDJH,MXVWZDQWWKDW SPSPDQGJRWRVOHHS7KHQH[WGD\ there should be a designated spot for us to wash we follow the same schedule. Nothing FORWKHVDWWKHODNH,WFRXOGEHDQ\FRUQHU changes for us.

3ODFHRIZRUVKLSRUWHPSOH  Cook Stove.

 MAMINA SAHU Life on re-charge Photo @ UN Women/Pranab K. Aich

“In my village, the metre shows that there is electricity in our homes but the voltage is so low that if you touch the wire with your bare hands, you will not even feel a slight shock. You will not feel anything.” No one notices Mamina sitting quietly in a corner with her son during the proceedings of the local mahila sabha180 in Dhenkanal District, located close to India’s south-eastern coastline and among the most backward districts in the country. She intently listens to the discussion being held on female foeticide, simultaneously checking the movements of her 8-year-old son, who is busy playing with a bamboo stick. Her main worry is that her son has not completed his homework and soon the sun will set. Electricity is a luxury for Mamina, which she receives for a maximum of one hour a day. If she misses charging her “rechargeable” torch today, she will lose her only source of light to last the night. 0DPLQDLVDPRQJWKHPLOOLRQ,QGLDQVZKROLYHZLWKQRRUOLWWOHDFFHVVWRHOHFWULFLW\*OREDOO\ RIWKHHVWLPDWHGELOOLRQSHRSOH SHUFHQWRIWKHZRUOGSRSXODWLRQ OLYLQJZLWKOLPLWHGRUQR DFFHVVWRHOHFWULFLW\,QGLDKDVWKHVLQJOHODUJHVWFRQFHQWUDWLRQ7KHXQHTXDOGLVWULEXWLRQRIHQHUJ\ has the largest impact on the vulnerable poor, especially poor women and children in rural areas, DUJXHVDUHSRUWHQWLWOHG³7KH&DVHIRU0HHWLQJWKH0LOOHQQLXP'HYHORSPHQW*RDOVWKURXJK $FFHVVWR&OHDQ(OHFWULFLW\´E\WKH*OREDO(QHUJ\1HWZRUN,QVWLWXWH5XUDOZRPHQVSHQGPXFKRI WKHLULQFRPHDQGWLPHRQWU\LQJWRDFFHVVHQHUJ\VRXUFHVLWVWDWHVFLWLQJH[DPSOHV²ZRPHQDQG \RXQJJLUOVVSHQGDOPRVWVL[KRXUVDGD\JDWKHULQJIXHOZRRGDQGZDWHUFRRNLQJDQGIDUPLQJWKH\ ZDONORQJGLVWDQFHVDYHUDJLQJPLOHVSHUGD\ULVNLQJWKHLURZQVDIHW\DQGKHDOWKDQGWKDWRI their children. INTERSECTIONALITY: 6WXGLHG WLOO th standard, married, mother, gets electricity for an hour a day.

Footnotes overleaf  0\ QDPH LV 0DPLQD 6DKX DQG , DP  \HDUV ,XVHGWRFU\WKHZKROHGD\EHFDXVHWKHUHZDV ROG,ZDVDJRRGVWXGHQWDQGDPRQJWKHYHU\ WRR PXFK ZRUN DQG QR FRPIRUW  /DWHU , JRW IHZLQWKHYLOODJHZKRFRPSOHWHGth standard used to it. EXWFROOHJHZDVWRRIDUDQGVR,ZDVQRWVHQWWR VWXG\IXUWKHU,OLYHZLWKP\KXVEDQG\HDUROG Right now, the winter season is going on and son and mother-in-law. VR,ZHDUVRPHWKLQJZDUPDQGVOHHSSHDFHIXOO\ at night. During the summer and rainy season ,Q P\ YLOODJH WKH PHWUH VKRZV WKDW WKHUH LV WKRXJKZHIDFHWHUULEOHWLPHV3HRSOHLQRWKHU electricity in our homes but the voltage is so low villages use coolers in the summer afternoons that if you touch the wire with your bare hands RUDWOHDVWIDQV,MXVWNHHSUROOLQJWKHKDQGIDQ you will not even feel a slight shock. You will not throughout the day. The house roof gets so hot feel anything. We receive proper voltage for an GXULQJ WKH VXPPHU WKDW , KDYH WR SRXU ZDWHU hour or less but not always. We do all our work on the rooftop, which provides only temporary GXULQJWKDWWLPH²FKDUJHRXUPRELOHVZDWFK relief. We usually go outside to get shade under television, charge a rechargeable torch for the some tree because the heat inside is unbearable. night, which takes one hour and can work up &KLOGUHQJHWVLFNHOGHUVVXIIHUIURPVXQVWURNH WR  KRXUV RU ZH XVH D ODQWHUQ 2WKHUZLVH There is also no hospital nearby and the roads we have to live in the dark. At all other times, are not good. WKHHOHFWULFLW\LVYHU\GLP,QRWKHUZRUGVWKH YROWDJHLVQRWVXI¿FLHQWIRUDQ\NLQGRISURSHU XVH(YHQD¿ODPHQWLQVLGHDEXOEGRHVQRWVKRZ “The biggest problem children any sign of lighting up. We have no idea when face is the loss of their education– or for how long the electricity will come? When they are not able to have the right there is proper voltage in the house, there are frame of mind for studying. DOZD\V ¿JKWV EHFDXVH RQH SHUVRQ ZDQWV WR GR They will be able to study only if VRPHWKLQJDQRWKHUZDQWVWRGRVRPHWKLQJHOVH the feel comfortable, right?” ,W¶V DOZD\V EHHQ OLNH WKLV VLQFH , FDPH WR WKLV village. The present life is full of sorrows. When , ZDV DW P\ SDUHQW¶V KRPH , ZDV YHU\ KDSS\ ,W LV DOVR XQEHDUDEOH WR FRRN LQ WKH VXPPHUV it gets too hot near the chulha,I,FRRNERWK 7KHUH ZDV VXI¿FLHQW ZDWHU DQG HOHFWULFLW\ DQG WLPHV LQ D GD\ WKHQ , VWDUW GHYHORSLQJ KHDOWK HYHU\WKLQJ LQVLGH WKH KRXVH ZRUNHG ² WKH complications. We suffer from prickly heat the WXEHZHOO WHOHYLVLRQ DQG IULGJH , KDG WR ZRUN VL]HRIELJERLOV6R,FRRNRQO\LQWKHHYHQLQJV there, too, but life was easier because biogas and then reheat the food in the morning and was available. We never had to worry about serve everyone. To avoid food from getting JDWKHULQJ¿UHZRRGIRURXUNLWFKHQ(YHU\WKLQJ VSRLOW,VRPHKRZDGMXVWDQGPRVWO\FRRNIULHG ZDVTXLFNHUDQGGRQHLQDKDVVOHIUHHPDQQHU food and use a gas stove but it is very expensive Through biogas, we had electricity in our house WKHVH GD\V 6R VRPHWLPHV , FRRN P\ IRRG RQ and could cook properly and watch television. the chulha especially during winters to save on (YHQZDVKLQJFORWKHVZDVHDVLHU,ZRXOGVZLWFK gas.,WZRUNVRXWWREHPXFKFKHDSHU on the motor and the clothes could be washed in our compound only. We did not have to travel to During the rainy season, there are different any pond or lake to wash them like we have to do FKDOOHQJHV ,W LV GDQJHURXV WR JR RXW IRU IHDU QRZ:KHQ,FDPHWRWKLVYLOODJHDIWHUPDUULDJH of snakes, insects or other animals. Children cannot go out in the dark even if they have to

:KLOHWKHJUDPVDEKDLVDPHHWLQJRIDOOWKHDGXOWFLWL]HQYRWHUVRIWKHYLOODJHWKHPDKLODVDEKDLVWKHZRPHQ¶V counterpart of a gram sabha meeting with participation only by women in the village. (QHUJ\)DFWV:RUOG%DQN$YDLODEOHIURPKWWSZHEZRUOGEDQNRUJ:%6,7((;7(51$/723,&6(;7(1(5* <FRQWHQW0'.aSDJH3.aSL3.aWKH6LWH3.KWPO DFFHVVHG-XQH  ,ELG  Cook stove. /LTXLG3HWUROHXP*DV

 relieve themselves. The windows have to be kept open sometimes for some air. The whole house $GD\LQWKHOLIHRI0DPLQD LVIXOORILQVHFWVDQGPRVTXLWRHVEHFDXVHWKH\DUH attracted to the lantern light. DP,WLVVWLOOGDUNZKHQ,ZDNHXS$IWHU IUHVKHQLQJ XS , VWDUW GRLQJ KRXVHKROG The biggest problem children face is the loss of chores, which includes cleaning the WKHLUHGXFDWLRQ±WKH\DUHQRWDEOHWRKDYHWKHULJKW house and tending to my cow. frame of mind for studying. They will be able to study only if the feel comfortable, right? My son 8am:,ZDNHXSP\VRQDQGSUHSDUHKLP RIWHQ FRPSODLQV WKDW KH LV IHHOLQJ KRW LI WKH IDQ IRU VFKRRO , FRRN D VPDOO PHDO IRU KLV is not working then he is not able to concentrate. VFKRRO OXQFK , ZDQW KLP WR VWXG\ DQG +HKDVWR¿QLVKKLVZRUNEHIRUHLWJHWVGDUNRUXVH leave this village so that he does not have WKH ODQWHUQ RU WKH WRUFK WR FRPSOHWH LW , FKDUJH to suffer like his parents. the torch especially for him. Children also cannot SOD\EHFDXVHE\WKHWLPHWKH\¿QLVKWKHLUZRUNLW DPSP,WDNHP\EDWKSUHSDUH is dark and not safe outside. There are locally made lunch for everyone and take care of my lanterns available, which are much cheaper than DLOLQJ PRWKHU LQODZ ,W LV H[WUHPHO\ the rechargeable torch and work on kerosene. But GLI¿FXOW IRU XV WR VXUYLYH WKH VXPPHU my son’s nose bled from the smoke emitted by a DIWHUQRRQVZLWKRXWDIDQ,NHHSPRYLQJ kerosene-based lantern. a hand fan for hours in front of my mother-in-law to keep her cool and “If you could live the kind of life we SURWHFWKHUIURPDKHDWVWURNH,ZDLWIRU WKHHOHFWULFLW\HDJHUO\VRWKDW,FDQFKDUJH are leading daily for even 2-3 hours, my rechargeable torch for the night. it would be a big thing. You would 6RPHWLPHV,KDYHWRZDLWWKHZKROHGD\ not be able to survive the heat for SPSP After my son returns from even 2-3 minutes.” VFKRRO , LPPHGLDWHO\ DVN KLP WR ¿QLVK his homework while there is still some daylight. He gets upset with me because Most of the time, we lose our crops because there LV QR ZD\ WR LUULJDWH WKH ¿HOGV :H FDQQRW XVH KHGRHVQ¶WJHWHQRXJKWLPHWRSOD\EXW, JHQHUDWRUV EHFDXVH WKH ZDWHU VRXUFH LV IDU ,I P\ don’t want his education to suffer. husband was in some service, then we might have 6pm-8pm: We light all the kerosene moved but he is a farmer and has land, so we cannot lamps in the house by 6pm because it WKLQNRIJRLQJRXWRIWKLVYLOODJH%XW,DPQRWJRLQJ EHFRPHVSLWFKGDUNE\WKHQ,UHDOLVHP\ to bind my son in any way. He is free to move out family members are getting allergic to and settle down wherever he likes. Why should he suffer? the smoke from these lamps. SPSP,DPQRZXVHGWRSUHSDULQJ 7HQWR\HDUVIURPQRZWKHVLWXDWLRQLVQRWJRLQJ dinner in dark. Everyone eats dinner in WR FKDQJH LW LV JRLQJ WR UHPDLQ WKH VDPH ,I \RX WKHGDUNWRR,FOHDQXSDQGE\SPZH could live the kind of life we are leading daily for HYHQKRXUVLWZRXOGEHDELJWKLQJ

 G ENDER E QUAL I T Y & W OMEN’S EMP OWERM ENT

When HPSRZHUPHQWLVWKRXJKWRILQEURDGKXPDQLVWLFWHUPVLWFDQEHGH¿QHG as a “process of increasing the capacity of individuals or groups to make choices and to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes. Central to this process are actions, which both build individual DQGFROOHFWLYHDVVHWVDQGLPSURYHWKHHI¿FLHQF\DQGIDLUQHVVRIWKHRUJDQL]DWLRQDODQGLQVWLWXWLRQDO context which govern the use of these assets.” ,WFDQDOVREHGH¿QHGDVWU\LQJWREULQJDERXWWKHRSSRVLWHRIDQ\NLQGRImarginalisation based on disability, race, ethnicity, religion, or gender or the “process of obtaining basic opportunities for marginalised people, either directly or through the help of others and encouraging and GHYHORSLQJWKHVNLOOVIRUVHOIVXI¿FLHQF\ INTERSECTIONALITY: %DVHG RQ WKH DERYH GH¿QLWLRQV women’s empowerment necessarily includes promoting a range of enabling conditions, skills and access starting with wholesome nutrition, health care (especially reproductive health care), opportunities to pursue education, decent livelihood, self-development and growth, skills (life and vocational) enhancement and income- JHQHUDWLQJFDSDELOLWLHVHTXDODFFHVVWRUHVRXUFHVDQGDVVHWVSDUWLFLSDWLRQLQGHFLVLRQPDNLQJDW all levels, freedom from all forms of violence, access to soft and hard infrastructure to meet basic needs and for physical and social mobility, actionable knowledge and awareness of basic service HQWLWOHPHQWV DQG ULJKWV DQG OHJDO UHFRXUVH DQG DJHQF\ WR DFFHVV WKHP ,Q GHYHORSLQJ FRXQWULHV gender-based power asymmetries tend to be more pronounced due to entrenched patriarchy and feudal structures. Historically, these have been and continue to be highly detrimental for women DQGWKHLUVXUYLYDOOHWDORQHDFWLYHHPSRZHUPHQW7KXVDFRQFHUWHGHIIRUWLVUHTXLUHGWKURXJKSXEOLF policy-making and implementation to deliver all of the above, particularly to marginalised women. ,QHYLWDEO\ZRPHQ¶VHPSRZHUPHQWJRHVKDQGLQKDQGZLWKJHQGHUHTXDOLW\. At a minimum, it FDQEHGH¿QHGLQWHUPVRIPHQDQGZRPHQ DQGER\VDQGJLUOV EHLQJDEOHWRHQMR\WKHVDPH rights, opportunities and protections.

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 KWWSZHEZRUOGEDQNRUJ:%6,7((;7(51$/723,&6(;7329(57<(;7(032:(50(17FRQWHQW0'. aSDJH3.aSL3.aWKH6LWH3.KWPO DFFHVVHG-XQH  KWWSVXJKRVKLQ(PSRZHUPHQWKWPO DFFHVVHG-XQH 81,&()Promoting Gender Equality: An Equity-Focused Approach to Programming. Available from ZZZXQLFHIRUJJHQGHU¿OHV2YHUDUFKLQJB3DJHUB:HESGI DFFHVVHG-XQH   0HDVXUH *(0  ZKLFK KDV EHHQ FULWLTXHG IRU LQWHU DOLD KROGLQJ DQ HOLWH ELDV DQG OLPLWHG emphasis on women’s relative incomes, participation in high-paying positions with economic power and access to professional and parliamentary positions.  *RDOLQFOXGHGRQO\RQHLQGLFDWRUWRPHDVXUHSROLWLFDOHPSRZHUPHQW²WKHSURSRUWLRQRIVHDWV held by women in national parliament, entirely ignoring the entire spectrum of sub-national and local level decision-making, which impact the lives of the poorest women in developing countries WKHPRVW$EULHIDQDO\VLVRIWKH,QGLDQH[SHULPHQWZLWKSROLWLFDOUHSUHVHQWDWLRQIRUZRPHQLQ local self-government institutions is instructive for any emerging development agenda in terms RIZRPHQ¶VSROLWLFDOHPSRZHUPHQW5HIHUWRWKHVHFWLRQ³$FWLYH0HDQLQJIXODQG,QGHSHQGHQW 3DUWLFLSDWLRQLQ'HFLVLRQ0DNLQJ´RQSDJHVWR  8QGHU WKH 0'* IUDPHZRUN WKH VROH LQGLFDWRU WR PHDVXUH HFRQRPLF HPSRZHUPHQW ZDV WKH ³VKDUHRIZRPHQLQZDJHHPSOR\PHQWLQWKHQRQDJULFXOWXUDOVHFWRU´ZKLFKZDVPLQLPDOLVW,W was also a curious choice as the bulk of the labour force in development countries is engaged in DJULFXOWXUHDVLQIRUPDOODERXUDQGZRPHQFRQVWLWXWHDODUJHSHUFHQWDJHDQGRIWHQDPDMRULW\RI this labour force category. 4. The MDG framework did not address skills development and training, which is crucial for economic empowerment and came up as the most common demand from women across all states for their economic betterment.  2Q JHQGHU HTXDOLW\ *RDO  IRFXVVHG VROHO\ RQ SDULW\ EHWZHHQ JLUOV DQG ER\V LQ HGXFDWLRQ ZKLFKLWVHOILVQRWDVWURQJPHDVXUHRIHTXDOLW\)RULQVWDQFHLWZDVIRXQGWKDWLQPDQ\SODFHV girls are attending primary school in an even higher ratio than boys. However, various factors such as security, poverty, distance, cultural norms and expectations and lack of soft and hard infrastructure impact education and retention of girls in schools, especially beyond primary VFKRRO$PRUHFRPSUHKHQVLYHPHDVXUHPHQWRIJHQGHUHTXDOLW\FRXOGKDYHLQFOXGHGWDUJHWVIRU greater awareness of rights among women and girls through legal literacy and communication campaigns, increasing their access to property rights and common resources, levelling the SOD\LQJ¿HOGIRUZRPHQ¶VHQWU\DQGSDUWLFLSDWLRQLQDOOVSKHUHVRIVRFLHW\RQDQHTXDOIRRWLQJ ZLWK PHQ VWDUWLQJ IURP WKH KRXVHKROG ¿JKWLQJ QXWULWLRQDO GLVFULPLQDWLRQ WKURXJK WDUJHWHG nutrition schemes for girls) to going to school and college without obstacles, learning new skills, VHFXULQJMREVHTXDOZDJHVIRUHTXDOZRUNDQGHTXDOUHSUHVHQWDWLRQLQDOOGHFLVLRQPDNLQJSXEOLF institutions and parity in political representation at all levels.

Women of India Speak

Gender Equality ‡ $PRQJVW PRVW ZRPHQ WKHUH ZDV D PDUNHG sense of the subordinate role they they “Men oppress women with the occupy in society and their households, fear of violence and humiliation. which was attributed to the traditional roles In some households, women also and restrictions imposed on them. Men have dominate but in very few.” a dominant position in the society because WKHUHDUHQRUHVWULFWLRQVRQWKHPWKH\DUHQRW burdened by various duties and are free to move out, grow and develop more than women, who GRQRWHQMR\VXFKIUHHGRPV+RZHYHUVRPHZRPHQEHOLHYHGWKDWWKHGLIIHUHQFHLVDQLOOXVLRQDQG PHQDQGZRPHQDUHERUQWRIXO¿OGLIIHUHQWGXWLHV2WKHUVIHOWPHQDQGZRPHQIRUPDV\VWHP which has to work together for the family. Still others felt that men are demanding, authoritative and also critical of the work women did.

 ‡ :RPHQ DOVR DWWULEXWHG WKHLU VXERUGLQDWH position to their low levels of education “Men don’t even carry a bucket DQGUHVXOWLQJ LQDELOLW\WR¿QGJRRG MREVDQG from the courtyard to DFKLHYH¿QDQFLDOLQGHSHQGHQFH the bathroom. You think they will ‡ :RPHQ VKDUHG WKDW WKH\ JHW QR KHOS IURP go collect water from WKHLU KXVEDQGV LQ KRXVHKROG FKRUHV ,Q IDFW 4-5 kilometres away?” they said that if they fail to do something or VHUYHDPHDORQWLPHWKHQPHQTXDUUHORULW often becomes an excuse for violence.

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‡ 9LROHQFHDJDLQVWZRPHQGXHWRWKHH[LVWLQJ “My husband and I both earn. gender gap came up as a big challenge. My husband spends all is money Women expressed their helplessness in this on himself and then asks me what regard as they are living their lives under I did with mine. If I answer back, daily restraint and fear. he beats me. So, I end up giving ‡ )HHGEDFN IURP ZRPHQ LQ WULEDO UHJLRQV him my money. How can you say revealed clearly that contrary to popular there is equality between men SHUFHSWLRQJHQGHULQHTXDOLW\H[LVWVDPRQJ and women?” tribal societies and is in fact widening, not decreasing. Women living in tribal areas felt that both men and women earn money but the difference is that men spend the money on themselves whereas a woman will spend it on her family. Other women felt the situation is similar in non-tribal areas and even if they earn money and contribute to the family income, the credit always goes to the head of the family. A man will say he is maintaining the family even though he might not be doing anything to contribute towards the family.

‡ $UHDVZKHUHDFFHVVWREDVLFVHUYLFHVRIZDWHU “If a boy is born, then people say education, health services had improved also that all our sorrows have gone. reported an improvement in women’s overall If a girls is born, status and well-being, implying a very strong link between access to basic needs and services then they say that our sorrows DQGJUHDWHUJHQGHUHTXDOLW\ have now begun.”

‡ $JLUO¶VOLIHLVDVGLI¿FXOWDVDZRPDQ¶VOLIHLV “If husband and wife are educated, LQWKHUXUDOFRQWH[W%R\VHQMR\DIDYRXUDEOH then both of them will work position and conditions for their growth and equally. The problem is with development, whereas the same can not be uneducated families, where said for girls. Restrictions on their movement women have to work more.” E\ IDPLO\ PHPEHUV IXO¿OOLQJ JHQGHU UROHV early marriages, preparing for matrimonial roles and contributing to domestic work and livelihood and income-generation for the family impede their opportunities for education, employment and growth. The situation is improving in XUEDQDUHDVEXWLQUXUDODUHDVZRPHQIHOWWKDWWKHSULRULW\IRUJLUOVLVVWLOOWRIXO¿OWKHLUWUDGLWLRQDO UROHV¿UVW

 ‡ :RPHQDOVRIHOWWKDWQRPDWWHUKRZHGXFDWHGSHRSOHPLJKWEHFRPHZKHQLWFRPHVWRKHOSLQWKH household, it is always expected from girls and women. Boys are not asked to help. Some women even acknowledged that women love boys more and parents are to blame for this. Cultural norms and traditions also contributed to assigning a higher position in society such as boys performing the last rites on a parent’s death.

Women’s Empowerment Most women did feel that there have been positive, even some transformative, changes in their lives over the past decade compared to previous generations. Women shared that they have greater visibility, more women are educated and employed now than before, there is better social security cover especially for pregnant and lactating mothers, reduced maternal mortality and greater health- related facilities. They have greater representation in governance and increased levels of awareness. *RYHUQPHQW VFKHPHV VSHFL¿FDOO\ DLPHG DW ZRPHQ¶V GHYHORSPHQW KDYH DOVR LQFUHDVHG +RZHYHU they also pointed out several issues that remain unaddressed and new concerns, which are affecting them adversely.

%DVHGRQWKHGH¿QLWLRQVDQGFRQFHSWVRXWOLQHGDERYHIHHGEDFNRQZRPHQ¶VHPSRZHUPHQW has EHHQEURDGO\HQFDSVXODWHGXQGHUWKHVHYHQFDWHJRULHVEHORZ

1. Nutrition and Healthcare ‡ 7KHUH ZDV JHQHUDO FRQVHQVXV UHJDUGLQJ LPSURYHPHQWV LQ KHDOWK FDUH VHUYLFHV IRU SUHJQDQW women and lactating mothers, reported decrease in maternal and child mortality in villages, mushrooming of primary health care centres in villages and hospitals closer to them to access and greater awareness regarding family planning and the importance of a small family. However, women did raise concerns regarding administrative delays and absenteeism of medical staff (doctors and nurses), overcrowding, long waiting hours and unpleasant and insensitive treatment at government hospitals, all of which combined, led poor families to often seek private health care, placing a huge burden on them.

‡ 0DQ\ZRPHQDFURVVGLIIHUHQWJHRJUDSKLHVLGHQWL¿HGVKLIWLQJZHDWKHUSDWWHUQVDQGVXFFHVVLYH failure of rains as the reason for crop failure and greater food insecurity. These women said they could no longer work on their farms and are being forced to work either as labour on other people’s farms or as migrant labour without any rights and ability to negotiate wages.

‡ 7KHUHKDVEHHQDQHJDWLYHLPSDFWRQQXWULWLRQLQFUHDVHGH[SHQGLWXUHRQEX\LQJYHJHWDEOHVUDWKHU than growing them and screening food items according to costs rather than nutrition. Women, who eat last or the least due to their nurturing and caregiving roles and existing nutritional discrimination, are the worst sufferers.

‡ :RPHQDUHLQFUHDVLQJO\SHUIRUPLQJWKHPDMRULW\RIODERXULQIDUPVDQGYLOODJHDQGFRQVWUXFWLRQ works. Due to the nature of physical work women are performing, they now commonly experience KHDOWKV\PSWRPVVXFKDVKHDGDFKHVDFLGLW\ZHDNQHVVHVERG\DQGMRLQWDFKHVDQGGL]]LQHVV

‡ $OWKRXJKQXWULWLRQIDFLOLWLHVKDYHLPSURYHGDWWKHYLOODJHOHYHOWKHUHZDVPL[HGIHHGEDFNRQWKH TXDOLW\DQGWDVWHRIWKHIRRGSURYLGHGDWWKHVHJRYHUQPHQWUXQQXWULWLRQFHQWUHV6RPHZRPHQ living in remote areas such as tribal women shared that they still couldn’t access nutrition centres close-by easily, which dissuades them altogether.

‡ 0DQ\ZRPHQFLWHGSRRUURDGVDVDFKDOOHQJHWKDWQHJDWLYHO\LPSDFWVFKLOGUHQ¶VHGXFDWLRQDQG women’s health, particularly pregnant women and their ability to reach hospitals for delivery safely and in time.

 2. Freedom from all forms of violence and exploitation ‡ 9LROHQFHDJDLQVWZRPHQFDPHXSDVDPDMRUFKDOOHQJHLQDOOVWDWHVDOWKRXJKWKHUHZDVVRPH acknowledgement that women are more aware of their rights now and also seek more police assistance and legal recourse than in the past.

‡ :RPHQXQDQLPRXVO\VKDUHGWKDWRQHWKLQJWKDWKDVQRWFKDQJHGRYHUWKH\HDUVLVPHQ¶VKDELWRI alcoholism, which has the most damaging effect on women’s lives and led to poverty, ill-health and overall insecurity. Domestic violence and abuse is a direct result, which women said, affects pregnant women the most.

‡ :RPHQ IRXQG GRZU\ WR EH KLJKO\ GLVHPSRZHULQJ &DVHV RI GRZU\UHODWHG GHDWKV DQG FKLOG marriages were also reported.

‡ :RPHQVKDUHGWKDWRQHRIWKHPDLQUHDVRQVWKH\VWD\LQRSSUHVVLYHDQGDEXVLYHPDUULDJHVLV because it is seen as dishonourable in society to go back to the parent’s house. Since, that is not a YLDEOHRSWLRQWKH\IHHOWKDWWKH\KDYHWRDGMXVWVRPHKRZ:RPHQDOVRVKDUHGWKDWWKH\FDQQRWJHW married again, even in tribal communities, which are generally considered more liberal. Women also shared their concerns of the repercussions a &ROOHFWLYH$FWLRQE\:RPHQ separation might have on (Sehore District, Madhya Pradesh) children. “Alcoholism was adversely affecting many women. All men ‡ :RPHQ LGHQWL¿HG and even young boys in the village were drunkards. When violence against women we met in self-help group meetings (mahila samuhs), at the work place, women discussed their woes. Everyone realised it was especially in informal affecting everyone. Money earned through SHG activities sectors (e.g. garment ZDVDOVRQRWVSDUHGE\PHQZKRXVHGLWWREX\OLTXRU industry, as domestic Women used to discuss how to save their money? We help) where they are decided to take action and formed a group and visited mostly employed, as WKHKRXVHVZKHUHFRXQWU\OLTXRUZDVEHLQJEUHZHG:H a blind spot in public smashed all the pots. Even the furnaces were destroyed. We SROLF\ ,W DOVR KDV PDMRU also reported it to the police and got those men arrested. implications for their Since then, things have changed drastically.” health and well-being.

3. Education and Growth Opportunities ‡ :RPHQSRLQWHGRXWWKDWWKHLUODFNRIHGXFDWLRQVHFXULW\FRQFHUQVDQGWKHWUDGLWLRQDOJHQGHU UROHVWKDWZRPHQDQGJLUOVKDYHWRSHUIRUPGDLO\FRQWLQXHWRFROOHFWLYHO\VKDSHDQGGH¿QHWKHLU subordinate position in society, their communities, households and marriages.

‡ $ZDUHQHVVDERXWJLUO¶VHGXFDWLRQKDVLQFUHDVHGDQGDORWPRUHJLUOVDUHJRLQJWRVFKRRO HYHQ more than boys) than before. However, constraining factors remain, especially for their higher education, such as expectations to assist in the household, distance to schools and colleges, security and poverty, costs for a college education and arranging dowry for marriages and lack of employment opportunities.

‡ /LWHUDF\OHYHOVDPRQJDGXOWZRPHQUHPDLQYHU\ORZHVSHFLDOO\DPRQJWULEDODQGDalit women.

 4. Livelihood, Employment, Skills Enhancement and Access to Resources

‡ :RPHQIHHOEXUGHQHGE\WKHLUGDLO\UROHVDQGUHVSRQVLELOLWLHVZKLFKWKH\IHOWDUHGHSULYLQJWKHP of their growth-related opportunities.

‡ :RPHQ HQJDJHG LQ IDUP &ROOHFWLYH$FWLRQE\:RPHQ labour feel cornered by (Dharwad District, Karnataka) the lack of employment ³:HKDGDSULPDU\VFKRROLQRXUYLOODJHWKHUHZDVQR options except as daily wage high school. Many girls had to drop out, as parents agricultural labour, working were not comfortable with sending their daughters in brick kilns, construction IDURII,QZHDOOJRWWRJHWKHULQWKHYLOODJHDQG work or village works wrote an application stating that we desperately need through the employment a high school in our village. Our daughters are keen to guarantee scheme. As a study. Due to our advocacy, a Member of Legislative result, they are willing to Assembly sanctioned a high school. That is why our compromise on amount village has educated youth. Now we also have a college of wages, work hours in our village. We believe that education is the key to and working conditions, progress and development.” especially if illiterate.

‡ ,QKDUVKWHUUDLQVVXFKDVGHVHUWVZRPHQUHSRUWHGPDMRUFKDOOHQJHVZLWKHDUQLQJOLYHOLKRRGV

‡ :RPHQDOVRUDLVHGWKHLVVXHRIODFNRIVNLOOEDVHGHPSOR\PHQWDQGWUDLQLQJRSSRUWXQLWLHV6RPH women said there are several skill-based trainings but no opportunities are available to use those skills to earn a livelihood.

‡ 0RVWO\XQDEOHWRRIIHUFROODWHUDOSRRUZRPHQ¿QGLWH[FHHGLQJO\GLI¿FXOWWRDFFHVVORDQVIURPWKH banks.

5. Access to infrastructure (housing, water, sanitation, electricity, roads) and ability to adapt to disaster and climate change ‡ ,QDOPRVWDOOVWDWHVZRPHQFLWHGODFNRIZDWHU DFFHVVDYDLODELOLW\DQGTXDOLW\ DVDPDMRULIQRW the foremost, challenge in their lives. ‡ 7KHLVVXHRIZDWHUPDQDJHPHQWDQGIHWFKLQJ water from far distances remains a big FKDOOHQJHIRUDPDMRULW\RIZRPHQ7KH\IHHO “If we have proper water it is time-consuming and keeps them from availability and access, attending to more productive activities. Lack our problems will be reduced of drinking water facilities and an associated to half.” practice of involving girls in fetching water from an early age was a related concern. ‡ :DWHUVKRUWDJHLVVHYHUHGXULQJVXPPHUPRQWKVZKLFKZRPHQIHHODIIHFWVWKHPWKHPRVW ‡ :RPHQUDLVHGFRQFHUQVDERXWZDWHUTXDOLW\VXFKDVKLJKOHYHORIÀXRULGHRUFRQWDPLQDWLRQDQG linked it to many new diseases such as kidney stones, TB, typhoid, chikungunya, dengue fever and cancer.

‡ :RPHQIHHOWKHODFNRIZDWHUDQGVDQLWDWLRQPRVWDFXWHO\GXULQJPHQVWUXDWLRQDQGSUHJQDQF\

$YLUXVWUDQVPLWWHGWRKXPDQVE\YLUXVFDUU\LQJ$HGHVPRVTXLWRHVZLWKV\PSWRPVVLPLODUWRGHQJXHIHYHUZLWKDQ DFXWHIHEULOHSKDVHRILOOQHVVODVWLQJRQO\WZRWR¿YHGD\VIROORZHGE\DSURORQJHGDUWKUDOJLFGLVHDVHWKDWDIIHFWVWKHMRLQWV

 ‡ :RPHQDOVROLQNHGODFNRIWRLOHWVDQGZDWHULQVFKRROVDVDIDFWRUQHJDWLYHO\LPSDFWLQJJLUO¶V education, leading to dropouts, especially among teenage girls.

‡ :RPHQFLWHGWKHODFNRIJRRGURDGVFRQQHFWLQJYLOODJHVHVSHFLDOO\LQKLOO\DUHDVDVDFULWLFDO GHYHORSPHQWFKDOOHQJH,QDIHZVWDWHVZRPHQGUHZDVWURQJOLQNEHWZHHQKHDOWKUHODWHGFRQFHUQV HVSHFLDOO\SUHJQDQF\ DQGEDGURDGV)UHTXHQWFDVHVRISUHJQDQF\UHODWHGFRPSOLFDWLRQVDQG even maternal deaths was directly associated with poor roads and infrastructure.

‡ :RPHQ DOVR IRXQG WKH ODFN RI LQIUDVWUXFWXUH UHODWHG WR URDGV DQG WUDQVSRUW IDFLOLWLHV WR EH D PDMRUGHWHUUHQWLQWKHLUPRELOLW\DELOLW\WRIHWFKZDWHUFROOHFWIXHOZRRGZRUNJRWRZRUNLQWKH ¿HOGVDQGIRUFKLOGUHQ¶VHGXFDWLRQ

‡ ,QWULEDODQGUHPRWHDUHDVHVSHFLDOO\ZRPHQFLWHGPDMRUHOHFWULFLW\UHODWHGSUREOHPVDQGGUHZD strong link between the lack of power and the negative impact on children’s education and even health. Women from peri-urban areas complained more of power cuts.

6. Actionable Knowledge and Awareness of Rights189 and Public Entitlements and Human Agency to access them ‡ ,QDOOVWDWHVPRVWZRPHQDFNQRZOHGJHGWKDWWKHLUDZDUHQHVVOHYHOVRIKHDOWKHGXFDWLRQWKH importance of a smaller family, children’s and especially girl’s education and women’s health (especially reproductive) had increased over the past decade. They said they want their girls to study even beyond college. Some women feel that there is increased awareness regarding hygiene, WKHQHHGIRUVDQLWDWLRQDQGDERXWGLVHDVHVVXFKDV+,9DQG$,'66RPHZRPHQHYHQIHHOWKDW increased awareness has led to accelerated development of their villages and communities

‡ +RZHYHULQPRVWVWDWHVWKHOHYHOVRIOLWHUDF\DQGDZDUHQHVVDERXWJRYHUQPHQWVFKHPHVDQG their entitlements and how to access them still remains poor. Knowledge of girl child schemes is especially poor. Women in many states could identify some schemes because people in their YLOODJHDUHUHFHLYLQJEHQH¿WVWKURXJKWKHPEXWGLGQRWKDYHPXFKNQRZOHGJHDERXWWKHPZKHQ probed further. They also feel that various restrictions posed on women by parents and husbands PDNHDFFHVVWRLQIRUPDWLRQDOOWKHPRUHGLI¿FXOWIRUWKHP

‡ .QRZOHGJHDERXWODZVDQGULJKWVUHODWHGWRGRZU\RUGRPHVWLFYLROHQFHLVDOPRVWQHJOLJLEOH

‡ 0DQ\ZRPHQZHUHFULWLFDORIVFKHPHVVXFKDVWKHHPSOR\PHQWJXDUDQWHHVFKHPHGXHWRGHOD\V in payment of wages.

‡ :RPHQFLWHGFRUUXSWLRQDQGWKHQHJDWLYHUROHRIPLGGOHPHQDVFKDOOHQJHVLQDFFHVVLQJWKHLU entitlements. They also cited the lack of a direct complaint mechanism for grievance redressal.

‡ 6RPH HOHFWHG ZRPHQ UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV IHHO that their levels of self-awareness and general knowledge of government schemes, “Before introducing a programme, government machinery and politics have the government should see LQFUHDVHGVLQFHFRPLQJLQWRHOHFWHGRI¿FH whether that programme is EHQH¿FLDORUQRW7KH\VKRXOG ‡ (OHFWHG ZRPHQ UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV ZHUH IRXQG conduct surveys to assess this. to be generally better informed than non- Most government programmes elected women of the village but not are useless.” uniformly. Many of them are illiterate, lack knowledge of basic government schemes and are unable to communicate effectively.

 Human, legal rights and constitutional rights.  ‡ 0DQ\HOHFWHGZRPHQIHOWWKDWYLOODJHFRPPXQLW\PHHWLQJVDQGZRPHQ¶VPHHWLQJVDUHLPSRUWDQW awareness-raising and problem-solving platforms, help build accountability and transparency DQGIDFLOLWDWHJULHYDQFHUHGUHVVDOHVSHFLDOO\LIJRYHUQPHQWRI¿FLDOVDUHDOVRSUHVHQWDQGKHOSWR LGHQWLI\WKHPRVWGHVHUYLQJRUWUXO\LQWHQGHGEHQH¿FLDULHVIRUYDULRXVJRYHUQPHQWGHYHORSPHQW schemes. Some women felt that they are a waste of time if grievances are not redressed and promises are not kept.

‡ 7KH mahila sabhas or women’s meetings were found to be especially useful to receive LQIRUPDWLRQRQJRYHUQPHQWVFKHPHVHQWLWOHPHQWVDQGGLVFXVVZRPHQVSHFL¿FFRQFHUQVDVWKH\ can express their opinions without any hesitation or restrictions, which either can’t be taken up as openly at village meetings or don’t receive priority. They also allow women to prepare ³,IJRYHUQPHQWRI¿FLDOVDUH for the larger village meetings to bring up present, at least they’ll listen to LVVXHVZLWKPRUHFRQ¿GHQFHFROOHFWLYHO\DQG forcefully. The presence of elected women our problems, whether they do representatives in village meetings, it was felt, something about them or not.” has also encouraged more women to attend them and raise issues.

7. Active, Meaningful and Independent Participation in Decision-Making

Context $VIDUEDFNDVWKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV*HQHUDO$VVHPEO\DGRSWHGWKH&RQYHQWLRQRQ3ROLWLFDO 5LJKWVRI:RPHQ²WKH¿UVWLQWHUQDWLRQDOOHJLVODWLRQRILWVNLQGSURWHFWLQJZRPHQ¶VSROLWLFDOULJKWV WRYRWHDQGKROGSROLWLFDORI¿FH³DVHVWDEOLVKHGE\QDWLRQDOODZRQHTXDOWHUPVDVZLWKPHQDQG without discrimination on the basis of sex.”

Women’s representation in government is increasingly considered as an important component RIWKHLURYHUDOOHPSRZHUPHQWDQGQHFHVVDU\WRDFKLHYHJHQGHUHTXDOLW\7KH8QLWHG1DWLRQVKDV LGHQWL¿HGVL[DYHQXHVE\ZKLFKIHPDOHSDUWLFLSDWLRQLQSROLWLFVDQGJRYHUQPHQWFDQEHVWUHQJWKHQHG 7KH\LQFOXGHHTXDOLVDWLRQRIHGXFDWLRQDORSSRUWXQLWLHVTXRWDVIRUIHPDOHSDUWLFLSDWLRQLQJRYHUQLQJ ERGLHV OHJLVODWLYH UHIRUP WR LQFUHDVH IRFXV RQ LVVXHV FRQFHUQLQJ ZRPHQ DQG FKLOGUHQ ¿QDQFLQJ JHQGHUUHVSRQVLYH EXGJHWV WR HTXDOO\ WDNH LQWR account the needs of men and women, increasing “Women can’t stand for elections if the presence of sex-disaggregated statistics in there is opposition inside national research and data and furthering the the house.” presence and agency of grassroots women’s empowerment movements.

$VRI$SULOWKHJOREDODYHUDJHRIZRPHQLQQDWLRQDODVVHPEOLHVZDVDERXWSHUFHQW ZKLFK LV DOPRVW GRXEOH WKH SHUFHQWDJH RI VHDWV KHOG E\ ,QGLDQ ZRPHQ in national parliament, ZKLFKVWDQGVDWSHUFHQW+RZHYHUPDQ\FRXQWULHVLQFOXGLQJ,QGLDDUHH[SORULQJDQGDGRSWLQJ

:KLOHWKHJUDPVDEKDLVDPHHWLQJRIDOOWKHDGXOWFLWL]HQYRWHUVRIWKHYLOODJHWKHPDKLODVDEKDLVWKHZRPHQ¶VFRXQWHUSDUW of a gram sabha meeting with participation only by women in the village. ZZZXQRUJZRPHQZDWFKGLUHFWRU\FRQYHQWLRQBSROLWLFDOBULJKWVBRIBZRPHQBKWP DFFHVVHG-XQH   :RPHQ LQ 1DWLRQDO 3DUOLDPHQWV :RUOG DQG 5HJLRQDO $YHUDJHV ,QWHU3DUOLDPHQWDU\ 8QLRQ ,38  $YDLODEOH IURP KWWSZZZLSXRUJZPQHZRUOGKWP DFFHVVHG-XQH  ,ELG

 measures to increase women’s participation in all levels of 3UR¿OHRQSDJHSUR¿OHVDQHOHFWHGZRPDQ JRYHUQPHQW,Q,QGLDLWEHJDQ representative who belongs to a backward class and LQ HDUQHVW LQ  ZKHQ D yet, was able to win elections in an entirely tribal- constitutional amendment populated village as a result of the unprecedented mandated that a randomly opportunity that women’s reservation in local-self selected third of leadership government institutions has generated for their positions at every level of local political and social empowerment government be reserved for ZRPHQ$QHVWLPDWHGPLOOLRQZRPHQKDYHEHHQHOHFWHGWRSROLWLFDORI¿FHDWWKHJUDVVURRWV following these political reforms.

Despite these transformative 3UR¿OHRQSDJHVKHGVOLJKWRQWKH trends, women in government challenges that elected women representatives continue to face numerous face while navigating entrenched power and obstacles and challenges to patriarchal structures, vested interests and participating in decision-making lack of political will and the changes in an “active, meaningful and they can bring about despite them. independent” manner.

6XPPDULVHGEHORZLVDVOLFHRIWKH,QGLDQH[SHULHQFHEDVHGRQIRFXVJURXSGLVFXVVLRQVZLWKFORVH WRHOHFWHGZRPHQUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVDFURVVGLVWULFWVLQ¿YH,QGLDQVWDWHV²$QGKUD3UDGHVK .DUQDWDND0DGK\D3UDGHVK2GLVKDDQG5DMDVWKDQ0RVWRIWKHZRPHQLQWHUYLHZHGZHUHHOHFWHGLQ  and have had at least three years of experience.

Motivations for contesting election ‡ $OPRVW HYHU\RQH DJUHHG WKDW UHVHUYDWLRQ IRU women in the local self-government system “No matter how much women was the main trigger for their contesting cover their face, they should still elections. They felt that otherwise, it becomes get power and position.” rather impossible to compete with established men leaders with years of experience. There “Ghoonghat chahe jitna bhi lamba were a few exceptions who contested from the hai, pad to milna hi chahiye” general seats and did not avail the women’s TXRWD ‡ 'HVLUHWRVHUYHWKHSHRSOHRIWKHYLOODJH ‡ 'HVLUHWRHQWHUSROLWLFVDQGFKDQJHSHRSOH¶VOLYHV ‡ 3HUIRUPFRPPXQLW\VHUYLFHDQGGHYHORSPHQW ‡ (QFRXUDJHPHQWIURPIDPLO\PHPEHUVDQGYLOODJHSHRSOH ‡ &RQ¿GHQFHSHRSOHKDYHUHSRVHGLQWKHP

 :RPHQ LQ 1DWLRQDO 3DUOLDPHQWV :RUOG DQG 5HJLRQDO $YHUDJHV ,QWHU3DUOLDPHQWDU\ 8QLRQ ,38  $YDLODEOH IURP ZZZLSXRUJZPQHZRUOGKWP DFFHVVHG-XQH  ,QGLD 0LQLVWU\ RI 3DQFKD\DWL 5DM $QQXDO 5HSRUW   $YDLODEOH IURP KWWSZZZSDQFKD\DWJRYLQ DFFHVVHG-XQH  1DWLRQDO(OHFWLRQV,QGLD 5HIHUVWRWKH,QGLDQ3DQFKD\DWL5DMV\VWHPRU5XOHRI9LOODJH&RPPLWWHHZKLFKLVDWKUHHWLHUV\VWHPLQWKHVWDWH ZLWKHOHFWHGERGLHVDWWKH9LOODJH%ORFNDQG'LVWULFWOHYHOV,WHQVXUHVJUHDWHUSDUWLFLSDWLRQRISHRSOHDQGPRUHHIIHFWLYH implementation of rural development programmes.

 ‡ *RRGUDSSRUWZLWKWKHYLOODJHUV ‡ (QFRXUDJHGRUSURPSWHGRUIRUFHGE\WKHLUKXVEDQGVDQGRUIDPLO\ ‡ 3UHYLRXVO\KXVEDQGKHOGVDPHSRVLWLRQSHRSOHDOUHDG\NQHZWKHIDPLO\ ‡ $OUHDG\IURPDSROLWLFDOEDFNJURXQGDQGFRQWLQXLQJIDPLO\OHJDFLHVRISROLWLFVLQDGYHUWHQWKLQWV of family domination being a factor in village politics and clinching an election

‡ )HOW WKH\ KDG RU ZHUH WROG WKH\ KDG FHUWDLQ TXDOLWLHV VXFK DV D JHQWOH PDQQHU ZLWK SHRSOH FRQ¿GHQFH SHUVXDVLYH VNLOOV LQWHUDFWLYH DELOLW\ WR FRQYH\ WKH ZLVK DQG FKDOOHQJHV IDFHG E\ people to the powers that be in the village

‡ 6HQVHRISULGHKRQRXUDQGSRZHUDVVRFLDWHG with the position “Even family members respect us now, which was not the case ‡ 7RHDUQUHVSHFWDQGJORU\LQVRFLHW\ earlier.” ‡ 7RJHWLQIRUPDWLRQDWPHHWLQJV

‡ $WVXEYLOODJHOHYHODGHVLUHWRDFFRPSOLVKVSHFL¿FWKLQJVVXFKDVJHWWLQJDWDSVHZDJHSLSHRU hand pump installed, building a road or securing and building housing and toilets

‡ 4XLWHDIHZVWRRGXQRSSRVHG

‡ 6RPHZHUHHOHFWHGDJDLQVWWKHLUZLVKHVDQGVDLGWKH\ZRXOGUHVLJQLIWKH\FRXOG

Understanding and Carrying Out Roles and Responsibilities

‡ 6RPH ZRPHQ LQDGYHUWHQWO\ DGPLWWHG WKDW “Initially, we were reticent and they only involve themselves with the household chores and their husbands manage people suspected our abilities to their elected responsibilities. deliver and thought we were just rubberstamps. As time passed, ‡ 6RPH ZRPHQ RSHQO\ DGPLWWHG WKDW DOO WKHLU RI¿FLDOGHFLVLRQVDUHWDNHQE\WKHLUKXVEDQGV we gained more exposure and WKH\MXVWVLJQRQGRFXPHQWVZKHUHWROGDQG FRQ¿GHQFH1RZZHDUHPRUH attend meetings. assertive. Initially, men were disappointed but now they ‡ $W ¿UVW QRW DZDUH RI WKHLU SRZHUV and responsibilities, elected women understand that we have the right representatives would sign anywhere they to speak, express our opinion and were asked to but after receiving training, also take decisions.” WKH\ EHFDPH PRUH DZDUH FRQ¿GHQW DQG assertive. They can now “handle situations,” WDONWRVHQLRURI¿FLDOVDQGUHVROYHPDWWHUV

Changes in women’s lives since election (self-image, personality, awareness, general SHUFHSWLRQDELOLWLHVFDSDELOLWLHV 

0RVWZRPHQDJUHHGWKDWWKHUHKDYHGH¿QLWHO\EHHQFKDQJHVLQWKHLUOLYHVVLQFHZLQQLQJHOHFWLRQV more positive than negative as it emerged.

Positive

‡ )HHOLQJRIPDNLQJDGLIIHUHQFHLQSHRSOHV¶OLYHVZKLFKKDVEHHQYHU\HPSRZHULQJ

‡ )HHODVHQVHRISULGH

 ‡ 0RUH FRQ¿GHQW LQ SHUIRUPLQJ WKHLU UROHV WKH H[SRVXUH KDV EHHQ D KXJH OHDUQLQJ H[SHULHQFH UDLVLQJWKHLUFRQ¿GHQFHOHYHOVVXEVWDQWLDOO\

‡ 3HRSOH QRZ UHFRJQLVH DQG UHVSHFW WKHP DV individuals, value their advice and counsel “Once I have won the election, ‡ +DYHEHFRPHPRUHVHDVRQHGDQGZRUOGO\ZLVH I have accepted that you have to ‡ 0RUH VRFLDO DFFHSWDQFH DQG ZRPHQ¶V YRLFHV work uniformly for are heard more those who gave votes and those who didn’t — you have ‡ :RPHQ KDYH JDLQHG VWDWXV VHOIDZDUHQHVV to work for everyone. and change in thinking

‡ ,QFUHDVHGOHYHOVRINQRZOHGJHDQGDZDUHQHVV especially about government schemes

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‡ 6RPHWLPHVWKHUHZHUHGLIIHULQJUHVSRQVHV6RPHZRPHQVDLGPHQLQWKHLUYLOODJHDUHH[WUHPHO\ VXSSRUWLYHDQGKDYHQHYHUPDGHWKHPIHHOWKDWWKH\DUHDQ\OHVV,QDQRWKHUYLOODJHFOXVWHUWKH\ VDLGPHQZRXOGQRWOHWZRPHQHYHQSDUWLFLSDWHLQPHHWLQJGHOLEHUDWLRQVWKH\MXVWVLWVLOHQWO\ feeling miserable all the time. They have no say in decision-making and commanded no respect. Men in their village are overbearing and elected women representatives in other villages are performing much better as they have the support of the men in their village and family members.

‡ 6RPH ZRPHQ IHOW PHQ DUH PRUH FRPSHWHQW “However many efforts we compared to women as they are better make, the other male elected informed and more articulate but women are representatives will better leaders as they spend more time with not let us grow.” people and listen to their problems. ‡ 6RPHZRPHQZHUHRXWVSRNHQDERXWKRZPHQ “(Hamara patta kaat denge)” create problems for them, as they cannot see a woman in a powerful position.

 6$1*+0,75$6$%$5 2QHÀHZRYHUWKHSDWULDUFKDOUHVW Photo @ UN Women/Praveen Kaliga “I expect my husband to support me but not every time and everywhere. There is nothing wrong in taking advice or suggestions. Sometimes maybe what the other person is suggesting makes better sense but decision-making should be personal.” She enters the mahila sabha198 with an unassuming air of authority, greets everyone with a “namaskar”199 and a humble bow and takes the central chair. The respect that she commands is evident from the affectionate manner in which other women gather around her in Parisal village, located in Gajapati District of India’s south-eastern coast and among the most backward districts in the country. In a seasoned manner, she occasionally nods her head and listens to them, offering suggestions along the way. The only graduate sarpanch200 in the entire district, Sanghmitra takes pride in having reached where she is due to her hard work and without anyone’s help. She dreams of “100 per cent education among girls” in the village because she believes that only education can make competent future leaders. ([DFWO\\HDUVDJRDFRQVWLWXWLRQDODPHQGPHQWUHVXOWLQJLQSHUFHQWUHVHUYDWLRQIRUZRPHQ LQWKHWKUHHWLHU3DQFKD\DWL5DM,QVWLWXWLRQV 35,V KHUDOGHGWKHVWDUWRIDTXLHWUHYROXWLRQIRULW SDYHGWKHZD\IRUWKRXVDQGVRI,QGLDQZRPHQDWWKHJUDVVURRWVWRDVVXPHSROLWLFDOOHDGHUVKLS,W allowed them to step into the public realm and politics in an unprecedented manner in what is still a deeply entrenched patriarchal society and an arena still overwhelmingly dominated by men. Many FRQVLGHUWKLVDQDFKLHYHPHQWLQDQGRILWVHOIFRQWLQXLQJGHEDWHVDQGTXHVWLRQVUHJDUGLQJZRPHQ¶V true political empowerment notwithstanding. Over roughly the same period, however, political participation of women in national parliament, included as an indicator for gender empowerment XQGHU WKH 0'* IUDPHZRUN KDV LQFUHDVHG IURP RQO\  WR  SHU FHQW VLQFH  DQG UHPDLQV FRQVLGHUDEO\ORZHUWKDQWKHZRUOGDYHUDJHRISHUFHQW INTERSECTIONALITY: Elected woman representative, belongs to a backward class but won election as president in a tribal-populated village, married, mother of two children.

Footnotes overleaf  0\ QDPH LV 6DQJKPLWUD 6DEDU , FRPH IURP D service class and well-educated background. “When I came to this village after My mother and father had a dream to make marriage, everyone ordered me their youngest daughter an advocate. My father around. So, I did the same in the ZDQWHGPHWRPDUU\DQXQFOH¶VVRQEXW,ZDVLQ ¿HOG0\VXSHUYLVRUWROGPHWKDW ORYHZLWKVRPHRQHHOVH²P\IXWXUHKXVEDQG bossing people around would He had a Master’s in Business Administration not work. She taught me to meet (MBA) and dreamt of working in big companies people, build relationships, make VRPHGD\,JRWPDUULHGLQKDVWHDQGP\SDUHQW¶V eye contact while speaking to blessings were not with me. My father left this them and only then people will ZRUOGEXW,FRXOGQRWPHHWKLPIRUDODVWWLPH That is a regret. OLVWHQWR\RX,OHDUQWWKDWWKH¿UVW important thing is public relations :KHQ,ZDVLQWKHVHFRQG\HDURIFROOHJHDIULHQG and the way to win people’s hearts stood for local elections and we supported and is by meeting and campaigned for him. He won and that inspired talking to them.” PH , WKRXJKW , ZRXOG GR VRPHWKLQJ VLPLODU RQHGD\,QWKH¿QDO\HDURIFROOHJH,VWRRGIRU ,Q,VWDUWHGZRUNLQJLQDQ1*2²35(0 college president unopposed and was given the 3/$1ZKLFKZRUNVRQHGXFDWLRQ:KHQ,FDPH SRVW7KDWZDVDYHU\ELJDFKLHYHPHQWIRUPHLW to this village after marriage, everyone ordered ZDVWKHGD\WKDW,IHOWWKDWLI,VWDQGIRUHOHFWLRQV PHDURXQG6R,GLGWKHVDPHLQWKH¿HOG0\ ,KDYHDFKDQFHRIZLQQLQJ supervisor told me that bossing people around would not work. She taught me to meet people, 7ZHOYH\HDUVDJRZKHQ,FDPHWR3DULVDOYLOODJH build relationships, make eye contact while DIWHUPDUULDJH,IDFHGDORWRIFKDOOHQJHV,ZDV speaking to them and only then people will listen the only girl from a backward class in an entirely WR \RX , OHDUQW WKDW WKH ¿UVW LPSRUWDQW WKLQJ WULEDOYLOODJH3HRSOHQHYHUDFFHSWHGPHLQLWLDOO\ is public relations and the way to win people’s They used to say things like “her caste is not good” hearts is by meeting and talking to them. or “she is not good looking” and “couldn’t she have found anyone else in her own community.” Working in an NGO means that your time is not 0\IDWKHULQODZQHYHUOLNHGPH,QLWLDOO\,XVHG your own. They might call you in the morning WRFU\DORWDQGWKLQNWKDWWKLVLVP\GHVWLQ\² RUHYHQLQJGHSHQGLQJRQWKHZRUN,GLGDORWRI ,ZDQWHGWRVWXG\DQGZRUNEXWFRXOGQ¶WGRDQ\ community service. My starting monthly salary RILW7RGD\,KDYHSURYHGP\VHOIEXWDIWHUDORW of struggle.

:KLOHWKHJUDPVDEKDLVDPHHWLQJRIDOOWKHDGXOWFLWL]HQYRWHUVRIWKHYLOODJHWKHPDKLODVDEKDLVWKHZRPHQ¶VFRXQWHUSDUW of a gram sabha meeting with participation only by women in the village.  $ FRPPRQ JUHHWLQJ RU VSRNHQ VDOXWDWLRQ RULJLQDWLQJ IURP WKH ,QGLDQ 6XEFRQWLQHQW ZKHUH D QRQFRQWDFW IRUP RI salutation such as “namaskar” or “namaste” is preferred.  Sarpanch is an elected head of a village level statutory institution of local self-government called the panchayat. 7KHROGHVWV\VWHPRIORFDOJRYHUQPHQWLQWKH,QGLDQ6XEFRQWLQHQW³SDQFKD\DW´OLWHUDOO\PHDQVDVVHPEO\RI¿YHZLVHDQG respected elders chosen and accepted by the local community. Over time the concept has evolved and become synonymous ZLWK³GHPRFUDWLFGHFHQWUDOLVDWLRQ´LQ,QGLD 0LOOHQQLXP'HYHORSPHQW*RDOV,QGLFDWRUV$YDLODEOHIURPKWWSPGJVXQRUJXQVGPGJ'HIDXOWDVS[ DFFHVVHG -XQH   :RPHQ LQ 1DWLRQDO 3DUOLDPHQWV :RUOG DQG 5HJLRQDO $YHUDJHV ,QWHU3DUOLDPHQWDU\ 8QLRQ ,38  $YDLODEOH IURP KWWSZZZLSXRUJZPQHZRUOGKWP DFFHVVHG-XQH 

 ZDV  UXSHHV  GROODUV  DQG E\ WKH HQG ,H[SHFWP\KXVEDQGWRVXSSRUWPHEXWQRWHYHU\ , ZDV HDUQLQJ  UXSHHV  GROODUV  SHU time and everywhere. There is nothing wrong in month and could support my children as well. taking advice or suggestions. Sometimes maybe what the other person is suggesting makes better ,Q  , SXVKHG P\ KXVEDQG WR VWDQG sense but decision-making should be personal. for sarpanch, supported him and also campaigned for him and he won. While The biggest problem of women is that they understand everything but are not able to speak campaigning, everyone told me, “Didi, why RXW ,I WKHUH LV QR HGXFDWLRQ WKHUH ZLOO EH QR your husband and why not you? You should voice and there is no education here among VWDQG IRU WKH HOHFWLRQ´ , DOVR IHOW WKH VDPH ZRPHQ7KH\GRQ¶WHYHQZDQWWROHDUQWKDWLV ZD\$OWKRXJK,ZDVDFRPPXQLW\ZRUNHUDVD another big problem. woman belonging to “Other Backward Classes” (OBC)LQDFRPSOHWHO\WULEDOYLOODJH,GLGQRW Since becoming sarpanch, my responsibilities WKLQN , VWRRG D FKDQFH %HIRUH WKH HOHFWLRQV D KDYH LQFUHDVHG 6RPHWLPHV , DP UHTXLUHG WR village meeting was conducted where the women work late and odd hours, which my husband doesn’t like. My children are always telling me WKDW , DP QRW D JRRG PRWKHU EHFDXVH , GRQ¶W “The biggest problem of women devote any time to them. There are societal is that they understand pressures to deal with, too. Some people think everything but are not that after becoming sarpanch, you become able to speak out. arrogant and don’t mix with other people. Still, it is my dream to make political life my professional If there is no education life and become a Member of the Legislative there will be no voice and Assembly (MLA)VRPHGD\,WKDVEHHQRQO\D there is no education among \HDUVLQFH,EHFDPHsarpanch and there is still women here.” DORQJZD\WRJR,KDYHYHU\ELJGUHDPV7KHUH are two villages in my panchayat, which are on top of mountains. The people there do not of my village suggested my name for sarpanch. KDYHDQ\WKLQJ²QRHOHFWULFLW\KHDOWKIDFLOLWLHV 7KHSHUFHQWUHVHUYDWLRQIRUZRPHQERRVWHG or schools. Developing those two villages are the P\FRQ¿GHQFHWRR,FRQWHVWHGXQRSSRVHGDQG JRDOV,KDYHVHWIRUP\VHOI ZRQ,OHIWWKH1*2LQDIWHUZLQQLQJWKH sarpanch election. As for the women of my village, whenever they had complaints, they used to go to a man and A sarpanch does not get a salary but does get a lot QHYHUDZRPDQ,ZDQWWRPDNHDVSHFLDORI¿FH of respect. He or she does get a sitting allowance in the village where only women can come with RI  UXSHHV   GROODUV  IRU DWWHQGLQJ WKHLU SUREOHPV ,I D ZRPDQ JRHV WR DQRWKHU meetings and a monthly honorariumRI woman, she will be able to share more. This is UXSHHV GROODUV 7KHUHDUHPDQ\ZRPHQLQ one of my dreams for the women of the village. WKH35,V\VWHPEXW,GRQ¶WZDQWWREHOLNHWKHP

 Sarpanch is an elected head of a village level statutory institution of local self-government called the panchayat. *HQHULFFROORTXLDOWHUPWRDGGUHVVDIHOORZZRPDQZLWKUHVSHFWDQGDIIHFWLRQ 7KHQDWLRQDOJRYHUQPHQWRI,QGLDFODVVL¿HVVRPHRILWVFLWL]HQVEDVHGRQWKHLUVRFLDOFRQGLWLRQW\SLFDOO\LPSO\LQJWKH\ are educationally or socially marginalised, which fall under the category of “Other backward classes.”  3DQFKD\DWL 5DM ORFDOVHOI JRYHUQPHQW  LV D VWDWH VXEMHFW XQGHU WKH ,QGLDQ &RQVWLWXWLRQ DQG KHQFH WKH VWDWHV KDYH discretion on most related matters including salary amounts for elected leaders. A village president in Orissa may thus be HDUQLQJDGLIIHUHQWVDODU\IURPRQHLQ5DMDVWKDQ  An elected representative by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national MXULVGLFWLRQ,Q,QGLDDQ0/$LVDPHPEHURIDVWDWHOHJLVODWLYHDVVHPEO\ /RFDOVHOIJRYHUQPHQWDWWKHYLOODJHOHYHOLQ,QGLD

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 CHHAVI RAJAWAT Swimming in the same rip tides Photo @ UN Women/Divya Gupta “Five years is enough time to make a difference, if you really want to. The people of the village themselves have been my biggest asset.”

Chhavi Rajawat has a family history of politics and village development. Twenty years ago, her grandfather was sarpanch210 of Soda, where she now serves as sarpanch herself since her election in 2009. On a sunny winter morning in January, Rajawat, dressed sans frills in jeans and a cotton tunic, drove her SUV from India’s “pink city” of Jaipur to Soda, which is an hour away. As we turned into the winding and dusty roads of the village, with a strong hint of pride, she pointed to PDUNHUVWKDWVWLOOEHDUWKHLPSULQWRIKHUJUDQGIDWKHU¶VOHJDF\:KHQDVNHGKHUDJHVKHVPLOHV¿UVW When asked her religion, she says, “spiritual.” Soon, she turns into the gate of a primary school for girls, which she is helping to re-build. There is a palpable fondness and sense of comfort when the village men and women greet her, clad in Rajasthan’s signature bright-coloured turbans and saris211, respectively. As 34-year-old Rajawat keenly inspects progress at the school, she appears involved and every bit the dutiful and self-described “daughter of the village.”

Although there has been an increased focus on women’s political representation at a local level in PDQ\FRXQWULHVUHVXOWVKDYHEHHQPL[HGDWEHVWLQWHUPVRIJHQXLQHHPSRZHUPHQW,QGLDLVDPRQJ WKHFRXQWULHVWKDWZLWQHVVHGDQXQSUHFHGHQWHGGHFHQWUDOLVDWLRQRISRZHU7KHUG&RQVWLWXWLRQDO AmendmentsLQZKLFKPDQGDWHGpanchayat elections throughout the country, resulted LQUHIRUPVUHVHUYLQJSHUFHQWRIWKHVHDWV LQFUHDVHGUHFHQWO\WRSHUFHQWLQVWDWHV) for ZRPHQDQGIRUFDVWHVDQGWULEHVSURSRUWLRQDOWRWKHLUSRSXODWLRQ2YHUPLOOLRQ women have EHHQHOHFWHGWRORFDOSROLWLFDORI¿FHVLQFHWKHVHUHIRUPVEXWWKH\FRQWLQXHWRIDFHPXOWLSOHFKDOOHQJHV in navigating entrenched power and patriarchal structures, vested interests, lack of political will and obstructionism in village development.

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Footnotes overleaf  ,Q VRPH ZD\V P\ VWRU\ LV UHSUHVHQWDWLYH DQG LQRWKHUZD\VLWLVGLIIHUHQW,WLVUHSUHVHQWDWLYH “It’s been three years in this EHFDXVH,IDFHPDQ\RIWKHVDPHFKDOOHQJHVRWKHU journey so far and the biggest HOHFWHGOHDGHUVGRDQGLWLVGLIIHUHQWEHFDXVH, obstacle has been the local KDYHIDPLO\DQG¿QDQFLDOVXSSRUWZKLFKPDQ\ administration not being RWKHUVGRQ¶WDWWKHYLOODJHOHYHO$OVR,TXHVWLRQ responsive and supportive. decisions and authority, which very few other representatives would be in a position to do and That’s where all the disbursement EHLQJ HGXFDWHG KHOSV 6R LQ WKHVH ZD\V , DP of funds takes place and privileged. we are totally dependent on them. I believe the elected , QHYHU WKRXJKW , ZRXOG GR WKLV ² WKH YLOODJH representatives and local people came up with the idea. By and large, , IHHO WKDW JUDVVURRWV UHDOLWLHV DUH QRW UHDOO\ administration should known and despite an increase in funding for work like a team but that is where UXUDO GHYHORSPHQW , UHDOLVHG WKDW WKLQJV KDG the biggest gap exists.” RQO\JRWWHQZRUVHIRUWKHYLOODJHSHRSOH,KDG VHOIEHOLHI WKDW , FRXOG PDNH D GLIIHUHQFH DQG WKH FRPPRQ JRRG 3HRSOH WKLQN WKHUH ZLOO DOVR,ZDQWHGWREHD³EULGJLQJDJHQW´EHWZHHQ always be negativity and especially women feel the village and government as well as the non- WKH\ ZLOO ORVH IDFH LI WKH\ VSHDN XS , DP YHU\ government sector. transparent about what we intend on doing. :KDWHYHUFKDOOHQJHVFRPHXS,WHOOWKHSHRSOH Everyone sees me as the “daughter of the village” WKDW\RXQHHGWR¿JXUHRXWWKHVROXWLRQDQGWDNH DQGWKDWZRUNVWRP\DGYDQWDJH,JHW UHVSHFW UHVSRQVLELOLW\ IRU LW , RQO\ SXW LQ P\ WZR ELWV IURPPHQDQGZRPHQ7KHYHU\IDFWWKDW,ZDV DQG , WKLQN WKH\ DSSUHFLDWH LW DQG NQRZ WKDW elected sarpanchKDVJLYHQDORWRIFRQ¿GHQFH whether they like it or not, they have to carry it and hope to women and girls of the village. IRUZDUG,¶PDFWXDOO\XVLQJmahila sabhasto Now they’re more vocal and raise their issues. HGXFDWHZRPHQRQLVVXHVDQGZKDWWKHÀRZRI (DUOLHU\RXKDGWRUHDOO\FRD[WKHPWRVSHDN, funds is because everybody thinks panchayats  UHPHPEHUWKH¿UVWgram sabha ,KHOG:HSXW KDYH DOO WKH PRQH\ DQG ZH MXVW QHHG WR VQDS a mike and recorder in place to make it more RXU ¿QJHUV DQG ZH¶OO JHW WKH PRQH\ EXW WKH H[FLWLQJDQGPRWLYDWLQJ,WWRRNDOPRVWRQHKRXU UHDOLW\ LV IDU UHPRYHG ,W¶V EHHQ WKUHH \HDUV LQ WR¿QDOO\JHWWKH¿UVWSHUVRQWRVSHDNDQGDIWHU WKLVMRXUQH\VRIDUDQGWKHELJJHVWREVWDFOHKDV that it was a piece of cake. been the local administration not really being responsive and supportive. That’s where all the The gram sabha is a great platform if used disbursement of funds takes place and we are well but it is not being used effectively for

 Sarpanch is an elected head of a village level statutory institution of local self-government called the panchayat.  Also spelt as “Saree,” it is a strip of unstitched cloth, worn by women, ranging from four to nine yards in length that is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¶V FRXQWHUSDUWRIDJUDPVDEKDPHHWLQJZLWKSDUWLFLSDWLRQRQO\E\ZRPHQLQWKHYLOODJH,WLVPHDQWWRSURYLGHDSODWIRUPWR discuss challenges facing women that can be raised by them comfortably without fear of the power dynamics present in a IXOOÀHGJHGRI¿FLDOYLOODJHPHHWLQJZLWKPHQSUHVHQWDVZHOO

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 R ECOMMENDATIO N S & A SPIRATIO NS

Within the vast UN system alone resides a wealth of legal and human rights frameworks, conventions, LQVWLWXWLRQDONQRZOHGJHH[SHUWLVHDQGVHOIFRUUHFWLQJSURZHVVWR a) Build on the strengths of the MDG framework and overcome its shortcomings b) Reconcile seemingly divergent development and sustainability imperatives c) Address emerging global challenges through collective, multi-lateral efforts

7RSURYLGHMXVWRQHH[DPSOHGXULQJWKH0'*6XPPLWLQWKHUHZDVDFDOOWRDGGUHVVJHQGHU HTXDOLW\ DQG ZRPHQ¶V HPSRZHUPHQW LQ D PXFK EURDGHU DQG KROLVWLF PDQQHU ZKLFK UHVXOWHG LQ several United Nations programmes aimed at ensuring gender parity in education, health, economic opportunities. Going a step further, attempts were made at gender mainstreaming in development policymaking and decision-making, including through shaping new legislative and policy frameworks and gender-responsive budgeting. The important role of civil society in trying to meet the twin goals RIJHQGHUHTXDOLW\DQGZRPHQ¶VHPSRZHUPHQWZDVDOVRUHFRJQLVHG

As another example, the MDG framework did not address gender-based violence but it is comprehensively addressed by the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women ZKLFK ,QGLD UDWL¿HG LQ  7KH FRQYHQWLRQ KDV HYROYHG WR VWUHQJWKHQ LWV accountability and enforceability in national contexts. A vast range of violence-related issues against women are taken up through the country reporting and monitoring processes that a member FRXQWU\RIWKH8QLWHG1DWLRQVLVVXEMHFWWRE\YLUWXHRIKDYLQJUDWL¿HGDWUHDW\0RUHUHFHQWO\WKH\ DUHDOVRPRQLWRUHGWKURXJKWKH835 reporting mechanism, under which member countries of the United Nations are obliged and mandated to report on progress to the United Nations Human Rights Council on various treaties and conventions that they are party to. However, gaps may still exist even in such comprehensive human rights instruments. For example, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women does not mention alcoholism, which the ZRPHQLQWHUYLHZHGIRUWKLVUHSRUWXQDQLPRXVO\LGHQWL¿HGDVDSHUYDVLYHDQGVHULRXVFKDOOHQJHWKDW impacts them adversely in an all-encompassing manner.

The broad recommendations offered below are thus based on the complex inter-linkages between challenges facing women at the grassroots, often missing in development frameworks and public policy and thus cited as a key reason for their limited success. The aspirations women shared on all the issue highlighted in this report follow in 7DEOHRQSDJH

Following a proposal by the United Nations Secretary General, the General Assembly decided to convene a MDG Summit +LJK/HYHO3OHQDU\ RQ6HSWHPEHUZLWKWKHSULPDU\REMHFWLYHRIDFFHOHUDWLQJSURJUHVVWRZDUGVDOOWKH0'*V E\ ZZZZJKURUJSGI&('$:SGI DFFHVVHG-XQH  7KH8QLYHUVDO3HULRGLF5HYLHZ 835 LVDXQLTXHSURFHVVZKLFKLQYROYHVDUHYLHZRIWKHKXPDQULJKWVUHFRUGVRIDOO UN Member States.

 *HQHUDO5HFRPPHQGDWLRQV  +XPDQGLJQLW\KXPDQULJKWVDQGKXPDQHTXDOLW\DUHWKHWKUHHPRUDODQGHWKLFDOSLOODUVRQZKLFK any future development framework should rest. All of them were enshrined in the Millennium Declaration, from which the MDGs were derived.

 *HQGHUVSHFL¿F JRDOV WDUJHWV DQG LQGLFDWRUV VKRXOG EH EXLOW LQWR DOO WDUJHWV WR JXDUG DJDLQVW dilution and blind spots in public policy vis-à-vis women’s development.  $FRPSUHKHQVLYHDQGULJRURXVDQDO\VLVDQGPDSSLQJVKRXOGEHXQGHUWDNHQRIWKHUHFHQWDQG future expected trends regarding all aspects of women’s well being and tailored to country contexts. For example, analysis in this report reveals that destitution among women is on the rise LQ,QGLDPLJUDWLRQDPRQJZRPHQKDVLQFUHDVHGH[SRQHQWLDOO\VLQFHWKHHDUO\VDQGVXUSDVVHG that of men, gender-based violence remains all-pervasive and shifting weather patterns are seriously threatening livelihoods and food security, disproportionately impacting women. 4. Any future development framework must factor in the multi-dimensional and complex nature of gender issues, which cut across all forms of deprivation and exclusion.  $OOPDMRUPDQLIHVWDWLRQVRILQHTXDOLW\DQGLQHTXLW\²WKHWZLQPRXQWLQJFKDOOHQJHVRIRXUWLPH ²PXVWEHDGGUHVVHG  7KH IUDPHZRUN VKRXOG EH EDVHG RQ KROLVWLF DQG LQFOXVLYH DQG QRW PLQLPDOLVW GH¿QLWLRQV RI complex human phenomena and their manifestations such as poverty, deprivation, lack of livelihoods and unemployment, food insecurity and hunger, illiteracy and lack of education, JHQGHULQHTXDOLW\DQGODFNRIHPSRZHUPHQW  ,QGLFDWRUV VKRXOG EH GHYLVHG WR PHDVXUH WKH VFDOH DQG GHJUHH RI D FHUWDLQ FRQGLWLRQ VXFK DV poverty but also to reduce or address the nature of the challenge such as “number of women able WRDFFHVV¿QDQFLDOVHUYLFHVDQGORZLQWHUHVWFUHGLW´  6H[GLVDJJUHJDWHGUHSRUWLQJVKRXOGEHPDGHPDQGDWRU\RQDOOSDUDPHWHUV  $OO FRQFHSWV VKRXOG EH GH¿QHG ZLWK VSHFL¿FLW\ DQG VKRXOG FDWHU WR WKH ORZHVW FRPPRQ GHQRPLQDWRU)RUH[DPSOHYHU\SRRUSHRSOHUHTXLUHPD[LPXPDFFHVVWRORZLQWHUHVWRU]HUR LQWHUHVWFUHGLWEXW¿QGLWWKHKDUGHVWWRDFFHVVDVWKH\FDQQRWRIIHUFROODWHUDO

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 $JHQGHUEDVHGSRYHUW\PDSSLQJLVUHTXLUHGWRLGHQWLI\JURXSVRIZRPHQZKRDUHHVSHFLDOO\ vulnerable such as elderly women, single women, widows, disabled women and women living ZLWKPDMRUKHDOWKLOOQHVVHV6XFKDPDSSLQJH[HUFLVHVKRXOGDOVRHQVXUHWKDW³EOLQGVSRWV´LQ public policy, such as the needs of orphans and people living with disabilities, are genuinely addressed by a new framework.

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 :KLOH GHYLVLQJ JHQGHUVSHFL¿F WDUJHWV DQG LQGLFDWRUV D QHZ IUDPHZRUN VKRXOG IDFWRU LQ DOO development challenges with strong poverty linkages, which went unaddressed in the MDG framework. They include impact of lack of basic infrastructure such as roads, energy and electricity, the need for social security for those facing multiple forms of deprivation and marginalisation (old age, single women, widows, abandoned or destitute, homeless, people living ZLWKGLVDELOLWLHV+,9DQG$,'6RURWKHUVHULRXVLOOQHVVHV ODFNRISURSHUKRXVLQJDQGVKHOWHU gender-based violence, impact of climate change and lack of adaptive strategies, lack of access to ¿QDQFLDOVHUYLFHVDQGVRFLDOH[FOXVLRQDQGPDUJLQDOLVDWLRQ

$QHZGHYHORSPHQWIUDPHZRUNVKRXOGDLPWRGHOLYHUDPLQLPXPVRFLDOVHFXULW\QHWDVDVDIHW\ valve to ensure that no one’s basic needs go unmet.

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$QHVWLPDWHGSHRSOHDUHLQWHUQDOO\GLVSODFHGLQ,QGLDGXHWRFRQÀLFWDQGYLROHQFHDFFRUGLQJWRWKH,QWHUQDO 'LVSODFHPHQW0RQLWRULQJ&HQWUH ,'0& ,QWKHDEVHQFHRIDQRI¿FLDOSROLF\RQLQWHUQDOGLVSODFHPHQWDQGPRQLWRULQJ RILQWHUQDOO\GLVSODFHGSHRSOH ,'3V WKH\OLYHRQWKHEULQNRIVXUYLYDOLQH[WUHPHLQVHFXULW\DQGIHDUDQGZLWKQRRU YHU\ SRRU DFFHVV WR EDVLF VHUYLFHV QHHGHG OLYH D OLIH RI GLJQLW\ $YDLODEOH IURP KWWSZZZLQWHUQDOGLVSODFHPHQWRUJ DFFHVVHG-XQH   Education and Literacy  7DUJHWVDQGLQGLFDWRUVWRDVVHVVTXDOLW\RIHGXFDWLRQVKRXOGEHGHYLVHGVRWKDWFKLOGUHQFDQ actually learn, absorb, gain knowledge, conceptual clarity, open and grow their minds and develop capacity for independent and original thinking. For girls and women’s education, enabling factors in their environments are crucial, such as access to good roads and secure public transportation, personal security and protection, reduced domestic workload through PRUHHTXLWDEOHGLVWULEXWLRQDPRQJDOOIDPLO\PHPEHUVLQYHVWLQJHTXDOO\LQWKHLUQXWULWLRQ holistic care and growth and lifting social pressure for early marriages to make way for them to exercise freedom of choice in making life decisions.  (YLGHQFHGHPRQVWUDWHVWKDWHQUROPHQWDQGFRPSOHWLRQUDWHVDUHPRUHDFFXUDWH indicators rather than the ratio of girls to boys in schools to facilitate gender parity, which the new framework should duly factor.  2WKHU YLWDO FRPSRQHQWV RI HGXFDWLRQ VXFK DV YRFDWLRQDO HGXFDWLRQ HQKDQFHPHQW RI OHJDO YRFDWLRQDO¿QDQFLDODQGOLIHEDVHGVNLOOVFRPPXQLW\EDVHGHGXFDWLRQDQGOLIHORQJOHDUQLQJDOO have very strong utility for poor and illiterate people, which should be built into the framework.  :RPHQZLWKORZRUQROLWHUDF\OHYHOVVXFKDVDGXOWZRPHQVRFLDOO\H[FOXGHGRUPDUJLQDOLVHG women such as those belonging scheduled tribes, scheduled castes and religious minorities UHTXLUH VSHFLDO WDUJHWLQJ WR GHOLYHU DOO RI WKH DERYH PHQWLRQHG IRUPV RI HGXFDWLRQ VNLOO enhancement and learning.

+HDOWKDQG:HOO%HLQJ  $IXWXUHGHYHORSPHQWIUDPHZRUNVKRXOGIDFWRULQWKHVWURQJOLQNDJHEHWZHHQZRPDQDQGFKLOG health recognising that “reproductive and sexual health” accounts IRU  SHU FHQW RI WKH global health burden among women and there is overwhelming evidence of maternal under- nourishment leading to birth of under-weight babies.  ,QGLFDWRUVVKRXOGEHGHYHORSHGWRPHDVXUHWKHTXDOLW\RIKHDOWKFDUHGHOLYHUHGVXFKDVDYDLODELOLW\ of medical infrastructure, hygiene and sanitation, medical staff such as nurses and doctors and WKHLUUDWLRWRSDWLHQWVIDFWRULQJLQORFDOFRQWH[WVEXWDOVREDVLFTXDOLW\VWDQGDUGVDQGWUDLQLQJ to ensure respectful and pleasant treatment of patients.  $ QHZ GHYHORSPHQW IUDPHZRUN VKRXOG VWURQJO\ DLP WR UHGXFH WKH KLJK RXWRISRFNHW health expenditure poor people still incur, especially socially and geographically marginalised communities.  7KHIUDPHZRUNVKRXOGLQFOXGHDZDUHQHVVJHQHUDWLRQDQGKHDOWKHGXFDWLRQSURJUDPPHVIRU women to safely go through pregnancy.  3RRU ZRPHQ LQ UXUDO DQG XUEDQ DUHDV DUH DW ³KLJK ULVN´ RI FRQWUDFWLQJ +,9 DQG $,'6 unknowingly from their husbands, who may have multiple sex partners. A new development framework should recognise and aim to reverse this harmful trend as well as the crippling stigma and discrimination such women and their children (also at high risk) suffer from, by enabling economic and social support structures for them.

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$FFHVVWR,QIUDVWUXFWXUH$GDSWLQJWR&OLPDWH&KDQJHDQG(QYLURQPHQWDO 6XVWDLQDELOLW\  $IXWXUHGHYHORSPHQWIUDPHZRUNPXVWDGGUHVVWKHUHDOH[WHQVLYHDQGGHYDVWDWLQJLPSDFWRI shifting weather patterns and climate change on people’s lives and livelihoods i.e. it should include indicators to promote adaptation to climate change.  :RPHQ²WKHPDLQFDUHJLYHUVRIIDPLOLHVDQGPDMRULW\RIVPDOOVFDOHDQGPDUJLQDOIDUPHUV² DUHHVSHFLDOO\LPSDFWHGLQXQLTXHDQGGLVSURSRUWLRQDWHZD\V7KXVJHQGHUVSHFL¿FLQGLFDWRUV DUHUHTXLUHGWRHTXLSWKHPZLWKUHOLDEOHDGDSWDWLRQWRROVDQGVWUDWHJLHV  0RUH ZHOOGH¿QHG DQG DFFRXQWDEOH LQGLFDWRUV DUH UHTXLUHG WR DGGUHVV WKH SHUVLVWHQW DQG widespread lack of water and sanitation such as “number of people with a piped water connection in the house” or “number of people with a toilet in the house.”  7KHIUDPHZRUNPXVWDGGUHVVDFFHVVWREDVLFLQIUDVWUXFWXUHVXFKDVKRXVLQJURDGVHOHFWULFLW\ DQG HQHUJ\ VRXUFHV DOO RI ZKLFK KDYH PDMRU LPSOLFDWLRQV IRU KHDOWK HGXFDWLRQ SRYHUW\ livelihoods and all other measures of human well-being among poor people.

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 Poverty, ‡7KHJRYHUQPHQWVKRXOGRUJDQLVHDQGXQGHUWDNHproper surveys or assessment exercises so that people truly in need are not left out of Deprivation & the development process and public service delivery. 6RFLDO6HFXULW\ ‡%HWWHUDQGPRUHVRFLDOVHFXULW\VFKHPHV for the HOGHUO\and other similar vulnerable segments of society should be made available. ‡$PRQWKO\SHQVLRQRIUXSHHV GROODUV VKRXOGEHSURYLGHGWRHOGHUO\SHRSOHHVSHFLDOO\ZRPHQDVWKH\DUHSDUWLFXODUO\ vulnerable. The pension should not be tied to any pre-conditions. For example, it should be provided regardless of whether there is an able- ERGLHGHDUQLQJPHPEHULQWKHIDPLO\RUQRWDVLVFXUUHQWO\WKHFDVHEHFDXVHVRFLDOVWUXFWXUHVDUHEUHDNLQJGRZQ,QPDQ\FDVHVRQFHFKLOGUHQ are grown up, they no longer take care of their parents the way they used to, leaving them more vulnerable than before. ‡7KHZLGRZSHQVLRQ amount should be increased factoring in current market conditions. ‡%DVLFEHQH¿WV should be guaranteed to poor and genuinely needy people, especially living in remote locations.

 /LYHOLKRRGV ‡:RPHQHQJDJHGLQUXUDOIDUPLQJZDQWORQJWHUPDOWHUQDWLYHDQGVXVWDLQDEOHOLYHOLKRRGRSWLRQV, not temporary work. (PSOR\PHQW  ‡:RPHQVKRXOGEHJLYHQZRUNseparately WRVXLWWKHLUVNLOOVDQGDELOLW\. 6NLOOV ‡:RPHQVKRXOGEHJLYHQKRPHEDVHGHPSOR\PHQWDQGVNLOOVWUDLQLQJ, especially single, elderly, disabled women and widows and which they can teach other women, too, such as sewing and embroidery. 6HZLQJFHQWUHV should be opened up in villages, which will help provide employment and income to women. Skills training should also be part of education curriculum to improve employability of boys and girls after completing secondary school and college. ‡:RPHQDOVRUHTXHVWHG¿QDQFLDODVVLVWDQFH for taking professional training courses to enhance their skills. ‡0RUHZRPHQVKRXOGEHHPSOR\HG in the ¿UVWOLQHRIVHUYLFHGHOLYHU\ of government social schemes. ‡$OOZRUNHUVLQFOXGLQJZRPHQVKRXOGEHprotected under ODERXUUHJXODWLRQV to ensure that poor and vulnerable people are not exploited. ‡:RPHQLQWKHLQIRUPDOHFRQRP\VKRXOGEHDEOHWRQHJRWLDWHZDJHSDULW\DQGPDWHUQLW\EHQH¿WV and be protected from sexual harassment and violence in the workplace. ‡:RPDQZDQWIXOOWLPHZRUNIRUGD\VLQD\HDULQVWHDGRIRQO\GD\VXQGHUWKHJRYHUQPHQWUXUDOHPSOR\PHQWJXDUDQWHHVFKHPH 7KHJRYHUQPHQWVKRXOGDOVRSURYLGHPDMRUZRUNWRHPSOR\VHYHUDOSHRSOHLQVWHDGRIVPDOOYLOODJHZRUNV ‡0HPEHUVKLSLQ6+*VVKRXOGEHH[SDQGHG to include as many women as possible to help them with household expenses, teach them day- WRGD\¿QDQFLDOPDQDJHPHQWVDYLQJOHQGLQJDQGKRZWROHYHUDJHOLTXLGLW\,WZLOODOVRHPSRZHUWKHPWRGHDODQGPDNHGHFLVLRQVDERXWPRQH\ directly and understand the nature of money. ‡6+*VVKRXOGEHOLQNHGWRPRUHLQFRPHJHQHUDWLRQDFWLYLWLHVDQGQRWMXVWLQWHUORDQLQJDQGVDYLQJ ‡:RPHQVKRXOGJHWWKHW\SHRIZRUN in which they can FROOHFWLYHO\PDNHVRPHWKLQJDQGVHOOLWLQWKHPDUNHWDQGHDUQVRPH income)RUH[DPSOHLQ.HUDODZRPHQ6+*PHPEHUVSURGXFHVSLFHVÀRXUDQGIRRGIRUQXWULWLRQFHQWUHVDQGVHOOLWWKHPVHOYHVLQWKHPDUNHW to earn money. Their ORDQVL]HLVELJJHU and they get more skill-based training. Women can many other things such as soap, papad, daris,URSHZDOOKDQJLQJVDQGEURRPV IURPSDOPWUHHV ,IZRPHQFDQEHRUJDQLVHGLQWRDfederation to channelise marketing, like a cooperative, it will economically empower them. 6PDOOVFDOHSURGXFWLRQXQLWVFDQEHIRUPHGWRHYHQPDNHIRUWL¿HGFHUHDODQGVXSSO\ IRRGWRYLOODJHQXWULWLRQFHQWUHVDQGLWZRXOGEHVXVWDLQDEOHEHFDXVHWKHJRYHUQPHQWZRXOGEX\WKHSURGXFWV(DFKZRPDQFRXOGPDNH UXSHHV GROODUV DGGLWLRQDOLQFRPHSHUPRQWKIURPVXFKDFWLYLWLHV

$WKLQFULVSGLVFVKDSHG,QGLDQIRRGW\SLFDOO\EDVHGRQVHDVRQHGGRXJKPDGHIURPEODFNJUDP XUDGÀRXU IULHGRUFRRNHGZLWKGU\KHDW  A heavy woven or felted fabric, usually of wool, but also of cotton, hemp, straw, resembling a carpet.  ‡$factoryVKRXOGEHRSHQHGXSLQRUnear villagesZKLFKHPSOR\VPHQDQGZRPHQORFDOO\DQGVXSSOLHVYDULRXVJRRGVDQGVHUYLFHVWR VFKRROVKRVSLWDOVDQGQXWULWLRQFHQWUHVLQWKHYLOODJH ‡Transparent selection procedures LQMREVHOHFWLRQSURFHVVHVVKRXOGEHLQWURGXFHGWRUHGXFHWKHVFRSHRIFRUUXSWLRQDQGQHSRWLVP ‡SchemesDUHUHTXLUHGWRKHOSSODFHRUOLQNHGXFDWHGSHRSOHZLWKHPSOR\PHQWRSSRUWXQLWLHV ‡:RPHQUHTXLUHcrèchesWROHDYHWKHLUFKLOGUHQDWVDIHSODFHVZKLOHWKH\JRRQZRUN ‡3HRSOHOLYLQJLQhilly and remote locationsUHTXLUHEHWWHUOLYHOLKRRGDQGHPSOR\PHQWRSSRUWXQLWLHV

 Nutrition, Food ‡$OOloansIRUGLVWUHVVHGIDUPHUVVKRXOGEHwaivedHVSHFLDOO\LQDUHDVHQWLUHO\GHSHQGHQWRQUDLQIHGDJULFXOWXUHAlternate irrigation Security & facilities VKRXOGEHEXLOWDQGSURYLGHGXUJHQWO\LQWKHVHUHJLRQV Hunger ‡All categories of single, vulnerable and marginalised women HOGHUO\ZLGRZVGLVDEOHGOLYLQJZLWK+,9GHVWLWXWHHWF VKRXOGEH assured food securityWKURXJKJRYHUQPHQWVFKHPHVWKHSXEOLFGLVWULEXWLRQV\VWHPDQGDGGLWLRQDOIRRGVWDPSVLIUHTXLUHG ‡*UHDWHUVWHSVVKRXOGEHWDNHQWRcombat malnutritionDPRQJZRPHQDQGFKLOGUHQHVSHFLDOO\LQUXUDODUHDV

 Education & ‡Secondary schools should be located closeWRYLOODJHVWRHQVXUHWKDWJLUOVGRQ¶WGURSRXWRIVFKRRODIWHUWKHSULPDU\OHYHOZKLFKLVYHU\ Literacy FRPPRQGXHWRVHFXULW\FRQFHUQVDQGWUDQVSRUWDWLRQUHODWHGFKDOOHQJHV:RPHQVDLGWKDWWKHUHVKRXOGEHLQFHQWLYHVSURYLGHGWREXLOGVFKRROV DQGFROOHJHVFORVHUWRYLOODJHV,IVHFRQGDU\VFKRROVDQGFROOHJHVDUHIDUDZD\WKHQVHFXUHgirl’s hostelsVKRXOGEHSURYLGHGZLWKDGHTXDWH FDSDFLW\ ‡,QYLOODJHVORFDWHGLQUHPRWHRUKDUVKWHUUDLQVRUZKHUHWKHUHLVDORWRIUDLQIDOOWKHprimary school should be located in the villageDQG UHVRXUFHVVKRXOGEHPDGHDYDLODEOHWREXLOGRQHLIUHTXLUHG ‡7KHUHVKRXOGEH¿QDQFLDODVVLVWDQFHDQGVFKRODUVKLSVDYDLODEOHIRUJLUOVDWVHFRQGDU\DQGWHUWLDU\OHYHOVRIHGXFDWLRQ ‡Quality educationVKRXOGEHHQVXUHGIRUDOOFKLOGUHQ

 Health & Gender-Based Violence Well-Being ‡*RYHUQPHQWVKRXOGWDNHDSSURSULDWHVWHSVWRclose liquor shopsand no more liquor licenses VKRXOGEHGLVWULEXWHG ‡7KHUHVKRXOGEHEHWWHUanti-dowry campaignsWRUDLVHDZDUHQHVVDPRQJSHRSOH ‡7KHUHVKRXOGEHJUHDWHUHPSKDVLVRQWKHcompletion of education for girls and women VRWKDWWKH\DUHPRUHLQGHSHQGHQWDQGFDQUHVLVW DQ\IRUPRIYLROHQFHDJDLQVWWKHP ‡Stricter laws IRUDEROLVKLQJFKLOGPDUULDJHVDQGGRZU\UHODWHGYLROHQFHVKRXOGEHLQWURGXFHG ‡Boys and menshould be sensitised YLVDYLVZRPHQWKURXJKHGXFDWLRQVRWKDWWKH\GRQRWUHVRUWWRDFWVRIYLROHQFHDJDLQVWWKHP ‡Special provisions VKRXOGEHPDGHfor reportingFDVHVRIYLROHQFHHVSHFLDOO\IRUZRPHQOLYLQJLQUHPRWHDUHDV

Disability ‡Disability pension VKRXOGEHincreased WRUXSHHV GROODUV SHUPRQWKLQVWHDGRI5XSHHV 86' VRWKDWSHRSOH OLYLQJZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVFDQDGHTXDWHO\WDNHFDUHRIWKHPVHOYHVHDWIRRGZHDUFORWKHVDQGLIWKH\GRQ¶WJHWVKHOWHUDQ\ZKHUHWKH\VKRXOGEHDEOH WRKDYHWKHLURZQVKHOWHU ‡Counselling VKRXOGEHSURYLGHGWRIDPLO\PHPEHUVRIWKRVHOLYLQJZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVVRWKDWWKHLURXWORRNEHFRPHVPRUHSRVLWLYHVXSSRUWLYH DQGVHQVLWLYH6SHFLDOVHQVLWLVDWLRQZRUNVKRSVDQGWUDLQLQJVKRXOGEHSURYLGHGWRUHGXFHWKHKLJKOHYHOVRIGLVFULPLQDWLRQDJDLQVWSHRSOHOLYLQJ ZLWKGLVDELOLWLHV

120 ‡There should be more, EHWWHUDQGWDUJHWHGVFKHPHV to support people living with disabilities. For example, education fees should be waived until completion of college for children living with disabilities, especially for those belonging to families living below the poverty line. ‡There should be direct transfers of funds from the government account to the personal account of a person with disability, in cases where PRQHWDU\EHQH¿WVRUSHQVLRQVDUHGXHWRWKHPWRHQVXUHWKH\UHFHLYHWKHIXOODPRXQWDQGQRWKLQJLVORVWLQFRUUXSWLRQ ‡9HU\IHZGLVDEOHGSHRSOHIDOOXQGHUWKHFRYHURIVXEVLGLVHGfood distribution provisions, which extremely poor families are entitled to and they should be more effectively targeted. ‡Disabled people should be paid EHWWHUVDODULHV. ‡Legal steps should be taken to prevent discrimination in employment for disabled people. ‡More private sector jobs should be made available for disabled people through appropriate skills-based training. ‡(DV\DQGGLVDEOHGIULHQGO\SURFHGXUHVLQDSSO\LQJIRUDQGSURFXULQJJRYHUQPHQWEHQH¿WVVKRXOGEHDGRSWHG ‡The JRYHUQPHQWIURQWOLQHKHDOWKZRUNHUV in the villages should also VHUYLFHSUHJQDQWGLVDEOHGZRPHQand provide them LQIRUPDWLRQDERXWWKHLUKHDOWKFDUHRQDVXVWDLQHGDQGUHJXODUEDVLV,QPDQ\FDVHVGLVDEOHGZRPHQDUHXQGHUQRXULVKHG)RUKHUFKLOGWR EHERUQKHDOWK\LWLVYHU\QHFHVVDU\IRUWKHGLVDEOHGPRWKHUWRHDWQXWULWLRXVDQGDGHTXDWHIRRGZKLFKVKRXOGEHHPSKDVLVHGE\ORFDOKHDOWK workers. ‡Preference is QHFHVVDU\IRUGLVDEOHGSUHJQDQWZRPHQin KHDOWKFDUHVHUYLFHV. ‡Disabled women with speech or hearing impairment or those who suffer from psychiatric disorders are particularly vulnerable to VH[XDO harassment and rape. 7UDLQLQJVHVVLRQVshould be conducted with parents on how to HQVXUHJUHDWHUVDIHW\of disabled children and women. ‡'LVDEOHGFKLOGUHQVKRXOGJRWRJRYHUQPHQWVFKRRODORQJZLWKQRQGLVDEOHGFKLOGUHQ. Everybody irrespective of their sex or ability VKRXOGUHPDLQHTXDOLQDJURXS ‡There is a need for better educational infrastructure and facilities for children with different disabilities. Students, especially girls, with disabilities should be provided good and safe KRVWHOIDFLOLWLHVZLWKSUHIHUHQFHand support services such as training on the use of sign language or BrailleDVUHTXLUHG ‡'LVDEOHGSHRSOHWKHPVHOYHVUHTXLUHSURSHUWUDLQLQJto interact with people, increase their self-esteem, motivation and maintain positive attitudes about life. ‡2OGDJHKRPHVVKRXOGEHSURYLGHGIRUZRPHQOLYLQJZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVHLWKHUHQWLUHO\VHSDUDWHIURPPHQRULQVHSDUDWHOLYLQJTXDUWHUVZLWKLQ homes meant for both men and women. ‡All LQIUDVWUXFWXUHVKRXOGEHPDGHGLVDELOLW\IULHQGO\, including public buildings, health and education facilities, public transportation, JRYHUQPHQWRI¿FHVDQGSULYDWHEXLOGLQJV ‡:RPHQOLYLQJZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVXUJHQWO\UHTXLUHSURSHUDFFHVVWRWRLOHWVLQWKHLUKRPHVDQGLQSXEOLFEXLOGLQJV ‡'LVDEOHGSHRSOHVKRXOGEHDSDUWRIWKHSROLWLFDOV\VWHPWKH\VKRXOG¿JKWHOHFWLRQVDQGEHLQGHFLVLRQPDNLQJFDSDFLWLHV,VVXHV pertaining to people living with disabilities should also be discussed more in village meetings. HIV and AIDS ‡8QHGXFDWHGRULOOLWHUDWHZRPHQOLYLQJZLWK+,9DQG$,'6VKRXOGEHSURYLGHGHPSOR\PHQWRSSRUWXQLWLHV. ‡More QXWULWLRQUHODWHGVFKHPHVDQGWUHDWPHQWSURYLVLRQVLQH[LVWLQJKHDOWKVFKHPHVDUHUHTXLUHGIRUSHRSOHOLYLQJZLWK+,9DQG$,'6 ‡6SHFLDOJULHYDQFHUHGUHVVDOPHFKDQLVPVshould be created to put forward problems and seek appropriate solutions for people living with HIV and AIDS. ‡&KLOGUHQRISHRSOHOLYLQJZLWK+,9DQG$,'6who have been orphaned, should be provided with JRRGDQGVDIHRUSKDQDJHIDFLOLWLHV DQGVWDWHDVVLVWDQFHZLWKHGXFDWLRQ:KHQWKH\JURZXSWKH\VKRXOGEHSURYLGHGDVVLVWDQFHLQVHFXULQJMREVDQGOHJDODYHQXHVWR¿JKW discrimination. ‡Early marriage and HDUO\FKLOGELUWKamong girls leads to severe health complications among them. 3DUHQWVVKRXOGEHVHQVLWLVHGon this issue in rural areas.

 Braille is a tactile writing system used by the blind and the visually impaired that is used for books, menus, signs, elevator buttons, and currency.  6. Access to Housing Infrastructure, ‡Houses should be permanent structures ZLWKSURSHUURR¿QJZDOOVDQGWRLOHWVVRWKDWSHRSOHFDQOLYHZLWKVHFXULW\DQGGLJQLW\ Adaptation to ‡%HWWHUtransportation facilities VKRXOGEHSURYLGHGto get building material to remote villages. Climate Change & Environmental ‡%HWWHUKRXVLQJ¿QDQFHUHODWHGVFKHPHVVKRXOGEHPDGHDYDLODEOHWRZRPHQRQIDYRXUDEOHWHUPV Sustainability ‡Single women VKRXOGEHHQDEOHGWRJHWpermanent shelters PDGHIRUWKHPVHOYHVWKURXJKbetter government schemes. Water and Sanitation ‡%HWWHUGULQNLQJZDWHUIDFLOLWLHVZLWKpiped water supply VKRXOGEHPDGHDYDLODEOHLQDOOYLOODJHV ‡Improve access to safe drinking water supply LQhilly and remote locations. ‡7KHJRYHUQPHQWVKRXOGaddress quality of drinking waterHVSHFLDOO\LQDUHDVZLWKKLJKÀXRULGHFRQWHQW ‡*RYHUQPHQWVKRXOGincrease the amount SURYLGHGWRSRRUIDPLOLHVXQGHUWKHWRWDOVDQLWDWLRQFDPSDLJQto build toilets DQGallow them to hire contractors to build them. ‡Schools and colleges VKRXOGDOOKDYHmandatory UHTXLUHPHQWIRUtoilets ZLWKZDWHUDYDLODELOLW\DQGseparate toilets for girls and boys. Roads and Transportation ‡,QUHPRWHRUKDUVKWHUUDLQVVSHFLDOHIIRUWDQGresources should be channelised WRLPSURYHURDGVDQGDFFHVVLELOLW\WRKHDOWKDQGHGXFDWLRQ VHUYLFHV ‡Provisions for funds VKRXOGEHPDGHWRORRNLQWREXLOGLQJSULPDU\VFKRROVDQGSULPDU\KHDOWKFDUHFHQWUHVZLWKLQRUYHU\FORVHWRVXFK YLOODJHVZKHUHURDGVDUHSRRUWKHWHUUDLQLVGLI¿FXOWDQGUHPRWHUDLQLVKHDY\ZHDWKHUFRQGLWLRQVDUHKDUVKDQGFOLPDWHFKDQJHVDUHWDNLQJ SODFH ‡%HWWHUtransportation facilities VKRXOGEHPDGHDYDLODEOHWRYLOODJHVHVSHFLDOO\for girl students and pregnant women. ‡Better roads ZKHUHFDUVFDQUXQVPRRWKO\DQGWUDQVSRUWDWLRQIDFLOLWLHVfor hilly and remote DUHDVZLOOHQVXUHRYHUDOOGHYHORSPHQWRI WKHVHDUHDV

Electricity/Energy ‡Electricity VKRXOGEHSURYLGHGIRU24 hours at appropriately voltage for proper utilisation. ‡7KHUHVKRXOGEHQRRUfewer power cuts. ‡Affordable alternative fuel options VKRXOGEHPDGHDYDLODEOH Others ‡More trees should be planted to provide clean air for our children. ‡A mobile tower in the village so that we can communicate easily. 7. Gender Equality ‡Husbands should divide household work ZLWKWKHLUZLYHVHTXDOO\DQGQRWGULQNVRWKHKRXVHKROGDQGFKLOGUHQUHPDLQKDSS\ & Women’s ‡Honorariums IRUHOHFWHGUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVVKRXOGEHincreased. Empowerment ‡:RPHQVKRXOGEHSURYLGHGSURSHUliteracy, skills and employment WRDFKLHYH¿QDQFLDOLQGHSHQGHQFH ‡Sensitisation programmes VKRXOGEHUXQIRUPHQDQGER\VWRLQFUHDVHWKHLUVHQVHRIUHVSRQVLELOLW\DQGGXW\LQVKDULQJKRXVHKROGZRUNDQG WRHDUQDOLYHOLKRRG ‡:RPHQUHTXLUHPRUHinformation DERXWJRYHUQPHQWVFKHPHVDQGKRZWKH\FDQDFFHVVWKHPSURSHUO\HYHQLIWKH\DUHLOOLWHUDWH ‡Mechanisms VKRXOGEHLQWURGXFHGfor women to report violence anonymously RQDKRWOLQHDQGWRHQVXUHIROORZXSDFWLRQE\WKH SROLFHODZHQIRUFHPHQWDXWKRULWLHVSDQFKD\DWVRUVRFLDOJURXSVDQG1*2VDVWKHFDVHUHTXLUHV ‡Access to basic services VKRXOGEHPDGHDQDEVROXWHSULRULW\DVLWDXWRPDWLFDOO\LPSURYHVWKHSRVLWLRQRIZRPHQLQKHUKRXVHKROGDQG VRFLDOO\ 122 R EFERENCES

 'LQDU$ULHODQGRWKHUV  Measuring the Impact of Climate Change on Indian Agriculture, :RUOG%DQN7HFKQLFDO3DSHU7KH:RUOG%DQN

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 &URVVRQ3LHUUH(1997), Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture&OLPDWH,VVXHV%ULHI1R Resources for the Future, Washington DC.

 +DMMDU /LVD (2004), Religion, State Power, and Domestic Violence in Muslim Societies: A Framework for Comparative Analysis, Law & Social Inquiry, Vol. 29, No. 1.

 +DUULVV:KLWH %DUEDUD   Destitution In India 4XHHQ (OL]DEHWK +RXVH 2[IRUG University, UK.

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$XWKRU²$QXEKD6LQJKis a development professional with diverse experience working with JUDVVURRWVRUJDQLVDWLRQVLQGLIIHUHQWSDUWVRI,QGLD6KHKDVKDQGOHGFKDOOHQJLQJDVVLJQPHQWVDQG VXFFHVVIXOO\ LPSOHPHQWHG VHYHUDO SURMHFWV DQG ZRUNHG RQ D UDQJH RI LVVXHV LQFOXGLQJ GHVWLWXWH women suffering from psychiatric disabilities, gender dimensions in natural resource management, women’s rights and access to urban municipal services, livelihood-related issues of Burmese refugee ZRPHQLQ,QGLDDQGHGXFDWLRQIRUWULEDOZRPHQ6KHKDVDOVRFRQGXFWHGDSROLF\OHYHOHYDOXDWLRQ on the “Laadli Laxmi Scheme” aimed at educational and economic empowerment of girls, for the *RYHUQPHQWRI'HOKL,QGLD$QXEKD¶VNH\LQWHUHVWOLHVLQVWXG\LQJXUEDQPXQLFLSDOVHUYLFHVIURPD gendered perspective. She has a MA in Social Work from the Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, is a trained researcher and a University Grants Commission-administered NET-JRF scholar in the area of women’s studies.



UN Women's Office for India, Bhutan, Maldives & Sri Lanka 19 A Rajdoot Marg Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021 Tel: +91-11-26119120-29 Fax+91-11-26119130