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Location: India

Promoting greater women’s participation in governance

Issue

Stronger recognition of women’s issues in policy is required through increased representation in national and state governance. The experience in India shows that women elected in local government have played a key role in addressing critical issues affecting them and their broader communities, such as education, water management, health and domestic violence. The Women’s Reservation Bill, which was passed by the Upper House of Parliament in March 2010, is yet to be enshrined in law.

Project

Centre for Social Research is generating public and governmental support around greater representation and participation of women in national and state governance structures in India.

The project is advocating for the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, which seeks to reserve 33 per cent of seats in parliament and state legislative assemblies for women. Women’s representation in national and state governance will promote greater equality in politics and support stronger representation of women’s issues in policy.

The project is engaging members of parliament and advocating with political parties to promote more opportunities for women in leadership structures. This is being achieved using direct engagement with officials, media campaigns and mobilising citizens to raise public awareness. It is hoped that by forming a block of parliamentarians committed to voting and advocating in favour of the bill in the Lower House, it will be tabled and passed before the project comes to a close.

The project is fostering greater awareness and appreciation of women’s involvement in politics.

Endorsed project title: Promoting greater representation and participation of women in national and state governance structures in India

Centre for Social Research

Centre for Social Research (CSP) aims to empower the women and girls of India, guarantee their fundamental rights, and increase understanding of social issues from a gender perspective. CSR has a long history of engagement with policy makers on issues affecting women. And during the project will be leading the 33 per cent Coalition and facilitate a joint advocacy strategy in partnership with Women Power Connect (WPC). WPC promotes effective implementation of gender friendly legislation and the active participation of women in policy outcomes. It is the largest advocacy body for women in India, with a membership of over 1600 individuals and women organisations across 28 states. www.csrindia.org

www.womenpowerconnect.org

Preventing child marriage, retaining girls in school and developing gender awareness

Issue

Although child marriage in India is declining, more needs to be done to end it. It is recognised that strategies must have a broad appeal. Jana Sanskrit is working with communities in Purulia district of West Bengal using interactive, theatre-based approach known as forum theatre.

Project

Jana Sanskriti – Centre for Theatre of the Oppressed – aims to sensitise students, teachers, parents and the communities in the region to reduce underage marriage, and improve the retention of girls in school.  Jana Sanskriti is helping communities improve their understanding of the law and use the available government support systems. The project is establishing women’s and community groups to support affected families on a case by case basis. They are sharing the messages on the injustices of child marriage and the importance of girls’ education via local media outlets to increase awareness.

It is expected that the project will create better informed and supported communities able to appreciate and support girls’ aspirations, leading to an improved retention of girls in schools. It is also anticipated that the project will build closer links between communities, teachers, government officials and the police, enabling them to work together to enforce the laws on the rights of young women in marriage and education, which will result in a subsequent reduction in child marriage.

Endorsed project title: Preventing child marriage in Purulia, India

Photo: Flickr CC Eduardo Sciammarella Pushkar

Jana Sanskriti Centre for Theatre of the Oppressed

Jana Sanskriti is a voluntary organization reaching more than 200,000 spectators each year through the performances of 30 satellite theatre teams in rural West Bengal, India. Using the forum of theatre in rural communities the organisation addresses issues such as awareness and policy advocacy for domestic violence, education, child marriage, child trafficking, illicit liquor brewing and selling, agricultural practices, implementation of rights.www.janasanskriti.org

Upholding the rights of women with disabilities

Issue

The discrimination and disadvantages experienced by Women with Disabilities in India have largely gone unaddressed and unacknowledged by ‘gender-neutral’ disability services, legislation and policy. To empower Women with Disabilities (WwDs) to access their rights, the project will support and facilitate a gendered monitoring mechanism, Disability Gender Watch (DGW). This will enable implementation of national and international disability related commitments and compliances.

Project

The project aims to develop a new paradigm of human rights, pushing the frontier of rights for women with disabilities by facilitating direct dialogue between empowered women with disabilities (WwDs) and the Committee on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

With the aid of a Commonwealth Foundation grant, SMRC will train 900 women with disabilities and 200 disabled peoples organisations from the 29 States in India,, teaching them about disability rights, the obligations of government and the advocacy skills to enable them to engage with government.

Endorsed project title: Upholding the rights of women with disabilities in India

Shanta Memorial Rehabilitation Centre

Shanta Memorial Rehabilitation Centre is a Disabled People’s Organization founded in 1985. Its work focuses on advocacy, gender equity, research and development. Current campaigns run by SMRC target Women with Disabilities and Disaster and Disability. Alongside a programme to help monitor and improve State Elections, SMRC also provides rehabilitation services for Spinal Cord Injuries, educating and training health care professionals in rehabilitation techniques. www.smrcorissa.org

Forging civil society action against child domestic labour

Issue

The use of unregulated, under-aged and under-paid child domestic labourers (CDLs) remains problematic in many countries around the world, with around 11.5 million children worldwide still thought to work in illegal situations.

In India, Pakistan and Bangladesh – where millions of these child labourers live – there is an increasing willingness to change their plight, and this project will capture that willingness and use it to support positive movement away from this modern slavery.

Project

Global March is working with partner organisations in each of the three countries and will look to the progress already being made in India’s justice system on the subject and seek to further embed it in the fabric of people’s awareness. Based on the experiences of India’s Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Pakistan’s Grassroots Organisation for Human Development and Bangladesh’s Shishu Adhikar Forum will spearhead action in each of the countries, partnering with civil society organisations (CSOs) to amend laws, raise awareness, advocate for policy change and build the capacity for CSOs, government and law enforcement to work together in the fight against child domestic labour.

There will be training and workshops for CSOs, compilation of legislative literature, expansive regional and national consultations, and extensive analysis of existing structures – all with the aim of enhancing awareness and encouraging the will of many levels of society throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to let their children live their childhoods in peace.

Global March Against Child Labour

The Global March Against Child Labour is a worldwide network of trade unions, teachers’ and civil society organisations that work together towards the shared development goals of eliminating and preventing all forms of child labour and ensuring access by all children to free, meaningful and good quality public education. It mobilises and supports its constituents to contribute to local, national, regional and global efforts and support for a range of international instruments relating to the protection and promotion of children’s rights, engaging with the United Nations, international and inter-governmental agencies.

www.globalmarch.org

Follow @kNOwChildLabour on Twitter

Follow /globalmarch on Facebook

Bachpan Bachao Andolan

Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) symbolizes India’s largest grassroots movement for the protection of children, ensuring their quality education. As on October 2014, BBA has rescued more than 83 500 victims of trafficking, slavery and child labour and has helped them re-establish trust in society and find promising futures for themselves.

Since its establishment by the Indian children’s rights activist Kailash Satyarthi in 1980, BBA has led the world’s largest civil society campaign in the form of the Global March Against Child Labour and has been at the forefront of laying down laws against child labour and trafficking in India.

www.bba.org.in

 

Promoting the recognition of carers in India

Issue

The need for long-term care for people with chronic illnesses and disabilities is universal, and the rapidly increasing demand is an urgent challenge facing countries throughout the world. In India, carers – like elsewhere in the world – are often unheralded and are usually unpaid family members.

Project

Carers Worldwide UK is supporting carers in India, who are mostly women, to advocate for the social provisions and protection needed to reduce their vulnerability to impacts such as reduced earnings, poor health and loss of education. Carers Worldwide is partnering with socially-focused CSOs in Jharkand, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, to build on the lessons of an earlier advocacy pilot project, which highlighted the importance of helping carers through participatory processes such as group-led actions. The pilot has already achieved a number of important outcomes – including establishing self-help groups that have allowed carers to come together for the first time, participation in a government-run livelihood scheme and raising their profile with local government officials – and this project aims to help take that work even further.

The carers most affected by poverty in each of the three districts will receive livelihood and training options compatible with caring and will learn engagement and advocacy skills, to allow them to participate in their own development. The project will also support district level Carers’ Associations, allowing people to communicate with peers and giving them a platform through which they can make their issues known to development and district government agendas.

“This project is creating the first opportunity for carers to come together, be seen and make their voices heard,” explained Anil Patil, the founder and executive director of Carers Worldwide. “This is a huge step forward for this vulnerable group who, until now, have been unrecognised by their communities and the wider society. In partnership with NBJK, SACRED and Samuha, we believe we will achieve significant change for marginalised carers over the next three years, transforming the lives of them and their families as well as laying firm foundations for a carers’ movement across India.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZRBuhvtrMg?rel=0]

Carers Worldwide

Carers Worldwide works with carers in developing countries.

It aims to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health problems.

www.carersworldwide.org

Follow @CarersWorldwide on Twitter

Follow /CarersWorldwide on Facebook

 

Fostering cooperation for sustainable development

Issue

The role of civil society, in particular women and young people, in influencing local governance processes in India is recognised as vital.

Project

Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA) are working with civil society, women and young people in the environmental field, to help them influence local governance processes in India.

With a grant from the Commonwealth Foundation, this project will improve the skills and capacity of civil society organisations to engage with local government, nurturing collaborative relationships and better understanding. Advocacy models will demonstrate environmental sustainability concerns, fostering cooperation, sharing knowledge and promoting the involvement of young people and women in local governance.

The project will work with diverse stakeholders nurturing a collective sense of responsibility. It has a strong environmental aspect and targets women as well as addressing cross-cutting themes.

Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA)

TARA is a registered social enterprise in New Delhi, India.

It enables the creation of livelihood support systems through training and capacity building for the rural poor and marginalised communities. It is part of the Development Alternatives Group, an organisation providing development solutions in India and elsewhere.

www.tara.in