Grass roots women's empowerment - Nadeya Zaman

Having interviewed a large number of women from the Deep Griha Society’s Women’s Empowerment Project in Pune, I have made many reflections. A lot of these reflections and thoughts were extremely positive, which surprised me as I hadn’t expected to feel the way I did having interviewed these women, and I hadn’t been prepared for my good fortune in having the chance to interview such a group of women either.

I had set out to India thinking that there are still women there who are in need of being empowered, and I was right, as there are. I thought I would meet these women, especially in the slums. What I hadn’t thought about is actually meeting those who are empowered, right at the heart of the slums. What I hadn’t thought about was the impact of education on them. This was a shock to the system, a pleasant shock, an actual mind opening experience. It’s amazing how many aspects and levels of life that education can touch and cover.

Women in India are moving forward. It feels like an exciting time. There is so much movement going on at grass roots level, with women actively taking charge and changing their lives. The buzz is infectious.

When hearing about their lives I felt a deep rooted respect for them. The difference the ability to read and write can make was something that really stood out for me. The amount the ladies benefited from this, and the extent to which their lifestyle improved due to it, is huge. Women being able to read and write did not only improve their own lives, it also improved the lives of their children and spouse. A few even said they were going to, or have started to, teach their husbands to read and write, or what they have learnt. It also made them self sufficient and protected them from being conned out of money.

Many women are setting up their own business, such as tailoring, selling bangles, or even selling wood chippings with their family.

Indeed, these women seem extraordinary, if you compare their lifestyles to those we lead and take for granted here in the UK, they are extremely optimistic.

Overall, the interviews have left me with an uplifting feeling, an inspiration to achieve; they have left me more focused and keen to rise, the sky being the limit!