Meet the Unsung Heroes: 4 NGOs Empowering Women in Real Time

There is no denying the fact that women hold great importance in our society. Be it the domestic sphere or the social sphere, women are a significant part of society’s functioning. Unfortunately, women have been systematically denied the same respect and opportunities as their male counterparts. They have to face several challenges in their everyday life. Female education in India has traditionally not been considered as important as male education. In poor households, families prefer not to spend on the girl’s education, viewing it as a waste of resources. In fact, many girls are still barred from education due to old-fashioned thinking. Without education and skills, women are not able to find suitable employment and find themselves dependent on their families or husbands, unable to utilise their potential, or have to rely on begging or prostitution. In some cases, families and husbands use the reliance of the woman on her significant other to exploit her and keep her oppressed. In this light, it becomes immensely important for us to empower women and give them control over their own lives.

Empowering Women: Catalyst for Societal Transformation

Women are the silent pillars of strength that hold families, communities, and nations together with unwavering resolve. From tending to fields under the scorching sun to nurturing children with tender care, their roles are multifaceted and indispensable. Yet, for centuries, women have faced barriers to equality, denied access to education, economic opportunities, and decision-making spaces.

However, amidst these challenges, a silent revolution is underway, led by the indomitable spirit of women and supported by the tireless efforts of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). By empowering women, these NGOs are not only transforming individual lives but also strengthening the very fabric of society.

Women’s empowerment is not merely a slogan but a catalyst for societal transformation. When women are empowered, they become agents of change, driving progress in their families, communities, and beyond. By providing women with education, skills training, and economic opportunities, NGOs are unlocking their potential and catalysing positive ripple effects across society. Through their initiatives, NGOs empower women to break free from cycles of poverty and oppression, enabling them to build better futures for themselves and their families. Moreover, by investing in women’s education and entrepreneurship, these organisations are fostering inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.

Architects of Change: Stories of Resilience and Hope

Sarika Ashdhir: Crafting a Path to Self-Reliance with Skilled Hands Foundation

Sarika Ashdhir’s impactful journey commenced with a profound realisation amidst the hardships of rural life. It ignited her passion to establish the Skilled Hands Foundation. Driven by a vision to empower marginalized communities, Sarika embarked on a mission to bridge the gap towards self-reliance.

Skilled Hands Foundation envisions creating a society where all individuals have equal opportunities to thrive and succeed, irrespective of their social and economic backgrounds, and aims to break the vicious cycle of poverty and social isolation. Their primary goal is to educate and empower underprivileged youth through job-oriented training programs in the fields of construction, textiles, handicrafts, manufacturing, farming, and hospitality, as well as to nurture social entrepreneurship. They offer no-cost service for skill-based training to the youth and skilled workers who come from the needy sections of society, providing them with valuable resources such as information on handmade products, networking opportunities, and a wide range of training programs and workshops. All resources are specifically designed to improve their skills and enhance the prospects of their employment. The Foundation offers special support to women, endowing them with skills and enabling them to earn their own living and become self-sufficient. They note that the definition of women's empowerment also includes accepting women’s viewpoints, making an effort to seek these viewpoints, and raising the social and economic status of women through education, awareness, literacy, and training. They work to alleviate poverty among women and also actively advocate for women’s rights and gender equality. This is done through playing a significant role in promoting self-employment among women and informing as well as enabling them to harness ample opportunities available through government and public initiatives. Other works undertaken by the Skilled Hands Foundation include skill training, supporting SHGs, sales support to Karigars, farmer support, eradicating poverty, welfare of disadvantaged castes and classes, and elderly care.

Despite encountering numerous challenges along the way, Sarika’s unwavering dedication and resilience have propelled the Skilled Hands Foundation forward. Her journey hasn’t been a bed of roses. She faced several hurdles in securing funding, overcoming logistic needs, and encouraging community participation. But she navigates each obstacle with determination and grace, fuelled by her unwavering commitment to make a difference.

Through her tireless efforts, Sarika has already impacted countless lives, offering hope and opportunities where there once were none. Her work serves as a beacon of empowerment that inspires others to join the movement towards positive change. Sarika continues to lead the charge, guiding the Skilled Hands Foundation towards new milestones and greater impact. Her story stands as a testament to the transformative power of passion and perseverance in creating a better world for all.

Sarita Bhatia: From Grief to Empowerment with Yash Sewa Samiti

Sarita Bhatia’s journey from grief to empowerment is a wonderful example of the power of human resilience. Following the passing of her late husband, Sarita found solace in a newfound purpose: empowering women through the Yash Sewa Samiti. Despite the challenges she faced as a widow, her determination to make a difference never wavered.

Through Yash Sewa Samiti, Sarita channels her passion for education and philanthropy into tangible actions aimed at uplifting the marginalized. She has been instrumental in establishing self-help groups and providing training opportunities to help empower women. The sole aim is to guide them towards becoming self-reliant entrepreneurs.

Yash Sewa Samiti believes in offering selfless service to society and works for the upliftment and empowerment of the neglected, marginalised, and underprivileged sections. They deal with various prevailing social issues such as issues concerning the environment, the situation of menstrual hygiene, educational and health needs, basic necessities like nutrition and livelihood, etc. They aim to support the economically and socially deprived sections of society at the root levels by empowering them to become self-reliant, focusing primarily on women and children. Their ‘Aahar (Food For All)—the Monthly Ration Suvidha’ initiative works to ensure that senior citizens, pregnant women, the needy, handicapped, single parents, etc., all get at least two square meals a day. The ‘Women Empowerment’ initiative employs the 4-‘S’ principle—Sabla, Saksham, Self help groups, and Sakshi Baithaks. The initiative aims to make women self-reliant, financially independent, intellectually aware, and physically strong and trains them with skills necessary for employability. They also carry out environmental restoration through aimed campaigns, cleanliness drives, plantation drives, etc. and spread awareness to inculcate a habit of caring for nature. Other areas of work by the Samiti include a ‘Health for All initiative’, ‘Disaster Relief initiative’, and a vision of ABCs (Aadharshila Bachpan Club, Aadharshila Basic Courses, Aadharshila Bachelor’s Club, etc.) to facilitate all-round development of children, youth, and women. The Yash Sewa Samiti firmly believes that imparting knowledge and skills in young minds, especially to girls, will not just affect their lives positively but will also create a ripple effect, therefore holistically benefitting everyone in the society.

Despite several challenges, Sarita’s perseverance led to remarkable achievements. These include winning awards for her microenterprise endeavours and securing projects to create opportunities for women in her community. Sarita’s story serves as a beacon of hope for those facing adversity. Through her leadership and unwavering commitment to serving others, Sarita inspires individuals everywhere to embrace their inner strength and strive for positive change in their communities.

Indu Singh: Educating and Empowering with Ipsha Samaj

Born into a middle-class family in the 1960s, Indu Singh, founder of Ipsha Samaj Kalyan Kendra, has braced challenges like a braveheart only to emerge victorious in the face of adversities. Her journey started at a time when society put forth numerous challenges for girls seeking education. The reason was clear and simple: prioritizing traditional gender roles. Despite facing opposition, Indu’s parents championed her education, instilling in her a passion for teaching and a desire to make a difference.

After years of tutoring fellow students and pursuing her education through self-study, Indu recognized the need for early childhood education and skills training among the women in her community. In response, she founded Ipsha Samaj Kalyan Kendra in 2015, dedicated to empowering women and children through education and skills development. 

Since its inception, Ipsha Samaj has provided livelihood training to thousands of women, equipping them with the skills necessary for self-reliance and economic independence. IPSHA is an acronym for ‘Infinite, Potentiality, Significance, Hospitality, and Awesome’, everything the foundation aspires to be for the people they aid. Ipsha Samaj Kalyan Kendra functions as a localised activist for women's empowerment by running different training programs for women and adolescent girls. Their primary focus is on early child care and education, and they are constantly working for the betterment of the quality of education for children. They hold education to be the passport out of poverty, indispensable for building an independent and successful life. They also direct their focus on women and children from the marginalized and underprivileged sections of the society. The upliftment is brought about through working to make the people independent and encourage them to move into the mainstream of society, by conducting educational and job oriented programs. A Bridge Course is conducted for the children, aiming to implement the best practices in teaching and personalized care for each child, so that each and every child is able to receive maximum and equal opportunities to excel in education and co-curricular fields, irrespective of their social or economic background.

Indu Singh’s firm resolve to empower women and children has earned her recognition and several accolades. This includes being featured in a film by the Better India Team in 2021. Indu Singh’s story serves as an inspiration to all. It demonstrates the transformative impact of education and empowerment in creating a brighter future for individuals and communities alike. Through her tireless efforts, she continues to uplift and empower those in need, leaving a lasting legacy of hope and opportunity.

Pallabi Ghosh: Fighting Trafficking with Impact and Dialogue Foundation

Founder and director of Impact and Dialogue Foundation, Pallabi Ghosh exemplifies courage, compassion, and relentless determination. Her journey began over two decades ago when a childhood incident sparked her curiosity about missing children when she saw a man in his 50s roaming around the village and crying for his missing daughter. Though she was too young to understand the incident, it impacted her deeply, motivating her to research trafficking in the northeast and West Bengal. Her curiosity soon evolved into a deep-seated passion for combating human trafficking, a crime that preys on the most vulnerable members of society.

Under Pallabi Ghosh’s leadership, Impact and Dialogue Foundation endeavours to nurture and give momentum to a popular movement to eradicate human trafficking and modern slavery, to ensure a safe and equitable future for at-risk populations, and to create a sustainable model for fighting human trafficking that the world can emulate. The IDF team has spearheaded several initiatives such as conducting workshops with educational institutions, training sessions with law enforcement bodies, awareness sessions with at-risk communities, neighbourhood outreach events, and intervention activities at railway and bus stations in order to spread awareness and prevent trafficking. This has been accomplished through their Project Suraksha. Through Project Uddhaar, they rescue children, youth, and women from social evils by actively intervening during transit or from destinations. Project Sahay further facilitates rehabilitation of survivors by training them in vocational skills and providing support for a holistic reintegration into society.

According to Pallabi Ghosh, the main reason for trafficking in India is poverty, closely followed by illiteracy and unemployment. Intra- or inter-country migration, natural disasters like floods, inefficient family planning, and lack of love from the family are also significant factors that lead to trafficking. She also notes that while boys are usually targeted for factory and labour work, girls are targeted for prostitution, forced marriage, and bride trafficking. 

Through her organisation, Pallabi has led countless anti-trafficking raids across India, rescuing over 10,000 individuals from various forms of exploitation. The Foundation facilitates rehabilitation and counselling for the survivors. Pallabi emphasises the need for empowering the survivors as rehabilitation is not limited to reuniting them with their families; it is just as necessary to ensure they don’t fall prey to trafficking again.

Pallabi’s own safety has been jeopardized due to her activism. She receives grave threats as the syndicate of trafficking views her as a sworn enemy. But Pallabi remains undeterred in her mission to bring traffickers to justice and provide support and rehabilitation to survivors. Her courage and determination have earned her recognition and respect both nationally and internationally.

These organisations, along with many others, are working tirelessly to promote and facilitate women's empowerment in all sections of society. Through their workshops, courses, training sessions, etc., thousands of women have been able to rise above their problems and lead comfortable, self-sufficient lives. NGOs, therefore, play an extremely important role in the upliftment of women in the society. i2u Social Foundation has been building an ecosystem to support nonprofits like these and many more. It is i2u’s vision to contribute towards women's empowerment by helping such NGOs.