1. Welcome… To presentation on ‘WOMEN EMPOWERMENT’.

2. Team ‘PARINAMIKA’ Deepti Desai. Arbaazkhan Pathan. Anuja Patil. Harish Salunkhe. Rahul Katkam. Omkar Thorat. Rajarambapu Institute of Technology (RIT). Mentor : Vidhya Volontaire mam.

3. Why women empowerment…? “If you educate a boy, he becomes literate… but… If you educate a girl, the entire family becomes literate.” - Mahatma Phule. “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.” - Kofi Annan

4. Introduction.. Sector chosen : Women Empowerment. Village under study : Rethare Harnaksh, Tal. - Walwa, Dist. - Sangli, State - Maharahtra. Population : 12000. Primary occupation : Agriculture.

5. Problems identified… i) No platform, resources to earn money using the possessed skills. Even skilled women have to work in farms or construction sites for daily wages, because of lack of resources to start an independent business. Thus, the skills get wasted because of lack of awareness and resources to start independent businesses.

6. Problems identified… ii) School dropouts. Education is free and compulsory only upto 14 years of age. Thus, female dropouts at the age of 14 years, i.e 9 th standard were found during surveys.

7. Problems identified… iii) No savings with the women. During surveys, it was understood that women earn money, but do not invest or even save money. Thus, even inspite of decent income, they are financially weak.

8. Problems identified… iv) Decision making. It is the perception that men are the ones who would be taking all the important decisions, just because they are the bread winners. Women are not consulted even in important family matters. They do not have decision making power in their hands. Thus, they do not have the confidence. All this leads to undeveloped personalities.

9. Problems identified… v) Lack of awareness. There is no awareness of the importance of health and hygiene, cleanliness and nutrition among the women. This reflects in their cooking and house - keeping habits. Thus, as the women are the bread makers, the entire family remains undernourished and later on, various health issues arise.

10. Problems identified… vi) No exposure to the outer world. No exposure to things like competition, developments in science, civic rights, duties and responsibilities, importance of education etc. Thus even their children remain ignorant about these issues and this chain continues.

11. Problems identified… vii) No representative. Women as a whole are sort of neglected in local politics. They do not have representatives who can take up their issues. Thus their problems and issues remain unresolved.

12. Women empowerment… As per team’s perception, women would be empowered truly and in totality only if they become physically fit and psychologically and emotionally stable and confident. Our solution aims at stabilizing women’s lives in these three dimensions. So if we are able to fulfil this, we may consider achieving ‘Women Empowerment’.

13. Solution model… (Groups) Part A : Part i) Group formation… Our solution model consists of engaging women in small scale businesses in accordance with the skills they possess or that they are willing to learn. So firstly all women having same skills (Eg. Tailoring) will be brought together and a group will be formed. Other women who wish to learn the particular skill may also join the group.

14. Solution model… (Groups contd) Advantages of groups : All benefits of group work may be availed. Thus even large scale projects and tasks may be undertaken. Thus, more profit. Examples. Women will have to work together towards a common goal/ common task.

15. Solution model… (Groups contd) Advantages of groups : Also, interactions among women will increase due to this. Thus, they may share their problems, thoughts, ideas with colleagues and help/ support each others.

16. Solution model… (Businesses) Part A : Part ii) Businesses to be started… Tailoring Cushion making Handicraft items Soaps and detergents Papads, pickles etc Chutneys, masalas

17. Solution model… (Businesses cont) Dairy farming Bee keeping and floriculture Poultry Sheep rearing Fishing/ sports nets Cooking and other edibles And much more….

18. Food services business model… Group formation of expert cooks. Training of the group for good healthy cooking practices, hygiene, nutrition etc. Starting a restaurant cum mid - day meal centre near a prominent place (Eg. hostels). Contracts of mid - day meals of neighbouring schools may be accepted. Monthly mess members may be admitted.

19. Food services business model… Lunch facility for working women and their families. Parcels will be delivered at workplaces on similar lines of ‘Dabbawalas’ of Mumbai. Benefits of taking lunch from mess would be : i) Effort to cook food before going to work can be saved. ii) Nutritious, fresh and hot food can be delivered without much added cost.

20. Mess business model… Motivation for the working women to take food for their families from the restaurant. Common transport vehicle for mid - day meals and lunch parcels. We would encourage maximum working women to take lunch from the mess.

21. Solution model… (Finance) Part A : Part iii) Finance for the business… Women can be made capable to fund their own business by starting ‘Bachat Gats’ and investing in banks. Existing scanerio of Bachat Gats. Proposed Bachat Gat scheme.

22. Solution model… (Finance contd) New Bachat Gat scheme : 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4 multiplication. Loans may be applied for, 6 months after starting the Bachat Gat. Advantages of taking loan through Bachat Gat : Less interest rate. Easy documentation. Installments deducted from Bachat Gat saving.

23. Solution model… (Finance contd) Loans would serve as an initial investment for the business. Also, various other benefits/ subsidies which are meant for ‘Bachat Gats’ may be availed. All this will satisfy the financial requirements of establishing businesses.

24. Solution model… (Education) Part B) In addition to establishing businesses we also plan to take help of education system for ‘Women Empowerment’. Idea : To include skill - learning as a vocational course in schools, specially for girls. Experts from the village can be the trainers. Girls may be allowed to opt for 2 courses.

25. Solution model… (Education contd) Training classes would be conducted on Saturdays or after school hours. Courses may start in 8 th or 9 th Standard and end in 10 th after which certificates may be given as recognition.

26. Strengths of proposed solution Positive Impacts/ Advantages of the solution Freedom from tiresome daily wage work and women will earn money doing work that they like doing and are good at. Independent businesses will initiate creative thought process. Women are now the BREAD - WINNERS. This may lead to a changed mindset of the men.

27. Strengths of proposed solution Health of children will improve because of daily healthy mid - day meals. As women in the mess would be taught importance of hygiene and nutrition, they would follow it in their homes as well. Slowly we can expect this to spread to the others as well. Early marriages would also be avoided.

28. Strengths of proposed solution Training sessions in schools would encourage more girls to go to school. Also, because of certification in 10 th, dropouts may reduce. Skill learning in schools will make all the girls skilled. Sustainability. Confidence. This confidence is real empowerment.

29. A bird sitting on a branch of a tree doesn’t fear breaking of the branch…. Because it knows the power of its wings….

30. Sustainability Proposed solution would be sustainable because The solution model aims at changing mindsets of people (BREAD WINNER and confidence). Thus if mindsets of people change, the problem of Women Empowerment may be resolved. The businesses would be sustainable because of skill learning in schools, as skills taught in schools will be in line with the businesses.

31. Sustainability Thus, girls who do cannot pursue higher education may join their elders in the already established businesses. Involvement of new generation may even increase the scale of business.

32. Weaknesses of the solution Finding a stable market may be difficult initially. If women leave the groups, then problems may arise. All women may not be open to adapt to the change from daily income to monthly salaries.

33. Policy changes… Government permissions and policy changes : Yes, some policy changes would help for easy implementation of the solution. Priority should be given to ‘Bachat Gats’ for getting contracts of mid - day meals. In addition to regular academic curriculum, vocational courses for development of skills should be included in curriculum.

34. Stakeholders view… Mixed/ divided opinion. In general, elders are not willing to adapt to the changes, however the young generation is quite willing and excited to work in a different way for their betterment. Generally all women are willing to shift their ‘Bachat Gats’ to the new suggested scheme.

35. Team’s perception… It would be initially quite challenging to convince the stakeholders. So we are prepared for the same. At the same time, we plan to take along all willing women with the hope that others in dilemma may follow the suit and join us soon. We also know that it will take some time for a change to be visible/ notable.

36. Thank you for your time and attention… Questions please….