GENDER MAINSTREAMING & WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

IFFDC's approach to mainstreaming gender and women empowerment in all its projects is not about merely adding a gender or even a 'gender equality' component into an existing activity. It goes beyond increasing women's participation to building a sustained process for bringing the experience, knowledge, and interests of women and men on the development agenda. Its efforts for empowering women through transforming unequal social and institutional structures into equal and just structures for both men and women are an essential feature of all IFFDC interventions, and constitute the cross-cutting thematic area 'Gender Mainstreaming and Women Empowerment'.

PROGRESS

IFFDC is nurturing 1,925 SHG with a total membership of 19,685 of which 94% are women. The cumulative savings of these groups have reached Rs. 591.58 lakh. Loans drawn by members are around Rs. 551.08 lakh. The local banks are also providing financial assistance to them for initiating micro-enterprises for sustainable livelihood development. Nurturing is achieved by conducting regular Meetings and interactive sessions, as well as exposing group members to Skill Development and Capacity Building Programmes.

The process of developing skills on various need-based microenterprises is followed by the  the women members being provided handholding support to undertake income generating activities such as Handloom items making, Weaving, Bamboo furniture/Products making, Sanitary Napkin manufacturing, Agarbatti making, Spices processing, Wick making, Paper Plates manufacturing, Areca-nut leaf plates manufacturing, Beautician, Lac Items making, Applique work, Artificial Ornaments making, Madhubani Painting, LED Bulbs making, Block Printing, Akola Print, Jute Products, Broom Making, Computer Operation etc. in the project areas.

Apart from Self Help Group formation, women membership is also encouraged in Community Based Organisations such as PFFCS, PLDCS, VWDC, LC etc.This interaction and absorption into higher level organised groups helps the process of their mainstreaming and integration and gives them a different degree of exposure to large group functioning. During the year, the following activities were undertaken for Gender mainstreaming.

Details of Gender mainstreaming related activities:

OUTCOMES

• Self Help Groups (SHG) are addressing the fulfillment of women's immediate needs as well as their strategic interests and helping to bring them into the mainstream. SHG are also discussing member problems related to health, functional literacy, education of children, child marriage, unplanned family, early age pregnancy, social exploitation and social evils like addiction to alcohol, gambling, tobacco consumption etc. and are identifying suitable solutions for their problems.
• Solar based drinking water filter units, Solar Street Lights, Solar Home Lights, improved agriculture equipment and machinery are making life easy for women by reducing drudgery. The time saved through such interventions is being optimally used by women in activities for their own development & income generation.
• Skill Development of SHG members has generated incomes and created a sense of cohesiveness, ownership and belonging among them.
• SHG have been institutionalised in all project villages at present, which is ensuring that women and marginalised communities are actively involved in the participatory planning and implementation exercises.
• Open defecation and bathing have reduced as a result of the construction of toilets/bathrooms. The feeling of being safe has helped women in improving their self-esteem. The name "Izzatghar" used for the bathrooms by the women of these communities reflects the dignity they are endowed with as a result of these toilets and also their usefulness.
• The use of new technology in the toilet construction i.e. Bio-Digester Toilets have helped in the total decomposition of human waste, as a consequence of which the quality of ground water does not deteriorate, ultimately contributing significantly to the agenda of the Government of India's "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan".
• These Income generating activities have significantly helped introduce sustainable livelihoods in rural areas and the role and prestige of entrepreneur women in their families has increased.