In the heart of Vansava, a small village in Gujarat, a tale of resilience and transformation unfolds. This is the story of Dakshaben Dhansukhbhai Patel, a 57-year-old widow who turned her barren land into a fertile oasis, enhancing her farming output and securing a sustainable future for her family. Dakshaben's world was shattered when her husband, a f... Read More
In the heart of Surat district, nestled amidst the verdant landscapes, lies the village of Pinjrat. Home to 86 families, this village is located next to a water stream, with its inhabitants primarily depending on agriculture for their livelihood. For years, they relied on a diesel-powered irrigation system, a method that was not only costly but also environmentally un... Read More
Fula Devi is a 40-year-old woman who is one of the millions of ASHA workers ensuring outreach to the last mile population in India. She has been working as ASHA Didi (an affectionate and respectful term used to address a female ASHA workers in the villages) since 2007 in Chhotka Baniya village (Saran district). Fula has also been actively involved in the Kala Azar ... Read More
In the heart of Gujarat, nestled amidst the vast landscapes, lies the village of Hanvantpada. This humble abode of over 250 households has been witnessing a quiet revolution, led by two women who dared to challenge the status quo and bring about a change that has transformed the lives of their community members. This is the story of Varshaben and Lalitaben, the SHE Ch... Read More
In the realm of women's health and childcare, healthcare NGOs like CARE India are making a significant impact. One such initiative is the Khushi Project in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, which focuses on quality preschool education and women's health programs. The Khushi Programme, an initiative by CARE India, is sup... Read More
Domestic violence victims face challenges such as having their source of income or livelihood being tied to their abuser, which in most cases happens to be their spouse. It is, therefore, imperative to appreciate the importance of women’s education and empowerment in India, as it contributes to their financ... Read More
Women’s health has been a cause for concern in the last few years, and rightly so. Women in India, especially from rural and vulnerable populations, can immensely benefit from health care programmes that enable them to be more aware of their body, lifestyle habits, and diet. As a result of patriarchal family structures, misinformation... Read More
Forty-six-year-old Kalavathi resides in GD Mara slum with her two sons, one daughter and ailing husband. She is an informal waste picker and the breadwinner in her family. With no other means of livelihood and family support, she is forced to go and collect waste in the morning hours. Kalavathi... Read More
Eighteen-year old Gudiya Devi loved going to school but had to discontinue studies to get married at the age of 15. Although she did not have to join her husband immediately in Paimar village of Wazirganj block in Gaya district, she was told to learn household chores so she could transition into the role of homemaker with ease. She helped her mother with housework, ca... Read More
Twenty eight-year old Kumkum Sinha joined as an ASHA at the Dhobi primary health care centre (PHC) in Gaya, Bihar in December 2008. She was a diligent worker who had learnt the ropes of interpersonal communication, community dialogue and social networking in order to be an effective communicator. She took pride in her acquired knowledge of government programmes and th... Read More
Sixteen year-old Suman and 15-year old Baiju from Piprakothi block of East Champaran district in Bihar had resigned to leading their lives as per a script written by autocratic family elders. They neither had the courage to challenge that, nor any other option. Both depended on the larger family who treated them as children who had to be guided on what to wear and eat... Read More
This series explores the progression from ignorance to information and becoming Key Informants (KI) for two community leaders, who made helping Kala Azar patients their life missions. Key informants play a crucial role in tracing suspect cases in the chain of elimination efforts in the community. This is often true in the case of state like Bihar where disease reporti... Read More
