Rabia Ahad
Uttar Pradesh: 09 August: When women come together to understand their rights, identify problems in their communities and learn how to raise those issues collectively, a village-level support system begins to take shape.
This was the focus of a one-day meeting and training programme organised by Nazar Ekta Foundation at its Cholapur office, where 30 women leaders from two Gram Panchayats participated.
The programme focused on strengthening the Nari Sangh organisation and building the capacity of women leaders to work on issues affecting women and their communities.
The session began with introductions of the participants and the organisation song. The training then covered organisation building, regular meetings, collective leadership and identification of community issues.
Women leaders were also guided on how to take issues faced by their communities to the concerned government departments and officials and follow up for their resolution.
Information about various government welfare schemes, including schemes related to the Labour Department, was shared during the programme. The women leaders were encouraged to take this information back to their villages and help eligible women and families understand and access available government benefits.
During the discussions, participants shared their experiences and spoke about challenges faced by women in their villages, access to government schemes and the need to make the Nari Sangh organisation more active at the grassroots level.
The participants also discussed an action plan for upcoming activities, including mobilising more women, spreading awareness about rights and government schemes, and collectively raising issues affecting women in their communities.
The programme concluded with the women leaders taking a collective pledge to strengthen their Nari Sangh groups and support women who need assistance.
