India

International Day of Rural Women (October 15): Breaking The Generational Cycle: Five Inspiring Women Driving Change in Rural India Dolly Sarpanch, Roshni Perween, Mausam Kumari, Rohini Patnaik, and Varsha Raikwar are blazing new trails for other women to follow In a report this year, the World Bank has stated that even though women constitute half of India's population, their benefits from the country's economic prosperity remain disproportionately affected. In rural India, women face unequal access to education, acute gender discrimination fuelled by patriarchal control over their lives, are often pushed into early marriage and have limited overall agency. Lack of employment opportunities, gender restrictions, domestic work, and childcare responsibilities clip their wings and restrict them to conventional roles. However, some women are changing this narrative and showing how to break new ground. They are not only contributing to the rural economy but also changing social dynamics within their communities. Hailing from different parts of India, these women are standing up to counter gender bias in climate action, opposing child marriage, and challenging social stigma and prejudices in the heart of rural India through their brave initiatives. Dolly Sarpanch As a two-time woman Sarpanch in Bihar's Gaya district, Dolly wants to encourage greater women's involvement in policy-making processes and is challenging societal norms that associate seats of power with men. She has petitioned the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in Bihar to issue directives to penalise government employees who promote the 'Sarpanch Pati Culture' in Bihar. Her demand is clear: those found supporting male representation on behalf of elected women representatives must face consequences. She has also fought gender discrimination herself, and with the help of Nguvu Collective, an organisation actively working towards empowering change leaders from marginalised communities, she aims to spread awareness about the power of women leaders. Roshni Perween A resident of Kishanganj, Bihar, Roshni is a survivor of child marriage. A Muslim woman from the Surajpuri community, she is now a fierce advocate of women's empowerment and wants to bring change in a community where illiteracy and child marriage is rampant. The Change Leader has garnered significant backing from Nguvu Collective, for her efforts to prevent multiple child marriages within her village. Roshni has embarked on a journey of digital advocacy by initiating an online petition aiming to put an end to child marriage in the Seemanchal region of Bihar by 2024. Mausam Kumari Since 2016, Mausam has held a leadership position within a Kishori Samooh (Adolescent Group) in Bihar, where she actively champions the cause of adolescent health. Recognizing the urgent need for menstrual hygiene, she mobilised her group to collectively procure and distribute sanitary pads with the support of the Population Foundation of India. Mausam also highlighted crucial concerns during a meeting with Bihar Health Minister and Executive Director, of State Health Society Bihar, including the lack of information on adolescent health and the unavailability of sanitary pads for economically disadvantaged girls. Consequently, an adolescent health corner was set up at the Sub-Divisional Hospital in Rajauli. Trained ANMs now offer counseling services, representing a significant stride in meeting the healthcare requirements of adolescents, especially girls, in Bihar. Rohini Patnaik Rohini Patnaik is inspired by the nutritional richness of millet, one of India's oldest staple foods. The leader of a self-help group (SHG), Patnaik decided to establish a 'millets cafe' to bring the goodness of this wholesome grain to the larger community of rural Raipur. Empowered by Transform Rural India (TRI), designers of development solutions that work on bringing equal opportunities to rural areas, she founded this cafe which quickly captured the hearts of Raipur's residents with its diverse and delicious offerings. Its resounding success also drew the attention of Prime Minister Modi, who visited and lauded it. Varsha Raikwar Varsha is much more than a vibrant radio jockey from Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh. Having experienced first-hand how conversations about climate change often exclude women, she now passionately strives to inspire more women to volunteer and join initiatives related to climate action. For Varsha, inclusivity marks the starting point for any kind of lasting change in rural India, and she is wholeheartedly committed to helping women with solutions in resource management and eco-friendly choices. Guided by the Women Climate Collective (WCC), she is also a proud United Nations Young Climate Leader (2021) and organises street plays and seminars to spread awareness about climate issues.

Meet 5 Women from Rural India Who Are Changing the Narrative

October 17, 2023 Riya Shalgar 0

International Day of Rural Women (October 15): Breaking The Generational Cycle: Five Inspiring Women Driving Change in Rural India Dolly Sarpanch, Roshni Perween, Mausam Kumari, Rohini […]

BSNL and Indian Army Overcomes Challenges to Install First-Ever Mobile Phone Tower at Siachen Glacier

October 17, 2023 Asra Mairaj 0

A mobile tower has been installed for the first time at the world’s highest battlefield, Siachin Glacier, by the Fire and Fury Corps of the […]

Man in Gujarat Crafts Gold Mini Cricket World Cup Trophy as Gift for Rohit Sharma

October 14, 2023 Shrabani Sarkar 0

A man created a miniature version of the ICC Men’s World Cup trophy using 0.900 grams of gold. A video of a man’s ICC World […]

Watch Operation ‘Ajay’: 2nd Flight Brings 235 Indians Home from War-Torn Israel

October 14, 2023 Shrabani Sarkar 0

Israel-Hamas war: India launched ‘Operation Ajay’ on October 11 to bring back stranded citizens from Israel. The second charter flight to repatriate Indian citizens stranded […]

Income Tax Department Collects Rs 700 Cr in TDS from Online Gaming and Crypto Trading

October 13, 2023 Aklimson Phangcho 0

The Indian Income Tax Department has done an admirable job of collecting a whopping INR 700 crore as tax deducted at source (TDS) from the […]

Concerning Global Trends, India’s Global Hunger Index Ranking Is a Source of Controversy

October 13, 2023 Areesha fatma 0

India was ranked 111th out of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023, a move that sparked debate and prompted concerns about the […]

India Launches Helpline to Aid Nationals Affected by Israel-Hamas Conflict

October 12, 2023 Shrabani Sarkar 0

The Israel army said the death toll in Israel rose to 1,200, and more than 2,700 people were injured in the violence that lasted for […]

How technology is helping to bridge the mental health gap in rural India

October 9, 2023 Riya Shalgar 0

Initiatives like SnehaAI, an AI-powered, free chatbot, are offering significant support to rural youth by giving them empowering information. On Mental Health Day (October 10), […]

Watch: Couple Caught Kissing in Delhi Metro Coach; Video Goes Viral

October 3, 2023 Najuk Priya 0

A video of a couple kissing in a Delhi Metro coach has gone viral on social media, sparking a debate about public displays of affection (PDA) in India.

India’s Strong Reaction to UK Gurdwara Entry Denial

October 1, 2023 Shrabani Sarkar 0

India on Saturday expressed its displeasure over the incident in which Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami was denied entry to the ashram […]

PM Trudeau: Canada Committed to Closer Ties with India

October 1, 2023 Shrabani Sarkar 0

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is “very serious” about relations with India, a growing economic power and key player in the region, but […]

‘ISKCON sells cows to butchers’: Maneka Gandhi gets Rs 100-crore notice for defaming religious organization

September 29, 2023 S Ranjita 0

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has sent a legal notice to BJP MP Maneka Gandhi, demanding an apology and ₹ 100 crores in […]

Air India Acquires India’s First Airbus A350-900 via Gift City

September 29, 2023 Shrabani Sarkar 0

Air India is the first airline in the country to purchase aircraft from an agency registered with Gujarat International Fintech City (GIFT City). Air India […]

Prayagraj School Teacher Booked for Suicide Abetment

September 27, 2023 Shrabani Sarkar 0

FIR was filed against a teacher in Kanpur for protesting students’ suicide; 8 children were injured when a balcony collapsed in Kaushambi. The police department […]

Watch: Woman in Noida Society Slaps Man, Pulls Hair Over Missing Dog Poster

September 24, 2023 Shrabani Sarkar 0

A video of a man and woman fighting in a Noida neighborhood has gone viral. In the video, the woman can be seen verbally attacking […]

"Unless we act now and counter deforestation, these five animal species will go extinct," says environmental expert

‘Unless we act now and counter deforestation, these five animal species will go extinct’ says an environmental expert

September 22, 2023 S Ranjita 0

Pradip Shah of Grow-Trees.com explains why Flying Squirrels, Hanguls, Tigers, Lion-Tailed Macaque, and Asian Elephants are facing an existential crisis. This year, ‘The Elephant Whisperers,’ […]

Khalistani Terrorist Killed in Canada: US Asks India for Help in Probe

September 21, 2023 William Ross 0

US Offers $1 Million Reward for Info on Khalistani Terrorist’s Murder The United States has asked India to cooperate to probe the death of Khalistani […]

Canada’s New India Travel Advisory: Exercise High Caution Due to Terrorism Threat

September 20, 2023 Shrabani Sarkar 1

On Tuesday, the Canadian government updated its travel advisory, asking its citizens to avoid all travel to India’s Jammu and Kashmir Region “due to the […]

Watch: Jaipur Couple Caught Kissing On Moving Bike Video Goes Viral, Police initiate action

Watch: Jaipur Couple Kissing On Moving Bike, Video Goes Viral, Police initiate action

September 19, 2023 Shrabani Sarkar 1

Videos of their shocking kissing display are doing the rounds on social media. In the video, the couple makes dangerous kissing moves on a motorcycle.

Nipah virus claims two lives in Kozhikode, union minister confirms

Nipah virus claims 2 lives in Kozhikode, union minister confirms

September 13, 2023 Areesha fatma 0

Two deaths reported from Kerala’s Kozhikode district were caused by Nipah virus, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday. Mr. Mandaviya said a central […]