Swabhiman - A Girl Child and Women Empowerment Initiative
There are several clear
indicators of the fact that Indian women continue to be discriminated
against – the sex ratio is skewed against them; maternal mortality
is the second highest in the world; more than 40% of women are illiterate;
and crimes against women are in all respects rising.
It is a paradox of modern
India, that while women wield power and hold positions at the topmost
levels, large sections of the women are still among the most underprivileged.
Some of the areas that remain a main concern in case of underprivileged
women are – health, sanitation, education, employment and
social status. Health and education of women and girls are two main
issues that loom large and continue to plague their development.
While poverty, early marriage, malnutrition, lack of hygienic menstrual
practices and lack of healthcare during pregnancy are some of major
health related issues; records state that the average Indian female
has only 1.2 years of schooling; and more than 50 percent of girls
drop out of school by the time they are in middle school.
In the given scenario,
the only way to bring about sustainable development in the poor
condition of underprivileged women and girls in the country is to
empower them – with education and good health. And a simultaneous
approach is the need of the hour.
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Swabhiman
is an initiative of Smile Foundation that has been working, with
a bifocal approach, for the sustainable development of underprivileged
women and girls. Initiated in the year 2005, the programme was by
and large conceptualized in accordance with the goals and objectives
enshrined in the National policy for the empowerment of Women, and
was overall mandated to create processes and environment for women
and adolescent girls at the grassroots to realise their optimum
potential in all facets of societal living and situations. The programme
is specifically aimed at realization of both individual and collective
self-esteem and inner strength for marginalised and socially excluded
women and adolescent girls through innovative community practices.
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The programme identifies
adolescent girls and women from the community and developing them
into Change Agents, who in turn actively contribute to the community
mobilization process. Select Change Agents are then developed into
Master Trainers who can advocate and sensitize women and girls regularly.
Swabhiman works towards its objective of all round development of
women and girls, through the following interventions:-
• Educational
Support
• Providing Reproductive Health and Child Health Services • Male Involvement & Attitudinal and Behavioural Changes • Imparting Life Skill Education • Networking and Convergence Support • Sensitization of privileged Women and Youth
The programme has benefitted
over 150,000 women and girls since inception.
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