Women's Day

Empower WOMAN, elevate HER community

This is one of the concepts behind Ashalaya’s developmental efforts in urban and rural Karnataka. A ripple effect occurs when we believe in women and invest in their potential. We see the power of women every day in our work fields, creating opportunities for the next generation.

2021 Theme for International Women’s Day “Women in leadership"

Tapping the power and potential of women is essential to addressing the global challenges we face. The proof is out there. When women and girls have access to education, health care and nutrition and are involved in the decision-making processes, their families and communities are more productive and stable. Through our efforts, we are working directly with 7457 women to call for change in society and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by women who have played an extraordinary role through their ordinary day-to-day lives

Nutrition & Health

Providing dry ration kits for adolescent girls, migrant women working in hollow brick factories and quarry work sites and married women below the age of 21 to help them fight anemia and malnutrition.
Enabling kitchen gardens to create a sustainable source of continued nutrition for mothers of children who are studying in our Non-formal Education Centers, Early Learning Centers, Government Anganwadis, Self-Help Groups and women from migrant communities that work in hollow brick factories and stone quarries while helping them reduce their financial expenses on food
Spreading awareness about the importance of ‘growing up healthy’ among pregnant women and mothers of young children in our target work areas

Education

The closure of schools and the severe lack of digital access forced several girls to take up household responsibilities. To ensure this situation doesn’t become a permanent one, Ashalaya has focused on

Opening Non-formal education centers at hollow brick factories and quarry work sites for children of migrant workers and daily waged laborers to assist them with their school work and help them prepare for their exams
Providing scholarship to girls from poor socio-economic backgrounds so that they don’t drop out of school and college.

Socio-economic Development

The nationwide lockdown and the strict restrictions implemented resulted in the loss of livelihood for many people. To help those affected to sustain themselves Ashalaya has focused on:

Online vocational skill training in five different domains and job placement upon successfully completing the course.
Maintaining existing Self Help Groups and forming new groups. Over the years Ashalaya has helped form 100 Self Help Groups comprising of 1500 members. During the last 12 months there has been a loss in livelihood, but Self Help Group Members have been able to avail loans to pay for their children’s education and set up small businesses like vegetable shops, petty shops, mask making, and road side eateries

The deep-rooted issue of gender inequality has made women even more vulnerable in COVID times. In the last 12 months, Ashalaya has worked tirelessly to ensure that India’s girls do not have to compromise on their basic rights, even in the midst of a pandemic by these initiatives...

On this International Women’s Day — and every day — we have a responsibility to stand united and work together in the ongoing struggle for the rights of women and girls nationwide so that they may live full, healthy, and productive lives. – Happy Women’s Day!