Improving Socio-Economic Condition of Single Women
Single women in India, primarily widowers, are very vulnerable and marginalised due to local socio-cultural traditions and customs. Thewomen face social rejection, sexual exploitation and abuse and high levels of poverty. The project sensitized and trained about 3000 single women from 30 villages and organised them in village and block level committees in order to be able to defend and claim their rights. The organised women were trained to conduct advocacy at local and state level.
For example, at state level, public advocacy dialogue program for single women was organised. 70 single women and social workers participated
in the program and openly discussed their problems and made a “demand letter” to the government to improve the situation of single women, particularly in relation to access to Government Social Benefit Schemes, protection of property rights and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.