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Let’s press for progress and empower Indigenous woman in India to live lives free from poverty

By Deepak Kindo, CEO, Sambandh Finserve

As we approach International Women’s Day, I’m reflecting on the way millions of Indigenous tribal women in the Chhottanagpur region of India now have sustainable livelihoods, a voice, futures filled with opportunities. It hasn’t always been this way for them.

Indigenous women in Chhottanagpur, India

These women, who are from the Santal, Kharia, Munda and Oraon tribes, have lived in the forests of Chhottanagpur for many years. There are nine million tribal households in the region and the average incidence of poverty amongst them is 71 per cent in the rural areas. Families in this area grow barely enough food to feed themselves, they lack access to safe shelter, clean water, toilets, health services and quality schools. They lack the freedom to make choices, are trapped in a cycle of poverty, generation after generation, have little hope for the future.

During the last 12 years, Sambandh Finserve, a partner of Opportunity International Australia, has provided more than 200,000 Indigenous women in Chhottanagpur with small loans to help them build service and trading businesses like vegetable stalls, clothing shops and grocery stores. The women use income from their businesses to repay the loans, put food on the table and send their kids to school. As their businesses grow, many also take out small loans to build toilets and improve their homes.

The women use low-cost mobile phones to receive their loans and repay them. They also use mobiles to talk to suppliers and customers and access health and other information services. They participate in training in their local dialect to ensure they can confidently use the phones in their journey out of poverty.

 

Indigenous woman in Chhottanagpur, India 

Now, many of the tribal women in Chhottanagpur are free to make decisions about the way they live their lives. They have real choices. No more do they have to decide between giving their children dinner and buying medicine, or which of their children they can afford to send to school. They are healthy, looking forward to futures full of opportunities. They can see the pathway ahead for their children to have better lives than the ones they've had. They have hope.  

The women of Chhottanagpur are finding their voice. They are becoming empowered. They are now heard in their families, have greater influence on decision making. As businesswomen who earn regular incomes, they are now seen as important members of their households.  They play leadership roles in their local communities and are helping other community members to reach their true potential.

This International Women's Day click here to empower Indigenous woman in India to live lives free from poverty,  full of hope. 

 

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