What if I told you that, in an economic sense, you’re worthless? In Uttarakhand, systemic discrimination tells women they hold less value than men.
Widows are left destitute after their husbands die because pensions aren’t distributed to women properly.
Mothers are forced to leave the workforce after they give birth to become full-time, stay-at-home parents, giving up their ability to earn money.
This kind of entrenched economic discrimination is not sustainable — it creates the perfect storm for hunger to take hold.
Given the opportunity to earn and control an income, women routinely invest significant portions of their income in their families.*
Empowering women leads to better economic equality and sustainability for all.
That’s why we train women like Basanti so they can develop the skills they need to become self-reliant and financially independent.
Often widows eligible for pensions aren’t granted their legal entitlements because of the strict regulations and systematic failings of the local government. Basanti has navigated a notorious sea of lengthy bureaucratic red tape to help widows access government pensions.
Basanti has empowered 150 women in her community by securing jobs for them. These women can now feed their families and send their children to school. In the case of their husband’s death, these women can even support themselves financially.
Going one step further, Basanti regularly checks in on widows and women who are new to the workforce to make sure that they’re not being left behind or discriminated against, and that they are being recognised.
Stand with Basanti and the women of Uttarakhand. Invest in champions of change. Fight for economic equality and sustainability to end world hunger.
Yours in ending hunger,
Melanie Noden
CEO, The Hunger Project Australia
*They spend it on food, healthcare and education for their families. See: FAO