Hope Welfare Trust

Women in rural India are being subject to atrocities like domestic violence, abuse, hunger, ill-health, and lower societal status due to gender discr Read moreimination. Many take their own lives by committing suicide. Women had no information on their rights as they are illiterate and no power to change their fate as they have no voice in the patriarchal male-dominated society. Hope Welfare Trust decided to empower these marginalized women to fight for themselves by various appropriate programs like literacy programs, information about government welfare schemes, health, and hygiene, self-defense training and most importantly forming a Green group of 15-25 women so the single lone voice becomes strong voice collectively so it can be ignored by society. The idea of Hope is to bring out sustainable development in Indian villages and involving women to play a key role. Thus, Hope work strategically towards rural development and women empowerment. HOPE's major achievement is that most villages where the Green group is working is completely drug/alchohol/ gambling free which was the main reason for domestic violence and poverty. Children who were roaming on the streets are now going to school. Teachers who used to be absent are coming to teach every day. Now men contributing their time towards the betterment of family instead of spending whole day gambling. Realizing the potential of these women, the local police administration supported their cause and assigned them the title of ‘Police Mitra (friend_’ and gave then ID cards to keep an eye out for any kind of criminal activity. This has given the women an immense amount of power. Working vigorously for the upliftment of the marginalized, Hope has created a green group of 900 women in various villages who in turn helping thousands of people in their own communities. HOPE also increased their financial income by educating them about the right methods/ tools of farming which is yielding better crops resulting in better income. He has identified 7 villages to initiate village tourism which will help women to earn living by hosting guests who want to have a glimpse of real India. These women are not only advocating for an alcohol-free society but also pushing for other positive changes by working on cleanliness, healthcare, education, voters’ awareness, and developing infrastructure.  These women, who were once afraid to step out of their homes, are a catalyst for transforming rural villages.