With the role of women expanding across the world, it is notable that Indian rural women still continue to face many barriers to enter the labour force. Out of the total population of our country, 48% are rural women. Though a whopping 74.8% of them are agricultural workers, only a mere 9.8% have access to direct ownership of land.

Every additional year in primary education contributes to 15-20 % increase in the future wage of a woman. Gender disparity in the education sector affects the health, economic and political inequalities between men and women in rural areas. In a broader sense, empowerment of rural women improves the economy and well-being of marginalized society. But to achieve that, we need to ensure their participation in the labor force through better education, awareness, support and skill training. Further, the micro, small and medium-scale industries in rural areas also need to include gender-responsive policies to break all barriers to women’s active participation. 

IJF aims to provide vocational and technical skills to mitigate gender inequality. We believe that rural women need to be familiarized with financial institutions to raise their living standards. There is a dire need for an integrated approach to raise awareness through gender-inclusive workshops at MSMEs and industries. Our work also aims to improve working conditions so that women can balance their work and family responsibilities effectively. 

As Swami Vivekananda once quoted “There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved, it is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing.” Your contribution will help improve the representation of women in the formal sector, inspiring a whole generation of female workers. Our initiative aims to encourage affected, widowed and single parent women with better access to dignified opportunities through training and active awareness. Help us make a difference in the economic empowerment and literacy of women in rural areas. As investing in rural women is an investment to the entire community, make a donation that will improve her role in the household and the society.