CIOInsider India Magazine

It’s International Women's Day, and there are still voices left unheard, women’s safety featured on the newspapers and other forums, and those dying a silent death. Probably, It isn’t quite ‘Who runs the World? Girls!' situation yet. In fact, this question is becoming questionable these days, as the ones at the bottom of socio-economic and prevailing gender hierarchy end up in the rumble, and those at the top are merely stirred. Plenty of incidents get covered in the papers, but many of the incidents of social injustice are swept under the carpet. But hey, many silent revolutions are taking place; although they haven’t received much coverage, the works towards women's empowerment are constantly burning without respite. With that, below are some organizations working their way through reaching every nook and cranny for the upliftment of women.

Self-Reliance through 'Pradan'
This 38-year old organization has its hands busy helping economically backward communities by building human capabilities and women’s self-reliant collective as change agents. The organization is extensively brewing efforts across seven states in Central and Eastern India for those in rural dwelling. It onboards young professionals from all over the country educating them about working with low-income communities on the ground. Every rupee spent on PRADAN's team generates Rs.4 in program investment to create assets and capabilities for persons living in poverty, resulting in INR 11 in family income. Pradan is also the NSO (DDAY-NRLM Support Organization) for the Ministry of Rural Development of the Government of India, which plays a significant role in knowledge and capacity-building in these important ministries. Pradan has worked with a number of state governments and ministries over the years to design and implement initiatives that positively influence the lives of the rural poor.

The change goes 'C3' Ways
In 1987, the Center for Catalyzing Change (C3), originally the Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), India, began operations. C3 has evolved as a prominent change-making organization focusing on improving the situation of girls and women in the country over the last 30 years. They provide solutions that help girls and women reach their greatest potential by mobilizing, equipping, educating, and empowering them. They strive to lay down an environment for girls and women to receive their rights. Their work highlights the difficulties they experience in our country at different phases of their lives. Its programs seek to provide practical life skills, better confidence in personal decision-making, and increased self-esteem to girls and women. Their efforts ensure that women and girls have access to high-quality reproductive and maternity health care.

CSR otherwise translates to Violence-Free, Gender-Just Society
CSR was started in 1983 in New Delhi by a group of social scientists from Johns Hopkins University. Through social research, capacity building, and advocacy, they are committed to achieving a violence-free, gender-just society. Dr. Ranjana Kumari is the Director of the Centre for Social Research and the Chairperson of Women Power Connect. She is a well-known social activist and prolific academician. They are working on all three levels such as local, regional, and national, to improve gender equality systems. Dr. Ranjana Kumari juggles the positions of feminist activist and academic with ease and panache. Dr. Ranjana Kumari, who has dedicated her life to vital social problems, continues to positively impact many people's lives.

'Breakthrough' those Discriminations!
Breakthrough is a human rights group dedicated to eradicating violence and discrimination against women and girls. The organization mobilizes people through the arts, media, pop culture, and community mobilization to create a society where everyone lives in dignity, equality, and justice. They motivate individuals to fight for women's and girls' rights by catalyzing community leadership and fostering a bigger movement to transform deeply ingrained cultural practices perpetuating gender-based discrimination and violence. They work with young people extensively through a deep transformation method that helps create a stronger identity, the courage to make their own life decisions and go on a journey to become gender equality advocates. They create an enabling environment for themselves by collaborating with their families and the larger community, as well as important stakeholders such as frontline workers, PRI members, school management, and state officials. They currently operate in five states and 13 districts.

Free Metro Rides
On International Women's Day, Kerala's Kochi Metro Rail welcomes female travelers aboard for unlimited free Metro trips. Women can take the Kochi Metro for free from any station to any station. Women can ride the Kochi Metro for free. Various events will be held at various stations as part of the Women's Day occasion.

“Women can travel on the Kochi Metro for free. As part of the Women's Day celebrations, various events will be organized at various stations”, says Kochi Metro Railway.

On the other side, at Lucknow, it may not be a free ride situation, but an exercise, on a positive note, as the women have decided to take a stroll through the streets of Uttar Pradesh. Independence day is still far away, but those march practices must get going before the big day is up.

One Lakh Women Marching with Priyanka Gandhi
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congress general secretary, will lead an all-women march in Lucknow to commemorate International Women's Day. According to the Congress party, about one lakh women, including Congress officials and workers, are expected to march through the streets of the Uttar Pradesh capital. According to party leaders, the event aims to extend the Congress party's 'Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon' (I am a girl, I can fight) campaign beyond the 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections. In the UP elections, the Varda-led party promised 40 percent women candidates and gave 159 tickets for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

“Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will lead the march in which all-women office bearers of the party and others will take part,” said Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Ajay Kumar Lallu.

The march comes a day after exit polls revealed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would return to power in Uttar Pradesh with an overwhelming majority. Exit polls anticipated that the Congress would not exceed its 2017 tally of seven seats this time.

The march will begin from 1090 Crossing in Lucknow and ends at Veerangana Uda Devi Crossing (Sikandarbagh).