Gender
Weaving a way out of destitution
Weaving indigenous handloom clothes offers destitute women and those who have been trafficked a safe and stable livelihood in the hills of Darjeeling.
Being LGBTQ in rural India
What does being LGBTQ mean in rural India and what are the legal strangleholds that make LGBTQ life a challenge in small town India? We take a look at Village Square in celebration of Pride Day.
The tale and telling of queerness in Bengal’s Bhadu songs
When queerness was criminalised in the 19th century, queer-trans people took refuge in the Bhadu folklore that saw them as goddess-incarnates and also gave them visibility.
Forbidden love in rural Punjab
Their love is strong, but life is a struggle for this lesbian couple from rural Punjab. Without a law that recognises same-sex marriage, like many they struggle to rent homes and often hide their identity.
Court unites lesbian couple separated by family
A young lesbian couple, forcibly separated by their families and reunited thanks to a court intervention, are filled with hope, though bracing themselves for a tough future.
Help desks and counselling reduce gender-based violence
Bringing down gender-based violence (GBV) in remote Odisha villages, “GBV warriors” set up help desks, offer counselling and point victims towards Sakhi centres that offer medical and legal help.
Celebrating rural women – with no bias
Every day is International Women’s Day at Village Square where we champion India’s rural women - too often unseen or ignored by the rest of the world. That is why we created our Her Life series that features stories of ordinary women doing extraordinary things. In their own words. With no bias.
The power of exposure trips
Four years ago, program officer Ankita Goyal accompanied a group of tribal women on their first trip out of their village. Little did she know this “exposure visit” would turn out to be a life-changing experience for her.
Fish on their plate, money in their wallet
In underdeveloped Mayurbhanj, Odisha, women sustainably cultivate fish that not only brings them money but ensures better nutrition for their family.
A young woman engineer spurs hope for pottery in Kashmir
Traditional potters struggling to survive are confident of better business again after a young woman who found hope through pottery is bringing it back into the limelight.
Joy of making banking accessible to women
Local banker Lakhimi Baruah saw how women were ignored in banks so launched Assam’s first cooperative bank for women, ensuring thousands of marginalised women get access to banks, gaining financial literacy and empowerment.
Abandoned as an infant, she brings up orphaned girls
Knowing the pain of being abandoned and growing up in an orphanage, Parkash Kaur brings up abandoned girls, giving them a loving home, care and a good education.
Village Square launches “Her Life”
New strand champions India’s unsung heroes, women navigating their way through a changing world – her accomplishments, her struggles, her dreams, her home, her hopes – her life.
Enabling policies are necessary to ensure gender equality
The pandemic has exacerbated the multiple barriers that women face. Gender-specific policies and accountability in implementation are needed to ensure gender inclusivity
Women sustain traditional wisdom of conserving indigenous seeds
Understanding the close link between crop diversity and resilience, women farmers in Mandla ensure that the conservation practice of climate-resilient traditional seeds continues
Women volunteers allay vaccine fears in Jharkhand
Acting as a bridge between communities and public health services, setu didis addressed the concerns of villagers and convinced them to get vaccinated.
Tribal women seize opportunities, turn micro entrepreneurs
With the right support, women in Khunti have overcome challenges and emerged as entrepreneurs. Each woman’s micro business has been her family’s financial mainstay during the pandemic
Maternal and child health sidelined amidst COVID-19 emergencies
Rural women dependent on public health care system have not been able to access maternal health care services as hospitals’ focus is on overcoming the COVID-19 crisis
Why we need a gender-sensitive pandemic management
Mitigatory measures need to recognize the fact that infected women and women caregivers get a differential treatment in villages due to discriminatory and insensitive perspectives
Increased farm work adversely affects women’s nutrition
Spending more time for agricultural activities besides attending to household needs leave very little time for women to cook proper meals, impacting their nutrient intake