Context

In rural India, women and families often face limited access to basic facilities needed to lead a life of dignity. Rural India is plagued by a multitude of health issues such as rampant cases of anemia, vision impairedness, diabetes, and cervical cancer: all treatable diseases that become deadly due to a lack of access to healthcare facilities, lack of awareness regarding symptoms and treatment of even treatable diseases, lack of awareness regarding how to maintain health and hygiene, specifically menstrual hygiene, and further lack of access to hygienic period products and accurate information about one’s menstrual cycle. In addition, rampant stigma and taboo that views menstruation as “dirty” and “shameful”  leads to startling realities such as high rates of school absenteeism, and adversely affects educational, livelihood, and health outcomes.

Furthermore, rural communities are plagued by overreliance on low-paying employment in the agriculture sector, which compounds health risks for rural women, and robs them of financial independence, skill development, and dignity.

Overdependence of rural communities on fossil fuels and traditional sources of energy such as coal further also exposes children and vulnerable rural women to a host of health risks, respiratory diseases, and pregnancy complications.

As a result of these factors, rural India requires trusted community channels that can bring these key health, livelihood, menstrual equity, and climate resilience services and resources directly to them in the form of capacity enhancement and cultivation of dignity in rural communities, so that they feel true ownership of such channels and can operate them independently, thereby ensuring that they’re sustained.