Active Projects – India

Promotion of Dalit Women’s Empowerment through Alternative Health Care Systems

Partner SAHANIVASA

Location 30 Villages in Kambamvari Palli, Chittoor District, India

Despite attempts to erase the caste system, it is still prevalent in rural areas of India.
Dalit and Adivasi women face double discrimination due to their sex and their caste.
Basic female literacy in Andhra Pradesh is at 33%.
Dalit women rarely take on leadership roles in their communities.
Malnutrition is a common cause of death among children under the age of five in the project villages.
Childhood immunization rates have fallen to 46% in Andhra Pradesh.
Anaemia affects approximately 65% of Dalit women.
Migrant work has caused an alarming rise in HIV/AIDS in recent years in the project villages.
Andhra Pradesh has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in India.
Health clinics are far away from the villages and keep irregular hours, most being open only a few days per month.

Promote solidarity and knowledge that socioeconomic change is within not only people’s ability but within their human rights
Improve the health of Dalit and Adivasi women within the reach of the project; and
Increase the knowledge of Dalit and Adivasi women of their legal rights and promote their right to benefit from government services.

Formation of women’s associations through village meetings
Formation of committees to collectively bring potential solutions to women’s common concerns before local government
Training of women in traditional Ayurvedic medicine and establishment of clinics
Cultural performances to encourage community discussion and reflection on issues that affect Dalit and Adivasi women in the region such as HIV/AIDS and health practices

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