India- a melting pot of religions, where over 80% of the population’s beliefs are dominated by different goddesses, is still a nation which fails to recognize the ambition and potential of the female race. India’s economy is constantly evolving with an increasing GDP and a working-age population expected to hit over 800 million people by the year 2050. Despite this growth less than one-quarter (20.3%) of women aged 15 and older participate in the labour force as of 2020 (compared to 76.0% of men). Women account for 19.9% of the total labour force in India, which is due to restrictive cultural norms regarding women’s work, the gender wage gap, women’s education and a lack of safety policies and flexible work offerings. Rural women are leaving India’s workforce at a faster rate than urban women.
Challenges from illiteracy (lack of knowledge, skill and confidence), extreme poverty, multiple health complications and resource scarcity- these are everyday obstacles for these women.The Raah Foundation targets success through taking a bottom up approach and designing the project from the women’s perspective and incorporating solutions to her daily challenges and impediments.
The Raah Foundation locates needy women with a strong desire to change their circumstances and through this opportunity and is willing to put in part of the total capital. They further provide them with all the required hand holding to build their confidence and faith in their abilities. The women along with their team identify a business that has the opportunity to sustain and scale. With further encouragement, for a high success rate, the women eventually gain belief in themselves and flourish to be the strong and determined women they truly are.
Written by Anishka Daga & Auroni Gupta
Statistics credit: https://www.catalyst.org/research/women-in-the-workforce-india/#:~:text=Despite%20this%20growth%2C%20less%20than,to%2076.0%25%20of%20men
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