Women in poverty in rural India

This week I chose to post a video and a website of an organization that is working to improve gender inequalities in India. The organization called Reach India, which is supported by the parent organization Reach Global, focuses on providing a variety of services and information for women living in poverty. On their website, Reach India explains that there are about 450 million people in India still living in absolute poverty, and the majority are women living in rural areas. Reach India has created a system of self-help groups for rural women. Women and girls are placed into groups in order to support each other. Basic information on health issues, education, and finances is gradually integrated into the group meetings. Adolescent girls without knowledge on these issues will continue to live in poverty and eventually raise their own families in poverty. Reach India hopes that through these resources and self-help groups, women will be able to stop they cycle of poverty.
After reading through different resources on gender inequality in India, I found the concepts of Reach India particularly intriguing. Reach India combines the social issues of poverty and gender inequality and gives women a special role in creating solutions. Through these programs, women are able to support and learn from each other in order to improve their living conditions and the future of their families. Participation in self-help groups allow women to connect, develop confidence and skills needed to successfully contribute and gain respect in their societies.

Website: http://www.reach-india.net/india/index.cfm/about-reach-india/
Video: http://www.twitvid.com/4HCPD
Another video about the importance of empowering girls: http://www.girleffect.org/video