Project Jagori

Campaign Story

About the project

Founded in 1984, Jagori works in support of women’s rights toward their vision of a more just and feminist-conscious society. To that end, they enlist a wide range of partners and women leaders from marginalized urban and rural areas. In 2016, Jagori embarked on the “Creating Safe Public Spaces” project to improve the safety of women, girls and other vulnerable groups using public facilities and spaces in Ranchi and Hazaribagh in Jharkhand. Jagori partners with government, business groups, and NGOs to develop and implement interventions that promote prevention of and response to incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence in public spaces. Women’s participation is incorporated in every phase and level of decision-making and operation.

This Project is fully funded by the Oak foundation.

Making a difference

Local communities and support organizations – though well-meaning – harbored gaps in understanding issues pertaining to women’s safety, mobility, voice in local governance and access to services. Starting in 2021, Jagori coordinated a series of capacity-building workshops for local partners, which covered topics including gender budget, policy, combating violence against women through state institutions, women in the economy, and strengthening social protection measures, especially in light of the COVID pandemic. The pandemic created increased burdens of unpaid care work for Jharkhand’s women, upticks in domestic and other forms of violence (witch-hunting, trafficking and sexual violence) and loss of livelihoods with little to no recovery.

The way forward

● Through work with Mahila Sabha (women’s groups) and public awareness initiatives, promote
women’s safety, mobility, and voice in local governance.
● Engage Mahila Sabha Core Committee members to raise women’s safety issues in their respective districts.
● Orient Panchayat members in West Singhbhum on gender, mitigating violence against women and ensuring women’s safety in public spaces.
● Hold periodic sessions with Mahila Sabha to augment knowledge/evidence base regarding challenges faced by communities and women in ensuring safe mobility.

Project Impact

250

Women raised issues based upon safety audits to Gram Sabhas across operational areas

16

Villages incorporated women’s safety issues in thier respective Panchayat Annual Development Plans

100

Women from 12 villages participated in informational sessions on laws related to women, labor laws, and available social safety-net programs

100

Gram Panchayat officials across 12 villages participated in capacity-building sessions on gender, violence against women, and social programs

35

Gram Panchayat members trained on how women members can address women’s safety issues in annual development plans

Last Year’s Grant Disbursed (May 2022-April 2023): $100,000

Current year’s approved grant: $100,000

Project Story

Pushpa, 34 year old woman from the tribal community in Sonua block of West Singhbhum, Jharkhand. She is married and has three children. She always felt that she had some responsibility towards the society and community in which she lives, especially toward women from her community. Issues related to violence against women, women’s secondary position in the society, poverty and lack of basic facilities always made her feel restless.

But she didn’t have a clear vision. During the pandemic, a large number of migrant laborers returned from the cities to the villages. Pushpa felt deeply for the hardships and livelihood crisis these workers were going through. At that time Shramajivi Mahila Samity (SMS) was conducting a study on migrant women laborers. Pushpa joined that study as a volunteer. As a volunteer, she participated in the work of connecting the needy people with government schemes, distribution of rations, and distribution of seeds.

During this period, Jagori organized a workshop on women’s safety for SMS volunteers, which she attended. After the training, Pushpa was involved in safety audits conducted in 16 villages of 6 Panchayats. During that time, it was also felt that there should be a separate Mahila Sabha (women’s group) to talk about the safety and needs of women. In April 2020, Pushpa was in the lead role in organizing Mahila Sabhas along with the village head in 6 villages. Not only this, she also started attending Gram Sabha meetings regularly and raising the concerns and needs of women, especially, single women including lack of ration cards and job cards. She applied on their behalf to the Panchayat Secretary and Block Development Officer (BDO). Gradually Pushpa’s identity started being recognized in the entire Panchayat. She has connected migrant and local women with Mahila Sabhas, and is consistently engaged in awareness-raising work on women’s issues.

“When Panchayat elections were to be held in Jharkhand state in May 2022, the women of the village asked me to file nomination for the post of Head, Village Council,” said Pushpa. “I also felt that if I win, I will be able to do more work for the women. It is very important to connect these people with government schemes. That’s why I contested the election. Yes! I could not win – I ranked third. But I am happy that I came forward defeating many male candidates. I haven’t given up yet.”

Pushpa’s determination won the hearts of many women. She played a prominent role in organizing Mahila Sabhas in 10 villages. She raised women’s issues in the special Gram Sabha, Mahila Sabha and Panchayat Executive Committee meetings for village development planning. Through her sustained efforts, the toilets for women in Baljuri Panchayat Bhawan are cleaned and maintained regularly. Under her watch two public schools received a proper water supply, ensuring that women and girls won’t face any inconvenience due to lack of basic services.

Project Photo Gallery