According to UN Women, women’s economic empowerment means ensuring women can equally participate in and benefit from decent work and social protection; access markets and have control over resources, their own time, lives, and bodies. Furthermore, they have increased voice, agency, and meaningful participation in economic decision-making at all levels from the household to international institutions. Smile India Trust, with its project, Project Garima, contributes to women’s empowerment.
Project Garima: Watershed Obstacles to Women’s Empowerment
Disparity in Education – According to the National Statistical Office report, the male literacy rate accounts for 84.70%, while the female literacy rate is 70.30%, which highlights the gap. Moreover, in rural areas, families do not allow girls to continue their education further and expect them to marry at an early age. As a result, girls lose access to educational opportunities and employment.
Gender inequality – our country is developing, but it is disheartening to acknowledge that women still face discrimination based on gender. Globally, 2.7 million women are restricted from having the same employment choices as men. In many communities, traditional gender-stereotyped beliefs persist. They think women are weaker than men. Women are not meant to take economic opportunities but to engage in household chores.
Violence against women at the workplace, according to the report of the Crime Record Bureau of the Central Home Ministry. A woman is getting kidnapped every 44 minutes, raped every 47 minutes, and 17 dowry deaths every day, etc. Women face harassment in the workplace. Consequently, parents of girls or women often deny them work for their safety.
Unpaid care work: women and girls spend 2.5 hours more a day on unpaid domestic and care work compared to men, which limits their economic growth. Unpaid care work prevents around 708 million women from joining the labour market. According to global data from the International Organisation and the World Bank, only about half of working-age women participate in the labour force, compared with nearly 80% of men, highlighting the persistent gender gap in economic participation.
Importance of women’s empowerment:
Builds Financial Independence: By equipping women with education, vocational skills, and employment opportunities, they become self-reliant and capable of securing a better future for themselves and their families
Breaks the Cycle of Poverty: Financially empowered women invest in their children’s education, nutrition, and healthcare, helping future generations overcome poverty and build a brighter future.
Creates Safer and More Inclusive Communities: Empowerment helps combat discrimination, gender-based violence, child marriage, and other social injustices by promoting awareness, education, and equal opportunities.
Encourages Sustainable Development: Women’s active participation in education, employment, environmental conservation, and community development is essential for achieving long-term social progress.
Shapes a Better Future for Generations to Come: An empowered woman becomes a role model, inspiring confidence, resilience, and ambition in future generations while fostering a society built on equality
PROJECT GARIMA: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW
Smile India Trust started Project Garima in 2023 for women’s and girls’ empowerment. In this project, girls and women learn embroidery and stitching to meet their goals by earning from the skills they learned. Women attain practical training on
- Embroidery
- Tailoring
- Bags making
- Measuring and cutting
- Designer frocks
- Masks and sleepwear
A well-trained team is always there for guidance. This project, EK NAYI PEHCHAN, highlights its aim to provide as many opportunities as possible for their flourishing.
- The training programs run for 12 months, during which they train in their skills and prepare themselves for employment. In this project, economically disadvantaged girls, adolescent girls and school dropout girls allow to improve their skills and livelihood opportunities.
- Our NGO has 35 machines to support women’s empowerment and helps them to become financially independent.
- Our NGO provides a safe environment to nourish their skills, and we strictly prohibit any kind of violence in our workplace so that they can come to learn self- employment without fear and hesitation.
- We also started an entrepreneurial start-up for those women who have the competence to do something with their skills.
- In our project, women are enhancing their marketing skills and quality assurance for their earning potential.
CONCLUSION:
Our NGO, Smile India Trust, is committed to providing all the resources and opportunities women require to build their careers. Our NGO believe if women are educated and employed, they can empower themselves; they can also help their families financially. Together we can change the society ideation for women empowerment and their education.
Through vocational training, skill development, financial literacy, and continuous support, Project Garima enables women to overcome social and economic barriers, achieve financial independence, and realise their true potential. The initiative encourages women to embrace leadership, make informed decisions, and become active contributors to society. By nurturing confidence and resilience, Project Garima empowers women to transform challenges into opportunities and aspirations into achievements.
We believe that true empowerment extends beyond employment—it lies in restoring dignity, strengthening self-belief, and creating an environment where every woman feels valued, respected, and capable of shaping her own future. Every woman empowered through Project Garima becomes a symbol of courage, determination, and hope, inspiring countless others to break barriers and pursue their dreams.
For any guidance or support, you can write to Strengthening Women, Strengthening Society us at [email protected]. Visit our website to understand our work in detail. Click on https://smileindiatrust.org/ to learn more about us. Follow us on various social media platforms. We are available on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
