Recognizing and addressing gender disparities in livelihoods is essential for inclusive economic growth and empowering women to contribute fully to the economy and society.
We at CAF India are making continuous efforts to address these challenges and promote gender equity. Initiatives include promoting women’s entrepreneurship, providing skill development programs, improving access to finance and resources, and challenging discriminatory norms and practices.
Through our various intervention we have realised that women face access issues at various point of employment, be it pay parity, access to quality child care, access to formal employment, job security and social protection, and access to skill training and capacity building.
Anshu Kumari hails from Chhapra District of Bihar and is the eldest of 4 siblings. After the death of her father, her mother struggled a lot to run the family, and therefore, after completing her 12th Std she moved to Gurugram in search of job. She stayed with her maternal uncle’s family and searched for many opportunities in schools and tuition centre as she loves teaching. Since she did not have any higher education, she could not get any suitable opportunity. She always desired to be in a place of work where her work will be respected and she will be treated with dignity.
On the other hand, the COVID pandemic also took her mother’s job away. This increased stress for Anshu to take up some job urgently to support her mother and siblings.
She came across the advertisement of the T&FD course and placement opportunity. She contacted some of the women who have already undergone this course and received placement. In such time of despair and need, listening to such testimonies became a source of encourage and confidence for her. She joined the course and completed it with all zeal and dedication. She cleared all HR interviews in the first round and got placement in Orient Fashion Exports (India) Pvt. Ltd.
Anshu narrates, “I faced rejection to get a suitable job as a teacher since I did not have a degree. But today I have a job just because of my 12th grade certificate as Orient Fashion recruits people who have completed their 12th. I am happy with my workplace and ready to give my best to grow in my job. There is a lot of learning scope and opportunities to grow. However, I will pursue my graduation alongside my job as education is important for any person and I desire to pursue my higher education in a subject that would give me career prospects. I am thankful to my trainer Krishna Ji who so patiently skilled me in something which I never thought I could ever do for a living, but today I am happy. No job is small or big.”
Priyanka, 25, got separated from husband after giving birth to her first girl child as her husband wanted a son. After the separation, she moved to Kapasera to live with her sister. Since she has completed her intermediate, she searched for a job to support her family but most of the jobs were Call Centre jobs with night shift which she could not take up by leaving her child behind. Her pursuit led her to our centre where she found many women like her were undergoing tailoring & fashion designing. She enquired more about the course and got admission.
Post successful completion of the course, she got placement in Orient Fashion and is earning well to support her daughter and family.
Khushbu narrates in her own words, “After my husband left me at a time when I needed him the most, I was hopeless and wanted to end my life. But looking at my daughter’s face I decided to live for her and give her a better life. I too wanted to live a dignified and create my own identity. This course and job in Orient Fashion gave me the dignity that I was longing for. Although the work timing is very hectic, but this job is better than call centre night shift job. I feel a sense of belonging here as there are so many women like me who work here. We share a good bonding. I want grow in this sector by learning and doing more so that I can provide good education and life to my daughter for whom I am the only world. COVID and all that I went through in life taught me life lessons to be independent and self-reliant and I am in that journey. I am thankful to God that I came across the poster which led me to find a better life for me and my daughter and also thankful to my trainers and employer for giving me dignity”.
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India is a registered not-for-profit organization established in New Delhi, India in 1998 nurturing the culture of giving with impact. The imbibing of this culture emboldens our approach of creating a positive change in the community by reaching to the last mile person.
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