The Rise and Role of NGOs led by Women

By: Vaishnavi Pradeep

In modern Indian development circles, non-governmental organisations are now conducting many more roles including role of NGOs in women development and several activities than they did a few years ago. Empowering women is the major focus of government and non government organisation in India. Women who are empowered have a feminist principle and hope to empower other deprived women. There are several feminist NGOs which are empowering women to make sure that they get all the deserving rights in the country.

List of few NGOs in Women's Empowerment

SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association): This NGO was started in the year 1972 in Gujarat. Ela Bhatt is the founder of this organisation for women empowerment and wanted to spread the awareness on the importance of women NGOs. The major motive of this organisation is to strengthen women by supporting them and giving them uniqueness as informal workers. Under this NGO, SEWA bank, SEWA movement and SEWA Bharat are the few organisations conducted. Currently the organisation has 1.9 billion women members who are active representing their rights.

Snehalaya: The NGO was recognized in the year 1989 in Maharashtra. This NGO supports women and also help children and LGBTQ communities with poverty. This NGO also helps to support the HIV patients to fight and end human trafficking. They organise various programs under this organisation such as providing enough space to women’s in NGOs who can showcase their talents by making and selling their art, provides sanitary napkins and teaching them different languages.

NEN (North East Network):  This particular NGO was organised in the year 1995 as part of ‘Beijing World Conference on Women.’ The focus of this program is to give equality and human right to women. This organisation is not conducted in or two states but in various states such as Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and various other parts of North East India. The name of the program itself says that the entire north east region of India is focused.  

Azad Foundation: This foundation is organised for women who are from financially low background from the urban region. The aim is to give them all their right with dignity and live their life independently without depending on any other. In the organisation they provide training for women on self awareness, sexuality and reproductive rights, defence training and various other activities and training. Currently the foundation is joined with a women led cab driving services for women, called SAKHA.

CREA:  The foundation was started in the year 2000 in Delhi. This is organised by people who work at different levels, from the grassroots to an international level to help advance rights for all women and teenage girls, and giving all the right to choose their sexual and reproductive freedom for all females.  The foundation not only focuses on India but most of the poor country where women are in the line of poverty. The organisation’s motive is to “strengthen feminist leadership, strategies, and collective power for social transformation.” They conducts public discussions, debates, events, and online and offline campaigns to make more alertness and to question conventional societal gender norms.