“India lives in the villages.” – Mahatma Gandhi
India’s true growth can only happen if its rural villages grow, as nearly 70% of the population still lives in 600,000 villages. While urban India has seen significant development in the last three decades, rural areas still face poverty, low literacy rates, and a lack of basic infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. These issues increase social problems such as domestic violence, substance abuse, and alcoholism. The youth is migrating to urban areas in search of new opportunities, further exacerbating these issues.
To promote the well-being of rural communities, government organizations have implemented policies and programs, but mismanagement of these initiatives has prevented adequate progress. To address these problems, the Siragu (Wing) project will work on adopting one village at a time to identify and address pressing issues. These issues include lack of sanitation, lack of education opportunities, health education, menstrual education, alcoholism, domestic violence, lack of job opportunities, and lack of basic infrastructure. NaariSamatā has started work on the first sub-project in the village of Chinna Bettiganapalli in Tamil Nadu, rebuilding the school’s toilets and sourcing water to keep them clean. With a small donation, donors can help improve the lives of marginalized communities in rural villages and provide them with the support they need to build a better life.
Chinna BettiGanapalli
We started our project by talking to the women of the village to know what their main concerns were. They came up our first project… The recommissioning of toilets at the primary school. The toilets were in a disused state and had been non-functional for sometime due to lack of water supply to the school. The children used the nearby fields when needed.
Meeting the women and children
The toilets
before
After
Perimeter Wall
Building a perimeter wall around the school is an important step to ensure the safety and security of the children attending the school. Without a wall, there is a risk of children wandering out of the school and onto the streets, which could be dangerous for them. Additionally, there is a risk of strangers entering the school unobserved, which could pose a threat to the children’s safety. Furthermore, the lack of a perimeter wall could lead to stray dogs and cattle entering the school premises, which could be harmful to the children. Building a wall would provide a secure and safe environment for the children to learn and grow in.
This is a video of the school after the perimeter wall was built.
Classroom
The school is facing a classroom shortage as it has only two classrooms to accommodate five classes from year one to year five. To address this issue, we have sponsored the construction of a new classroom. While the ideal solution would be to build three more classrooms, the current funding permits us to commit to one classroom for now and make provisions for another classroom to be built in the future. This part of the project was sponsored by the money raised by Visa.
PooJa
Prebuild
Moulding
Walls
Roof
THE TEACHER
The primary school in the village was struggling to find teachers after the pandemic when 2 of their teachers quit and did not come back. The children had missed 2 years of education and needed to have the teachers to cope. NaariSamata sponsored a teacher, Akhila, to teach at the school. She was a local who was a graduate and was struggling to find work in the village as her family would not allow her to travel outside the village to find work.
THE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Last day of school 2022
Periya BettiGanapalli
Our project in Periya Bettiganapalli involved rebuilding of 2 classrooms to add to the exxisting 2 classrooms at the primary school. We also built a Library for the children and hired a local graduate as a teacher at the school.
Kamandoddi
Introducing EcoEmpower: Women’s Green Bag Initiative
At NaariSamata, we are thrilled to announce the launch of a transformative new project—EcoEmpower: Women’s Green Bag Initiative. This livelihood creation initiative is designed to empower unemployed women in rural areas by equipping them with the skills and tools necessary to produce eco-friendly paper bags. Through this project, we aim to replace harmful plastic alternatives while fostering economic independence and environmental sustainability.
Project Goals and Objectives
EcoEmpower has been designed with clear and impactful objectives:
- Skill Development: Train 60 women in the art of paper bag production by the end of 2024.
- Infrastructure Setup: Establish a fully equipped production unit with a creasing machine to streamline bag manufacturing.
- Sustainable Output: Facilitate the production and sale of at least 50,000 paper bags per month within six months of project initiation.
- Environmental Advocacy: Raise awareness about the detrimental effects of plastic and promote the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives.
Target Beneficiaries
The project will directly benefit 60 unemployed women from six rural villages, providing them with sustainable employment opportunities and a pathway to financial independence.
Project Location
The initiative will be based at the Rural Development Centre (RDC) in Kamandoddi, Tamil Nadu, India, serving women from six nearby villages.
Implementation Plan
- Training Program: Monthly training sessions will be held at RDC Kamandoddi from September 2024 to August 2025, empowering women with the skills needed for production.
- Production Unit Setup: A leased house near the RDC will house the production unit, equipped with a state-of-the-art creasing machine.
- Marketing and Sales Strategy: We will partner with a local charity for marketing and distribution, alongside conducting environmental advocacy campaigns to promote the benefits of paper bags.
Expected Outcomes
Economic Empowerment: By earning sustainable incomes, 60 women will achieve greater financial independence and improve their quality of life.
Environmental Impact: The replacement of plastic bags with paper alternatives will significantly reduce plastic pollution in the targeted areas.
Community Development: Enhanced infrastructure and increased environmental awareness will lead to improved living conditions and a more sustainable community.
Self-Sustainability: The project is designed to be financially independent by the third month. Income generated from paper bag sales will cover operational costs, ensuring long-term viability.
Scalability and Long-term Vision
The EcoEmpower initiative is designed with scalability in mind, ensuring its success can be replicated and expanded to benefit more communities:
- Replication: The project can be rolled out to other rural villages, using standardized training modules and production setups.
- Increased Capacity: Additional creasing machines and workforce expansion will meet growing demand for paper bags.
- Broader Distribution: By partnering with more local charities, NGOs, and businesses, we can extend our distribution network and promote wider adoption of eco-friendly bags.
- Community Ownership: Involving beneficiaries in project management fosters a sense of responsibility and commitment, ensuring the initiative’s sustainability.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Your support can make a profound impact on the lives of women in rural India. By contributing to EcoEmpower: Women’s Green Bag Initiative, you’re not just helping create sustainable livelihoods—you’re championing a greener, more equitable future for these communities. Together, let’s make a difference that matters.
