Gender equality for development –
Widespread gender inequality is still a global problem. When India’s Human Development Index is adjusted for gender inequality, it becomes south Asia’s worst performing country after Afghanistan, new numbers in the UNDP’s Human Development Report 2013 show. India is ranked 136 out of a total of 186 countries. The need of the hour is to improve the sex ratio and encourage women to be active participants in social, economic and political fields. There are only 927 women per 1000 men in India. This is due to an increased sex- selective-abortion. According to a global study, India is the fourth most dangerous country for a girl. Women are deprived of basic inputs like food, nutrition and health care which lead to greater chances of malnutrition and disability in women. They are also discouraged to seek education and women employment rate and their control over family resources are still low.
The way out of gender discrimination is women’s empowerment. Ignite Wellness Foundation is working towards creating awareness on the fallacies of gender stereotypes and raising of consciousness against gender biases as acts of injustice. Women are well informed about their democratic rights and are encouraged to play an active role in the society. We focus on educating women that is necessary for their liberty and well being. An educated woman is better at reducing infant and maternal mortality rates.
Women are also made to understand the importance of educating a girl. Female literacy rate is still lower than that of men. Our aim is to increase the number of girls being educated by making them realize that their education leads to the education of their entire family.
Through these education programmes, we also aim to make women aware about their rights and violation of those rights, making them more capable and confident. This leads to a greater participation of women in personal, social and political affairs. Ignite focuses on encouraging women to work by making them understand the benefits of employment. It not only gives them financial independence helping them to reduce poverty of their families but also brings them at par with men. They are independent in the way that they have greater access to health care facilities allowing them improve their own health and that of their families.