The consequences of gender inequality in India, Nepal and Bangladesh can be devastating for women and girls, leading to abuse, exclusion, trafficking and, in extreme cases, death. Across South Asia, gender inequality is prevalent and widespread due to long-entrenched cultural norms, meaning that women and girls are marginalised from society, losing out on access to education, economic opportunities, legal protection and safety from violence and trafficking.
Karuna works with our partners to overcome gender inequality issues in India, Nepal and Bangladesh by supporting projects that help women and girls access their rights. We’ve been working to address the causes of gender inequality in India, Nepal and Bangladesh with a community-focused approach, concentrating on providing access to education and legal aid, skill acquisition, sustainable livelihoods and shifting attitudes towards gender equality among boys and men.
From April 2023 to April 2024, our initiatives reached 31,000 women and girls across South Asia, improving their access to and understanding of legal protections against violence and trafficking. With this knowledge and these resources, they are finally able to safeguard themselves and pursue justice. In this blog, we’ll cover some of our projects that have supported women and girls in South Asia, encouraged gender equality and improved lives for current and future generations.
Challenging Gender Inequality in Nepal by Ending Menstrual Exile
The centuries-old practice of menstrual exile, called Chhaupadi, is deep-rooted in Nepali culture despite being outlawed in 2005. It is an inhumane, degrading tradition where women and girls are sent to remote huts for the duration of their menstruation period. This excludes them from their homes, communities and schools, which impacts their mental health and self-confidence while also exposing them to dangers, including animal attacks, sexual assault and unsafe living conditions. In some cases, women have even died as a result of the Chhaupadi tradition.
In Nepal, gender inequality affects women and girls every day, with practices like Chhaupadi encouraging stigmatisation and exclusion within communities, especially in remote agricultural areas. To combat this, we’ve been working with our partners at the Green Tara Foundation since 2021 to run the ‘Dignity for Women in Nepal’ project. The project supports over 4,000 adolescent girls and women across 36 rural villages in Nepal to counter the practice of menstrual exile. Working closely with local leaders, teachers and community members, the project focuses on providing women and girls with the support and resources they need to make empowered decisions about their menstrual health and resist traditional Chhaupadi practices within their communities.
What is the Green Tara Project doing to end Chhaupadi and gender inequality in Nepal?
- Distributing menstrual hygiene kits and training for girls on safe and hygienic menstruation practices.
- Education on menstrual health is being integrated into school curriculums, with training provided for teachers. This educational push helps reduce school dropouts and missed opportunities among girls faced with menstrual exile and associated stigmas.
- Community meetings in villages are held to foster supportive discussions on women’s health issues.
- Women and mothers receive encouragement to partake in regular medical checkups and education on recognising health issues.
- Local birthing centres and health posts receive enhancements in equipment and supplies.
- Traditional healers and advocates of Chhaupadi are educated about safer and more informed practices.
- Initiatives are in place to engage boys and men in communities, aiming to challenge and change traditional beliefs, shift attitudes and increase awareness to eventually eradicate harmful practices like Chhaupadi.
By eradicating traditional practices like menstrual exile, we can reduce gender inequality in Nepal. Statistics show that, since the ‘Dignity for Women in Nepal’ project began operations in 2021, the practice of Chhaupadi has decreased by 74% in our project areas, while between 2022 and 2023, 3,530 girls were supported to remain in education. The Green Tara project has made a significant difference in the communities it serves. Encouraging safer menstruation practices has empowered women and girls across rural Nepal, enhancing their well-being, promoting gender equality and fostering greater participation in their schools and communities.
If you’d like to learn more about Menstrual Exile, check out our blog post: Menstrual Exile: The Dangers of Chhaupadi in Nepal and What it Means for Women and Girls
Addressing Gender Inequality in Education in India and Nepal
At Karuna, we believe that education, especially among women and girls, is life-saving.
Less than 1% of girls involved in Karuna Projects get married before the legal age.
Bangladesh, Nepal and India’s gender inequality means that thousands of girls’ education is interrupted or ended at an early age, often due to child marriage, human trafficking, child labour or menstrual exile. In addition to this, gender-biased attitudes and expectations placed on women and girls mean that they are often expected to drop out of school early to perform domestic duties instead.
Our projects ensure that girls are protected from early marriage and child labour and remain in school. By securing access to quality education, these girls can equip themselves with the skills, knowledge and self-worth they need to choose their own futures. In fact, despite the many causes of gender inequality in education in India and Nepal, 96% of children involved with Karuna-supported projects have been able to continue their education past the age of 14, which is almost double the national average.
The Nishta Project: ‘Education for Girls in Rural West Bengal, India’
Many cases of gender inequality in India happen in remote areas, such as rural West Bengal. In isolated agricultural villages, traditional belief systems often still prevail. Women and girls face pressure to leave school early and are often forced into child marriage or forced labour as young as 11 or 12 years old. This puts girls and young women not only at the disadvantage of losing out on education but also at risk of ill health and abuse, as domestic violence is commonplace in these communities. Ensuring that girls remain in school is truly a matter of life or death.
We work with our partner organisations to run the Nishta Projects in West Bengal, which serves over 3,500 people in the area. Its main objective is to support women and girls, focusing on keeping them in school and building strong community support networks to protect them from these cultural expectations.
As part of the main activities of the Nishta Project in rural West Bengal:
- Girls are supported to stay in school and complete their education, with a focus on ensuring they remain in education at least until the age of 18.
- Mothers receive support, including vocational and financial training, to help them earn an independent income.
- Father and brother groups are formed to increase awareness among men about women’s education and rights.
- Girls’ and women’s groups are established and trained on topics such as women’s and girls’ rights, leadership, legislation and engaging with local stakeholders.
- These groups form local networks to mobilise support and raise community awareness.
- They also collaborate with key stakeholders, including the police and local governments, to address community issues.
Over 1,120 girls so far have been worked with directly since the Nishta Project began its work. The project provides support with the payment of tuition fees, which encourages girls to remain in secondary school and receive an education rather than dropping out and going into child marriage. The project has also successfully formed a strong network of girls’ and women’s groups that provide leadership training to raise awareness about the dangers of human trafficking to keep each other safe.
By building these strong relationships throughout communities and empowering girls while they’re still in school, knowledge about women’s rights and gender equality can be passed on between generations, changing traditional belief systems and ensuring that future generations have better educational opportunities than their parents did.
The ‘Educate and Empower Adolescent Girls in the Slums of Pune’ Project, Maharashtra, India
We work with our partners at the Green Tara Foundation to support vulnerable girls in secondary schools in the Pune area of Maharashtra, India. The effects of gender inequality in India and neighbouring countries mean that girls of this age are often denied opportunities for an education that will ensure they have access to well-paid work and future financial stability in adulthood. This project works with adolescent girls in groups to provide leadership training, empowering them with knowledge about how to stand up to gender-based discrimination and advocate for their education. Gender inequality in India is challenged, with girl leaders appointed to promote their right to proper schooling and advocate against early marriage. The project also works with parents in the community, raising awareness about the importance of education and changing traditional gender-biased attitudes.
In addition to promoting girls’ access to education in the project area, importance is placed on ensuring girls are taught about their health, too. Adolescent girls in the project area frequently face a lack of access to information about the physical changes they experience during puberty and proper hygiene practices. This gap hinders their understanding and connection to their bodies, as well as their sense of empowerment. We advocate to equip government schools with adequate toilet and sanitary facilities for girls to improve school attendance and ensure that girls are supported through their adolescence.
The Mahali Samman Project: ‘Women’s Empowerment and Access Programme in Nepal’
Our Mahali Samman Project in the rural area of Kapilvastu, Lumbini, has worked with over 1,000 women and girls to end gender inequality in Nepal. The project aims to help girls stay in school despite traditional attitudes and poverty pressuring them to drop out. We also support women in resisting gender discrimination and reducing gender-based violence. This is also achieved by working with boys and men in the area to encourage greater gender equality and respect for women.
Part of this project also focuses on providing women in the Lumbini area with skills that will empower them economically, providing them with opportunities to learn trades that will help them earn a living and support themselves. Since the project began, over 350 people have been supported to increase their livelihoods, benefitting both them and their families. Women are also encouraged to become more involved in local governance and decision-making by actively mobilising women’s groups. By combining these kinds of support at a community level, women and girls become more included within society and are empowered to become more involved, equal and respected within their communities in the long term.
Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods can Help Overcome Gender Inequality in South Asia
Gender inequality in India, Nepal and Bangladesh leads women and girls to lose out on education and employment opportunities and puts them at greater risk of exploitation, abuse and human trafficking, which endangers their lives. A lot of the work we do with our partners across South Asia focuses on providing women and girls with safe spaces where they are protected from exploitation and offered vocational training so they can gain employment and achieve financial independence.
By encouraging sustainable livelihoods and building skill sets, women are empowered to find employment, moving away from the traditionally prevalent gender inequality in the workplace in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. By not relying on men for economic support, women can become more equal members of their communities.
The Urja Project: ‘Refuge for Homeless and Runaway Women in Mumbai, India’
Working with our partners at Urja, we support women and girls who have left their homes to escape domestic violence, abuse, forced labour, forced marriage and denial of education. Thousands of girls run away to Mumbai in desperation every year, at great risk of being targeted by human traffickers and falling into another cycle of abuse and exploitation. The Urja project funds specialists who ensure women who arrive in Mumbai are intercepted before they can be trafficked and are instead taken to the refuge where they will be safe and protected. There, they receive housing and psychological support and are provided with vocational training and the opportunity to enrol in educational courses to prepare them for a sustainable livelihood in the future. They are also offered support in finding work.
The main focuses of this project include:
- Identifying and supporting homeless young women, engaging them in project activities to shield them from traffickers.
- Offering safe housing and practical assistance through shelters or group homes.
- Delivering education and vocational training to young women, followed by support in securing employment.
- Raising advocacy and awareness among government bodies about the challenges faced by homeless young women and promoting their legal and civil rights.
In the last year, this project has helped 1,329 women, providing them with safety from domestic abuse and human trafficking and prepare for a more secure, stable and independent future.
Watch this video to hear Gayatri’s story about leaving behind a life of domestic abuse and finding safety in the refuge with her children, where they are receiving support, education and vocational training.
Ensuring Climate Resilience Will Improve the Lives of Women and Girls in South Asia
While climate change negatively impacts us all, especially the poorer communities across India, Nepal and Bangladesh, women and girls are the most affected by the devastating effects that increased global temperatures and natural disasters are having on our environment. This is because, due to long-entrenched gender inequality in South Asia, women and girls are already the most marginalised members of society. As many communities are devastated by the effects of climate change, with livelihoods, homes and lives put at risk, women and girls become even more marginalised and endangered as climate change causes crisis after crisis for communities.
We work with our partners at Pragya Solutions across India and Bangladesh. We aim to work with poor farming communities living in isolated, rural areas to build climate resilience and provide disaster management solutions. We also work with Pragya in West Bengal to ensure women and girls are better protected from human trafficking, which is exacerbated by unsafe migration caused by climate change.
Pragya Solutions Projects: ‘Participatory Climate Adaptation with Pragya across India and Bangladesh’
Working with Pragya, we collaborate with agricultural experts and local communities on the frontline of climate change to bolster disaster preparedness and promote climate-adapted livelihood strategies. You can learn more about the broader details of this project in this blog post: Addressing Climate Vulnerability: Working towards disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation with communities in South Asia.
Many of the farmers in these areas are women so, as part of this work, a central focus of our projects is to encourage and strengthen gender equality throughout the community. Across our project areas in both India and Nepal, 40 women’s peer groups have been formed to provide support networks and raise awareness about safe migration to protect themselves from violence and trafficking. We have also provided training for 1,200 women, who now have enhanced farming skills that will help them adapt to climate change and sustain their livelihoods into the future.
Pragya: ‘Safe Migration Project in West Bengal, India’
The aim of this project is to support 15,000 women and girls in the border areas of West Bengal who are vulnerable to trafficking. Due to poverty and the increased devastation of climate change, more and more women are trafficked from Bangladesh and rural West Bengal into cities. Extreme poverty makes families particularly vulnerable to exploitation, and this is being exacerbated by climate change which forces people to migrate.
The main activities of this project include:
- Establishing three women’s information centres in areas where women are most at risk of trafficking.
- Conducting training programmes on self-defence and safe migration for women.
- Forming women’s support groups.
- Assisting women in accessing government welfare schemes and legal protection.
- Providing training and support to frontline workers involved in trafficking prevention, such as police officers and border guards.
Support Our Work With Women and Girls Across South Asia
The collective efforts of Karuna and our partners have made a significant difference in addressing gender inequality in South Asia. From challenging harmful cultural practices in Nepal to empowering women through education and sustainable livelihoods in India and Bangladesh, we’ve seen transformative change in the lives of thousands of women and girls. These initiatives not only uplift individuals but also catalyse shifts in societal attitudes, creating ripple effects that foster equality and justice for generations to come.
However, the journey towards true gender equality is far from over. With your support, we can continue to empower women and girls to reclaim their rights, access education and build brighter futures, free from violence and discrimination. Every contribution helps us extend our reach, enabling more communities to break free from the cycles of inequality and poverty that hold them back.
Please join us in creating lasting change by becoming a regular supporter today. Your donation will support life-changing projects, from providing menstrual health education and vocational training to ensure girls remain in school, to promoting safe migration practices which protect vulnerable women and girls from trafficking. Together, we can help build a more just and equitable world where every woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive.
