Press Release
Jaipur, Rajasthan, 25th July 2024: Today, Jaipur hosted a significant National Consultation focused on the 'Build Back Better - Ensuring Women’s Health, Wellness, and Safety' initiative. This effort aims to enhance the lives of women in rural areas working in the spice sector across Rajasthan and Kerala. Government officials, frontline workers, partners, researchers, and experts gathered to discuss the post-pandemic impact on women workers and small-scale farmers in the spice sector.
A UN Women project, implemented by the NGO Bindi International NGO collaboration with partners such as the Manjari Foundation, Think Through Consulting, and Wayanad Social Service Society, the programme targets two districts in each state. The initiative's primary goal is to build the capacities of women workers and small-scale farmers in the spice sector, strengthening existing systems at the village and block levels. It also engages local frontline workers on health, wellness, and safety, raising awareness among over 6,000 women in the spice sector on topics such as anaemia, mental health, health services, positive and safe workplaces, gender-based discrimination, and violence, as well as existing support systems.
Reema (name changed), a spice sector worker from Rajasthan, shared her experience: "I now understand the importance of a safe workplace and the role of the POSH committee. Knowing that my privacy will be respected gives me the courage to report any issues.”
Meena (name changed) reflected on the mental health aspect, stating, “Now I know that new mothers need mental health support, but previously, nobody had an idea about it.”
Dr. Monalisa Padhee, Head of Education & Health at Bindi International NGO, remarked, "Our efforts have raised health and safety awareness among 6,056 women in the spice sector across two states. We’ve encouraged community involvement and provided a platform for men and boys to question gender stereotypes."
Kanta Singh, Deputy Country Representative of UN Women India, highlighted the participatory nature of the initiative, saying, “The intervention puts women workers at the centre. In discussion with them, mental health was added as a component for programme intervention. Given the literacy level, training modules were developed in local languages, using tools like video, role play, street plays, and pictorial cards, resulting in wider acceptance and retention of information by women workers and small-scale farmers. Community champions were identified from the intervention districts and trained, enabling a bottom-up approach and easier acceptability and sustainability of the project.”
The consultation facilitated knowledge sharing and assessed the positive changes brought by the initiative. It emphasized the importance of collective knowledge to guide future efforts in enhancing the safety, health, and well-being of women and girls in the spice sector. The discussion also underscored the need for stronger networks, ongoing education, and the involvement of men and boys to amplify the programme’s impact.
