Why Gender Equity and Women's Empowerment Matters

Gender equity is essential for building a safe, just, and inclusive society. Across rural and underserved communities, women and girls continue to face overlapping barriers — including social, economic, and institutional limitations — that restrict their ability to participate fully in family, community, and public life. These inequalities not only limit opportunities but also increase vulnerabilities to violence, poor health, and exclusion from basic services and rights. According to NFHS-5 (2019–21), over 30% of women in India report facing gender-based violence, while less than half participate in household decision-making. Empowering women and girls is not only about correcting historical imbalances it's key to unlocking the full potential of communities and achieving sustainable development.

Our Approach

Utthan believes that advancing gender equity requires systemic change rooted in local leadership. We work with women and girls from marginalised communities to build their knowledge, confidence, and collective voice. Through a combination of legal support, capacity building, public awareness, and engagement with institutions, we enable women to influence decisions, challenge harmful norms, and claim their rightful space in society.
Our work is grounded in active collaboration with government bodies, civil society, and community institutions to ensure that solutions are holistic, sustainable, and owned by those most affected.

What We Do

Utthan has fostered a vibrant network of four women-led federations—Samarthan, Shakti, Vanita Shakti, and Ekta Mahila Sangathans—empowering over 20,000 members to lead on issues like land rights, justice, and climate resilience. These collectives have become powerful platforms for advocacy and mutual support. Through consistent awareness sessions and legal literacy trainings, the organization equips women to understand and address domestic violence, child marriage, dowry, and gender-based discrimination. Youth engagement initiatives, such as Gender Justice Melas, promote critical conversations on equality among both girls and boys. Justice Committees within the federations handle cases of violence, supported by legal clinics that ensure access to redress. Additionally, Utthan strengthens the role of elected women representatives and works with local institutions to promote inclusive, gender-sensitive governance.

 

 

Impact Highlights (2023–24)

• Strengthened 4 autonomous women-led federations with a total membership of 18,563

• 2466 new members joined federations; 2073 women supported in accessing government entitlements

• Justice Committees addressed 592 cases of gender-based violence; 127 survivors received direct support from trained women leaders

• Conducted 55 Youth Melas across 57 villages, engaging 8114 adolescents, including boys and girls

• Delivered regular legal awareness and leadership trainings through active participation of federation members