Building Back Better: Empowering Women in Tea Estates and Spice Sectors

Mar 18, 2024

Manjari, in a collaborative effort with UN Women and Bindi International, supported by GIZ, is spearheading the "Build Back Better: Women’s Health, Safety & Wellness" project from December 2023 to March 2024. This initiative aims to empower and advance 12,000 women across tea estates in Assam and the spice sectors in Rajasthan and Kerala.

The project's primary goal is to enhance women's understanding of their fundamental rights and increase awareness of social and government support structures. By doing so, it seeks to improve women's health, wellness, and safety, ultimately creating an environment where they can thrive, confidently exercise their rights, and lead lives free from violence and discrimination.

This ambitious project targets 50 villages, including 20 in Ajmer and 30 in Baran, Rajasthan. One of the key objectives is to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on women and girls' health, well-being, and safety in these regions. This includes assessing denied access to healthcare and essential services, unavailability of healthcare facilities and medications, physiological setbacks, domestic violence, and economic loss.

To achieve these goals, the project will provide training and workshops to women in tea estates and the spice sector, building their knowledge and confidence in their fundamental rights against violence and their right to access healthcare and safety facilities without hesitation. Additionally, support groups consisting of law enforcers, frontline workers, tea estate management, and civil society groups will be established to ensure that women have knowledge and access to various healthcare and safety support services, promoting a safe and violence-free dignified life.

Through this project, we are committed to creating a transformative impact in the lives of women in these sectors, paving the way for a more equitable and empowered future.