Sambhali Trust – The Rising of the Deprived Women

by Darshel Diaz (Canada)

I didn't expect to find India

Sambhali Trust – The Rising of the Deprived Women It’s the beginning of November and India is bustling and buzzing with the frenzy that is Diwali, known as the festival of lights, the celebration of lightness over darkness, the victory of good over evil, and the triumph of knowledge over ignorance. The vibrancy in the state of Rajasthan is electric – there is a layer of smog blanketing the city from the previous night`s fireworks, the noise is deafening, the colours are striking, the air is saturated with the smell of different spices; it is a feast for the senses. Home to 1.3 billion people, the PWB School India touches down in Jodhpur; the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan, this will be their home for the next two weeks. As members of the PWB School take to the streets, they attempt to stick together as not to get lost amid the sea of people. They quickly notice a common trend, the amount of men is largely disproportionate to the number of women - men are seen tending to the businesses, driving the rickshaws, and hanging out on street corners. The gender ratio in India is quite skewed; a 2015 report from the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs showed that for every 107 males there are 100 females. This unequal division amongst the sexes is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to gender inequality in India. The caste system, which was abolished in 1950, is still enshrined in their culture today. Dalits, or ``Untouchables`` are considered the lowest social group in the Hindu caste system, they are thought to be contaminated from birth. Women, who are part of the Dalit community, not only face discrimination from individuals of higher castes, but also experience prejudice from members within their own community. These women and girls are discriminated against three times over because of their socio-economic status, their gender, and their caste. Govind Rathore, a member of the upper Rajput caste, watched his mother be shunned from their community once she became a widow. Immediately, he was thrust into the role of the ``provider;`` he became the ``man`` of the household. At the tender age of 20, he began to look more closely at the plight of women within his community and realized the degree of oppression that plagued them. Sambhali Trust, meaning ``The Rising of the Deprived Women; `` is a non-profit charitable organization that was created in 2007, as a way to empower women and girls in the Rajasthan community. The main goal of Sambhali is to encourage self-esteem, confidence, self-expression, social skills, education, economic independence, and vocational training. In Jodhpur, the patriarchal society remains omnipresent, where women and girls are viewed as insubordinate, inferior, and oftentimes treated as second class citizens, deemed not worthy to the right to an education, either due to poverty, family and or cultural reasons. India has the highest rate of child brides in the world, approximately 20% of women are married before the age of 15 years old, which prevents them from receiving an education. PWB students visited three of the Sambhali Trust empowerment centres in Jodhpur (Laadli, Fatima, and Abhaya) and one located in Setrawa. Inside they got a glimpse of the life of a Sambhali student – they learn Hindi, English, math, and vocational training (i.e. sewing). Participant Lee Bartan noted ``every single person you meet has a story, if you take the time to slow down, and hear the bits and pieces. The more you connect, the more you realize - we are more alike than we are different, we are all human, and we are all the same. Those little kids reminded me of my kids, and those young girls reminded me of my daughters; I just kept seeing bits and pieces of my life in all of these different people; it was very moving.`` Sambhali Trust is committed to helping women and girls view themselves as strong independent individuals, and encourages them to speak up for themselves.