The Visible Changes in Women’s Lives: PRADAN’s Efforts in Khunti

Empowering the tribal women by organizing them into collectives in which they support each others’ savings and credit activities, and providing them with the information, skills, financial support and linkages for implementing different livelihood options has changed the character of rural society

PRADAN's efforts to empower women have brought about visible changes in rural society. Tribal woman are orienting themselves to the multi-level changes in themselves as well as in their villages. They have become more confident, have an effective say in their family and village, have become more aware of their rights and entitlements, have greater access to mainstream institutions and have a better self image. ‘Development communication played a vital role in this process’. This article will discuss how PRADAN'sefforts are contributing to the empowerment of women in the tribal villages of Khunti district of Jharkhand, and the use of development communication towards this.

Khunti district is just 40 km away from Ranchi, the state capital of Jharkhand. Khunti has a tribal-dominated society (more than 80 per cent of the population belongs to the Munda tribe) and there is widespread poverty (62 per cent are below the poverty line—BPL). The literacy rate, however, is higher than the national average (69 per cent). Women are respected and have a say in society. In all important decisions of the family, their opinion is sought; they go to markets, works in fields and the male members of the family help them in the kitchen. However, some traditions and laws deprive them of their rights and make their position in society weak. For example, only a male can be the Munda (the traditional administrative head of the village) and land can belong to the male heir only. Similarly, women alone cannot take any decision independently, whereas the men can do so. PRADAN has been working here to enhance livelihoods and empower women for many years.