The Solidarity Economy in India

 

Action India

Action India is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on empowering women and young girls in political and economic aspects. It was founded in 1976 based in New Delhi. It was started to help “resettlement colonies” when people were forced out of city slums. After seeing the strength and leadership in women while rebuilding their communities, the organization started to develop programs to help this powerful group. The volunteers organize grassroots groups through collective action to campaign for reproductive health, nutrition, women’s legal rights, and women’s economic powers.

This organization uses the solidarity economy and the idea of “glocalizing”. Because it spreads awareness to urban slums and rural areas it is localizing its impact to these specific women. Action India emphasizes the importance and devalues the financial “burden” of having a girl. They help provide women with jobs and are trying to end the dowry system.

One of the areas of focus for Action India is “Women’s Economic Activity for Empowerment” which helps women with economic initiatives through micro-credit and saving programs. For example, in Western Uttar Pradesh, women make beaded crafts for overseas export. The volunteers have helped build leadership and management skills and even helped form a women’s collective called Agaaz. Action India is working with the National Institute for Fashion Technology to teach the women about the importance of labor and higher wages. Women and young girls have learned to overcome exploitation and ask for higher daily wages.

In addition to a working cooperative, Action India has set up a bank cooperative with open accounts for women. With the capital raised through their bead-making and other work, women are protected from corruption and high interest rates by moneylenders. Action India has thoroughly emphasized the value of women’s work and daily role in the community.

For more information please visit: http://www.actionindiaworld.org/

 

WORKS CITED:

Action India.< http://www.actionindiaworld.org/ > 2 May 2010.

 

 

 

 

Women empowering women : Volunteers share experiences through a picture scroll about lifting the economic burden of having a female child.

image courtesy of Wellesley College students.