Bolstering the Front Line: Grass Roots Organizations’ role in Women’s Economic Empowerment

Panel discussion presented by All India Women’s Conference (AIWC), the NGO Committee on Human Rights, NY, the International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers (IFS) and South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS).

Women worldwide are the poorest of the poor. They are less likely to participate in the paid labor market, more likely to be unemployed and are paid significantly less than men. All these challenges have led to a feminization of poverty that can only be tackled by strengthening social protection systems and infrastructure at the grass roots level. Grass roots women’s organizations have long been at the forefront of empowering women economically during ordinary times as well as during times of war and in the recent global pandemic. Literacy and vocational training in different fields, computer training, higher studies, socioeconomic projects, legal literacy, and financial literacy all work in conjunction to eliminate poverty and nurture women’s leadership. This webinar will explore best practices and programs at the grass roots level and recommend solutions for realizing the economic empowerment of women.

Wednesday, March 13th, 2024
8:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time (New York)

PROGRAM

Welcome – Kalyani Raj – President, AIWC 
Greetings – Dr. Roberta Nassar – Chair, NGO Committee on Human Rights, NY and Representative to the UN(IFS)
Greetings – Sudha Acharya – Executive Director, SACSS, Principal Representative to the UN(AIWC) 
Moderator – Dr. Manju Kak – Secretary General, AIWC
Introduction of Speakers – Shevata Rai Talwar – Joint Secretary, AIWC

SPEAKERS 

Dr. Medha Puran Samant – Chairperson & Managing Director, Annapurna Pariwar
Ela Gandhi – Chairperson, Phoenix Settlement Trust, and Gandhi Development Trust
Kuljit Kaur – Member in Charge AIWC – Presentation on AIWC Activities
Junias M Kanyinda – Communications Officer, IFS
Mary Archana Fernandez – Director, Family Support Services, SACSS
Nidhi Ashok Goyal – Founder and Executive Director, Rising Flame

SUMMATION

Navina Sitaram – Representative to the UN, AIWC

AUDIENCE QUESTIONS 

Dr. Manju Kak – Secretary General, AIWC

VOTE OF THANKS 

Dr. Upasana Singh – Treasurer, AIWC.