Stories of Change

Transforming Poor Rural Women into Successful Business Managers

Ten years ago Pushpa Devi Maurya joined a self-help group to make ends meet in the village of Chak Padri in the state of Uttar Pradesh, northern India. Today this 35-year-old mother of two manages the bulk milk chilling centre set up by the milk producers’ company near her village. The centre collec more

UNDP Chief Meets Indian Women Who Have Broken the Glass Ceiling

New Delhi, 14 March 2012: UNDP Administrator Helen Clark met a group of Indian women activists, local leaders and social entrepreneurs here today. The main message that emerged from the discussions was that women could become a force to transform society provided they are politically and economicall more

Conceptualizing Inclusive Growth

A two-day consultation organized by the Planning Commission and the UNDP aimed to arrive at a conceptual understanding of inclusive growth and the key determinants of an inclusive growth framework that can guide countries, development agencies and communities in the coming years. Inclusive developme more

Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihoods

On the edge of Rajasthan where shifting sand dunes mark the border with Pakistan, four villages have had their dark nights lit up by incandescent bulbs. Lighting up Women’s FutureIn a small corner of the western Indian state of Rajasthan women trained as solar engineers are helping light up houses more

Conservation of Medicinal Plants

India has a rich resource base of medicinal plants, plush with about 8,000 different species. According to the Government of India (GoI), traditional medicines are the sole means of health care for about 65 percent of the population. This is the basis of the UNDP India and GoI initiative on ‘Conserv more

DRM - Community Volunteers Instrumental in Bihar Flood

The strength of disaster mitigation and management depends on the level of community involvement. UNDP’s Disaster Risk Management (DRM) project has been able to mobilize volunteers through the initiative. This sense of civic engagement has proven an asset during the recent floods in Bihar. Kiran Dev more

UNDP Enhancing Women’s Role and Participation in Governance

To empower elected women representatives, several initiatives supported by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, such as trainings, workshops, exposure visits are helping women bring socio-political change in the communities. Sulochana Mulgi is an elected representative of Manedi more

Social Mobilization for Poverty Alleviation

As a result of UNDP India’s Social Mobilization for Poverty Alleviation project in partnership with the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, women in the villages of Udaipur in Rajasthan have been able to open bank accounts and take important decisions related to livelihoods. OWNING more

Guaranteeing Jobs, Building Sustainable Livelihoods

The visit of Miss Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to Bhilwara district in the western Indian state of Rajasthan shed light on several critical elements of the pioneering legislation, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Guaranteei more

Power of Collectives: UNDP-IKEA Foundation Helps Women Change Rules

Thousands of women are setting an example by defining their own empowerment and creating exciting opportunities for social change as a result of a project launched by UNDP and the IKEA Foundation. Decades of poverty, deep-rooted caste hierarchies and subjugation of women are by no means easy challen more

Publications

Equity Unaddressed: A Civil Society Response to the Draft Approach Paper-12th Five Year Plan

The publication is a compilation of responses from civil society organisations to the Draft Approach Paper to the 12th Five-Year Plan.It presents a detailed critique of the Approach Paper in areas such as education, gender, youth development, land issues, water and sanitation, among others.

Addressing Gender Concerns in the Microfinance Institutions (Development and Regulation) Draft Bill 2011

The report summarizes findings from an expert group consultation on the gender implications of the Microfinance Draft Bill 2011.The consultation, organized by Gender community of the Solution Exchange with support from UNDP India, also outlined a range of recommendations for empowering women through the Bill.

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