Empowering Voices on International Women’s Day 2024

Dr. Sara Varughese, Managing Trustee, CBM India Trust – “We recognize the profound intersection of disability and gender, especially within marginalized communities. Women with disabilities often face compounded challenges, yet possess immense potential and resilience. We believe investing in their inclusion empowers not just them but unlocks progress for entire communities. Through our initiatives, we aim to address these multiple layers of discrimination, dismantle barriers, and equip women with and without disabilities with the resources they need to achieve their goals and lead independent lives. In the last fiscal year, almost 45% of the persons with disabilities we reached were women.

Through our recent efforts, we reached over 650 women—including over 100 women with disabilities and women who care for family members living with disabilities—in 85 villages of Karnataka’s Anekal Taluk through income-generating and climate resilience support. Thanks to this initiative, about 200 women received funds and training for farming and non-farming activities, and more than 100 women completed our tailoring courses and received sewing machines, with 60% successfully launching their own businesses. 

Additionally, in line with our commitment to gender equity, 58% of participants in our training courses on Community-Based Inclusive Development are women. These courses have the objective of making the process of development more inclusive and strengthening the knowledge and skills of professionals working with persons with disabilities at the grassroots level. At CBM India, our resolve is stronger than ever to support women—with and without disabilities—paving the way for a more inclusive and just society. Our actions today are creating a legacy of empowerment, demonstrating that investing in women is not a choice, it’s a necessity to drive progress and create sustainable solutions for the planet.“