The Hunger Project is committed to confronting this opposition at all levels of society, and to empowering the system of panchayati raj, and women s full participation in it. At the 23 September launching event in New York, you will meet women panchayat representatives who are ending hunger in their communities. Women as Change Agents Women are making a difference. Against all odds, women in panchayati raj are already making headway in areas of immediate concern to their families and their villages. These issues, often ignored by men, are critical for progress in India s rural areas.
Women organize literacy courses for other women in the community.
They ensure that schools are built for children, that teachers are held accountable, and that both girls and boys attend. Women leaders organize skills training for the women of the community. They ensure that women know their rights and have access to information. They commit themselves to include traditionally excluded groups the landless, scheduled castes and tribes. Women leaders empower other women to step out of the home, become literate and contribute to the community.