International Women’s Day: On Women’s Day and every day, just one click can empower countless rural women

In keeping with UN’s  theme of ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality, Grow-Trees.com is creating green livelihoods for women

On International Women’s Day, it is sobering to read the United Nations’ overview of women’s lack of online access and how it will cause a $1.5 trillion loss to the gross domestic product of low and middle-income countries by 2025 unless some action is taken.

Supriya Patil, an environmentalist working with social organisation Grow-Trees.com says, “It is not just digital gender gap but also pervasive social and economic inequality that denies women and girls employment opportunities.  Our initiative ‘DigiWe: Empowering her future,’ aims to leverage technology to create jobs for marginalised women even in the most underserved regions. With just one click, individuals, collectives and corporate entities all over the county can donate a tree,  support an afforestation  project and empower these women to not just repair rural and tribal ecosystems but to also become financially independent.”

Grow-Trees.com has been demonstrating for over 13 years how with just a single click, anyone can help expand the nation’s green cover and also empower women like  Meera Bai (32) who hails from Bardiya, Pratapgarh, Rajasthan. She has now been a part of Grow-Trees.com’s plantation activities for a while and is able to provide for her two children and also offer additional financial support to her spouse. She says, “I am also pleased that I now get to participate in an activity other than domestic tasks. I feel more empowered  and have a sense of purpose I didn’t have before.”

International Women’s Day: On Women’s Day and every day, just one click can empower countless rural women

Hansidevi, who hails from a village in Uttarakhand also has a similar story to tell. Because of Grow-Tree.com’s plantation initiatives, she has been able to construct a nursery of over 1500 saplings along the riverside and is now financially independent. She says, “Once these saplings mature, they will provide fodder for the buffaloes and save the village over  Rs. 15000 per year.   I   also earn a steady income by selling the fruits, flowers, and other byproducts of the vegetation I have planted with my own hands. This is truly fulfilling work and gives me immense pride and self-confidence.”

Grow-Trees. com has also initiated plantation drives for the benefit of the underserved Irula tribe in Vepperi village, Tamil Nadu.  Amla and Guava trees have been planted to meet the villagers’ nutrition and vitamin requirements and the project is also enabling women who have never earned before, a chance to get a sustainable income.

Supriya concludes, “Our aim is to educate rural communities about the environmental benefits of planting trees, to also boost the green economy and bridge economic gender gaps. The good news is that everyone can be a part of this movement. All it takes is a click and the desire to change a life. Or many.”

Read more:

• FIFA 23: Heroes FUT Fantasy – Everything you need to know about the upcoming promo and how will the players upgrade
• Manchester City unfolds new concept designs for 60,000 Etihad expansion
• What action did Adani take to regain the trust of investors?
• Indian Electric SUV Market could see some amazing mid-size cars appearing in the next two years