UN Women India & Bindi International NGO hosted Design Workshop on Women’s Health, Wellness, and Safety in Tea and Spice Sectors 

Jaipur: Reflecting on the profound impact of COVID-19 on the agriculture sector, particularly affecting women in the spice sector in Rajasthan and Kerala, and the tea sector in Assam, a collaborative initiative unfolded in Jaipur recently. A design workshop titled ‘Build Back Better-Ensuring Women’s Health, Wellness, and Safety in Rural Spaces in Spices Sector in Rajasthan and Kerala, and Tea sector in Assam’ was organized at Rajasthan International Centre. 

This event was organized by Bindi International NGO who would be implementing the project with support from UN Women India and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in partnership with Manjari Foundation, Wayanad Social Service Society (WSSS), and Thinkthrough Consulting. The event was graced by the presence of Secretary Rural Development, Rajasthan, Director Spices Board India and Deputy Country Representative, UN Women India and saw very wide participation by the Government Representatives from Gender cell Rajasthan, Rajeevika, Gender Park, Kerala along with various gender and policy experts. 

The workshop delved into the multifaceted challenges faced by women in the spice and tea sectors, examining the intersectionality of issues exacerbated by the pandemic. The participants in the workshop discussed issues that are crucial to address the disproportionate impact on women workers and the need to devise strategies for mitigating the socioeconomic effects. A particular highlight of the workshop was the pledge taken for commitment to speak and act against gender-based violence as part of 16 Days of Activism.

The workshop successfully generated thoughtfully designed strategies with tangible and actionable steps which will pave the way for a resilient and inclusive recovery prioritizing the well-being of rural women workers for rural women workers in Spice and Tea sectors. 

Present on the occasion was Ranjan Kumar, Junior Agriculture Advisor, Sustainability and Value Added in Agricultural Supply Chains, GIZ India, who reaffirmed the support for the upliftment of women in the spice sector of India. 

Speaking on the occasion Kanta Singh, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women India, “I firmly believe that understanding and addressing the diverse needs of women across states is crucial. Women's aspirations and challenges vary, requiring tailored strategies for empowerment. Recognizing the difficulty of rural accessibility and the pervasive issue of violence hindering women's potential, our commitment extends beyond livelihoods; it's a commitment to safety and unlocking the full potential of every woman,” said.