- Annual Reports
Annual Report 2021-22
Despite the manifold crises of our times, including the pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and rising economic and social challenges, we resolve to shine our brightest. This annual report reflects our resilience and unwavering commitment to supporting marginalized communities.
Dear friends
We are writing our annual report at a time when the world is being defined as BANI – brittle, anxious, non-linear and incomprehensible. The pandemic, Ukraine-Russia war, deepening economic recession, increasing influence of a right wing across the globe and depleting spaces for human rights work, undoing of gains made in women’s rights – all of these indeed make it a very BANI world. Yet, as they say the lamp shines brightest when the night is dark. It is with this understanding of reality and a resolve to shine our brightest that we present this annual report to you.
Whatever the crisis be – natural or manmade, it always pushes the underprivileged people towards more distress, aggravating further the structural inequalities. Amongst them, women and persons from LGBTQIA+, Dalit and religious minority communities have been at the receiving ends of all hardship. Women labor force participation rate (WLFPR) has declined to 9.4% according to the data from Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, December 2021, domestic violence has been increased 3 times according to the data released by National Commission for Women (NCW) and India accounts for one-third of the global child marriages which is estimated to increase by 13 million due to the pandemic, according to data by UNICEF.
Azad’s work addresses the structural barriers that prevent women from joining the work force. We understand, deprivation from remunerative skill and subsequent job is a consequence of the situation and position of the women in a society dominated by Brahminical Patriarchy. Our experience as well as various researches shows that women can’t join full-time job outside home due to mobility restrictions, violence at home and public places and huge pressure of unpaid care work. These challenges got aggravated over the last two years as markets shrunk, women were the first to lose their jobs and the last to get those back; unpaid care work burden increased significantly for women as work from home became the norm and care for sick and ailing had to be taken at home; and the shadow pandemic of domestic violence loomed large. We may not be in a lockdown anymore and the economy may seem to be reviving itself, but our experience on the ground tells us that families and communities that have been pushed further into distress will take years to recover leading to intergenerational impact. It is sad to note, that as a nation, we don’t have a clear roadmap on building back better post Covid.
Azad has, like many other civil society organizations, tried to keep its head above waters and continues to stand in solidarity with the marginalized women. We intensified efforts to build a gender-just ecosystem by empowering community leaders, supporting marginalized women, and promoting gender-inclusive infrastructure and social security for women. We introduced two-wheeler training for e-commerce jobs, made strides in eco-friendly transport with e-vehicles, and conducted research to influence policy changes. Our active participation in local and global campaigns advanced the inclusion of women in non-traditional livelihoods.
Our processes were flexible and as a resilient organization we adopted new procedures of work during lockdowns, such as, pick-up and drop services for trainees, using blended curriculum in training, internet support to the trainees so that they stay connected, using Google forms to understand socioeconomic situation of the communities, connecting with the psychosocial counseling and legal services whenever community women or anyone from our team needed the same. The Delta wave tested us, like everyone around us. We are grateful to have been able to stand in solidarity with each other and get on the other side. We mourn collectively the loss of several leaders, workers and activists of the civil society sector – their loss can never be compensated.
In October 2021, Azad launched Kamla Bhasin Award – Driving the World Towards Gender Equality, in memory of Kamla – our dear friend, feisty activist, and an inspiring leader of the women’s movement globally. The award has reached out to sheroes and heroes on the ground in all South Asian countries and we look forward to the first award ceremony in November 2022. In 2021-22 a phenomenal shift has been made in Azad’s leadership structure, that entails handing over leadership by the founder to a National Leadership Team. We have continued to nurture and support this transition through a thoughtfully crafted organisation development process. According to our friend, the feminist activist-writer Hope Chigudu, “This means immense individual and organisational change. I swear. It demands a fundamental shift of mind, resources, and energy! It also requires courage, humility, re-alignment of heart, mind, body and soul.”
We could not have undertaken all this without immense support from our donor partners who have stayed the course with us. We are grateful to have a Board that works as our lighthouse, holding us accountable and holding itself accountable to ensure best governance practices. We thank innumerable individuals and friends who have reposed faith in our work and supported us in myriad ways. We are grateful for the solidarity and partnership of the communities with whom we work. The trust that we have built mutually is the foundation of all our efforts. And last but not the least, the team of Azad – you rock!!! You rise up to every challenge and you build yourself as you build the organisation.
With this happy note, we invite you to read our annual report of 2021-22!
Much regards and love,
Anita, Dolon & Shrinivas
