Rohini Pawar is an atheist. She still could not accept the reasoning that women should not be allowed into a temple since menstruation makes a woman’s body impure.
Pawar launched a strategic campaign combining community dialogues, a compelling documentary, and targeted activism in the village of Veer, Maharashtra (India). Her efforts, amplified by media coverage, built widespread support for change.
In some ways, Pawar had been preparing for this moment all her life. Her first experience with gender based discrimination was as a young teenager, when her dreams of becoming a doctor were curtailed after being married at only 15.
Pawar's persistence finally paid off when she and 3000 other women entered the temple's inner sanctum for the first time, breaking a 400 year old tradition.
Interestingly, Pawar's campaign sprouted along with other similar efforts by women activists to reclaim their right to practice their religion at the Sabrimala Temple in South India and the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai.
Pawar’s successful campaign is a victory not just for the women of Veer village, but also inspiring similar changes across India.
By purchasing this impact report, you provide financial support to Rohini and send a strong message for gender equality, especially in religious places.
Impact Analysis
Value of Awareness and Access: $2 per year per woman
Direct Beneficiaries: 3000 local women who walked with Rohini Pawar
Duration of impact: 2 years, estimated time practice would have persisted without Rohini
Total Benefit: $12,000, 3000 women * $2 * 2 years
Cost of Impact: $850, dividing the annual budget for video volunteers in 2016 ($320,788) with the total number of impact reports they produced in that year (377)
Benefit Cost Ratio: 14.11, dividing $12,000 by $850
Meet the Reporter
The first time Rohini Pawar took a train, she had to lie to her in-laws and claim it was for a religious pilgrimage.
Actually, she had come for a training session held by Video Volunteers to become a community correspondent.
“I want to change things in my society for women– get them equal wages, stop child marriages, help them speak up and stand up for themselves” said Rohini when asked about her motivation to report on her community.
Her work as a correspondent has helped stop 4 child marriages, empower 600 female agricultural workers to get equal pay as their male counterparts and enable freedom of worship for women in male restricted temples. She has been interviewed by famous actor Abhay Deol and her work has been picked up by Indian news outlets like NDTV.
Not only have I become better at shooting videos but I can do things on my own, not depending on people,” reflected Rohini on her journey as a correspondent.
Your purchase of this report sends an important message to Rohini that her work is valuable and appreciated by the world.