towards the empowerment of women in rural Maharashtra

NINE GUIDING LIGHTS

On Wednesday, UNICEF appreciated the efforts of nine go-getters who, defying the system, have come up with outstanding contributions towards the empowerment of women in rural Maharashtra

GEETA DESAI 

 On Wednesday, in recognition of their efforts to spread awareness about education and health, hygiene and even the importance of small savings amongst women in rural Maharashtra, UNICEF felicitated nine go-getters in Mumbai. The girls – Manjula Madavi, Pragati Walvi, Sunita Pavra, Baby Saroja Mithkari, Swati Kharat, Runda Dhurve, Megha Sharma, Punyarath Aulre and Rasika Hazare – all hail from different parts of rural Maharashtra. But these 'Navjyoti', as aptly named by UNICEF, have a common thread: they have learnt the lessons of women empowerment, not in classrooms, but by virtue of sheer experience. And they braved all odds to not only become self-reliant, but are now helping other women of their hamlets to stand on their own feet. 
    Along the way, they faced stiff opposition, from villagers as well as their households. Only one of them made it to college; the rest couldn't due to money restraints. Besides, their families were against their education, and did not understand the work they wanted to do for other women in the village. 
    But consistent efforts resulted in realisation of their dreams – the dream to work for the betterment of women around them, those who actually believed that it was their fate to be born and die in a world of darkness. 
    Profiled here are five of the remarkable achievers. UNICEF AWARDS FOR 'NAVJYOTIS' 
In acknowledgement of their outstanding contribution towards rural women, UNICEF felicitated all the nine girls on Wednesday. At the function at Doordarshan Centre, Worli, they were presented letters of appreciation, mementoes and cash awards. The other four girls are: 
1 SAROJA MITHKARI, of Kajle Chincholi, Latur, who is studying in Std XI and works for the empowerment of women in her village. 
2 SWATI KHARAT. Forced to give up education after SSC when her father died in an accident, she works as a social worker with an NGO at Kurla, creating awareness among pregnant women about AIDS. 
3 PUNYARATH AULRE of Dighi Village, Nanded, who creates awareness about health, education and livelihood in her village 
4 MEGHA SHARMA. A Std XI student in Mumbai, she works in the city's slums to spread awareness about health and hygiene. 
5 SUNITA PAVRA 
Sunita's stepmother did not want her to study as it would mean a loss of wages and affect housework. "I use to complete my chores and then go to school. But my parents said I would have to earn my fees if I wanted to study. I did that up to Std VIII. Then my brothers had to stop studying as my stepmother would not finance their education. So I left school, worked for two years, paid for their education, and then decided to complete SSC myself. I also won a Rs 1,000 scholarship," said Sunita. 
    "I was associated with an NGO who trained me to educate and motivate others. I also spread awareness among adolescents, educating them about health, and encourage them to save for their future. My father now realises the need for education but doesn't have money for my studies," said Sunita. 6 RUNDA DHURVE 
Hailing from Movada village, Yavatmal, which has a population of 368 tribals, Runda wants every girl in her village to become a graduate. "Our villagers are all field labourers, they walk 2 km for daily-wage jobs. I studied up to Std XII, but want every girl in my community, including me, to get a degree. Till that day arrives, I will strive endlessly," said Runda. 
7 MANJULA MADAVI 
This brave lass who hails from the naxal infested area of Ambezari, Chandrapur, narrated her tale with a smile on her lips but tears in her eyes. She grew up watching villagers join naxals, leaving their families to their own fate. 
    "I wanted to be a prop for my community women and so took an interest in training given by NGOs. I joined school again without my father's knowledge. Once he saw me stepping out of school and thrashed me. Finally, he threw me out, and my uncle sheltered me. But I was determined to study, and my mother paid my fees from her meagre wages," said Manjula, a Std XII student. 
    In 2007, Manjula tried to stop a minor girl getting married. This enraged her community and her father was asked to get her married. But Manjula who worked with an NGO, was aware of her rights and told her father that, she was 18 and he could not raise his hand on her and she would not marry. "I was scared, but confident. I did not relent and finally my father gave in. He does not like what I do, but at least he doesn't bother now," she said. 
8 RASIKA HAZARE 
This 23-year-old feels that women in rural Maharashtra are deprived and abused. Even if education is free, they don't have money to commute to school, buy books, etc. They hardly earn a few tenners a day, and even that is snatched away by male family members for alcohol. 
    Rasika was backed by her mother when villagers objected to her education and working with an NGO. Her brothers got hold of four acres of land which is now their property, but she and her mother fend for themselves. 
    Rasika is a daily wage labourer but does not skip her routine of spreading awareness among pregnant mothers and adolescent girls. "When a girl attains adolescence, she is confused. She doesn't know how to react with men. She needs to be taught how to maintain a distance," she said. 
9 PRAGATI WALVI 
When her father abandoned them, Pragati was just three, and they had to live with her uncle in Badvinevadvi village, Nandurbar. 
    Pragati's mother wanted her to be educated, but villagers were so orthodox that they initially did not allow her to attend school. They tried to stop her by scaring her and even trying to molest her. She was also accused of being an 'outgoing' girl and village boys called her names. This frustrated Pragati and she attempted suicide. But having survived, she decided to fight back and began attending college. 
    A UNICEF worker then helped her, including her in promoting education and awareness. "Now I not only study, but also teach others the importance of education," said Pragati.

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Disabled At 2, Pooja Does Everything With Her Feet

Differently-abled Guj girl amazes with feat Surat: Where there is a will, there is a way; most of us heard of it, but a few live it. Pooja Gupta, 12, lost her hands to polio when she was just 2. However, a decade later, she stands tall on her feet, which are, in fact, also her hands.      From making rangoli to mehendi, painting to doing household chores, this enthusiastic kid insists on doing everything on her own using her feet. She has won many awards for her creative skills in rangoli, mehendi and painting. "I love doing things on my own. I eat with my feet and do my dishes too. However, what I really enjoy is making rangoli, mehendi and painting. I love colours and they make me happy,'' beams Pooja.      Born in the slums of Pandesara, the catastrophe struck her family when Pooja was diagnosed with the disease. Her mother became mentally unstable soon after and her father shifted to Varanasi, deserting little Pooja. Learning about Pooja's ailment, Kanubhai Tailor, president and founder of the Disabled Welfare Trust of India, took her under his wings and slowly started to train her.      Physically challenged himself, Tailor nurtured Pooja's talents. "She is a special child and is blessed with immense concentration and determination. Having won many competitions, she has brought a lot of pride to the school,'' Tailor said.      With Diwali just a day away, Pooja is brimming with energy and spends most of her time in making rangolis. "I love doing flowerrangolis. Not only are they colorful, they are also fragrant and seem very welcoming.'' Her smile fades the moment you ask her what she is doing this Diwali. "All my friends are going home to their parents. I have nowhere to go. I'm planning to learn a few new things during the holidays and spend time with Tailor sir's family.'' PERFORMING FEATS: Physically-challenged Pooja Gupta makes rangoli using her feet in Surat

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7 steps to Wealth

Step 1: You Must Decide Exactly What You Want 
If you understand how the mind works you will understand that this is the most powerful process you can undertake. We teach our clients this process regularly and you will be amazed with what starts to turn up when they experience the speed at which their life and results change!

Step 2: Learn About The Different Strategies To Make Money
What if you don't know what to do?
Well, I didn't know about property 12 years ago; but have built up a portfolio of over £1m within a couple of years. I found out what successful people were doing and copy it! Its called modelling. 
A word of warning: DO NOT allow other people to invest your money for you unless you understand it YOURSELF! The person who will take the greatest care with your money is you. I learned this a couple of times and lost over £15,000 myself getting it wrong! I want you to avoid these mistakes.
Become Self-educated In Investing And DO IT YOURSELF! We can help you learn these strategies quickly and implement them to get RESULTS.

Step 3: Minimise your time with Negative People
Take this suggestion VERY seriously.
For your own highest good ... minimise time with those people who only talk, think or act in a negative way ...... Don't let anyone steal your dream. 
When you start to attract wealth in your life it also attracts other people who are on your path. These will be your new networks and paths to other new and exciting opportunities…when you are ready for them. Stay open minded!!

Step 4: TAKE ACTION!!!
If you decide to do something, you know you want it with all your heart..., but don't take action, nothing will happen...!!! 
You MUST research, you MUST think, but by all means you MUST take action..!!
Not making a decision is a decision itself.
"When you have to make a choice, and don't make it, that in itself is a choice."
William James
You have to ask yourself...; How can you get where you want to be if you don't start any movement...? If you don't take the first step?
Act today, DO NOT leave for tomorrow what you can do today!!!!!
Action Creates Action
All Excuses Are Equal
No matter which excuse you can give..., or which excuse you choose to give ... there IS NOT a good reason to be a failure!!!
This is very important, so just take a few moments to think about this. Don't put it off...what one thing have you been putting off? Do it NOW!
Look back five, ten years, can you see yourself at that time?
What happened during those five, ten years...?
Did you get what you wanted...?
If not,
WHAT IS THE EXCUSE YOU HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TELLING YOURSELF...?
It's hard to face reality... It can HURT to face reality ... I can understand that, I've been there many times ... But I can also tell you .. "Don't look back to recriminate yourself" ...
Now is the time to move forward ...
Now is the time to make the decision ...
Now is the time to make the necessary changes to have a fantastic future!!!

Step 5: START SAVING AND INVESTING ...!!! SAVE AND INVEST... AS MUCH AS YOU CAN...!!
You can make all the money you want, but if you don't have a plan to save it, you will never get to your golden mountain!!! Unless you save you cannot explore other ways to Wealth 
Start with as much as you can, even if it only a little... Then increase that amount step by step ... 
You MUST Save and Invest ..., Save and Invest ..., Save and Invest... and remember... all excuses are equal!!!
Keeping the Flow of Wealth Moving
Tithing 
Tithing is giving 10% of your earnings away. WealthBabes does this already and keeps the Flow of Wealth MOVING! This is also a really important part of the plan and law of attraction.

Step 6: Surround Yourself With People, Who Know What They're Doing and have a proven track record... 
LEARN From Them ... Apply What They Have Done To Get To Where They Are Now.
Read as many books on success as you can. Saturate your subconscious mind with story upon story about success. This is an essential step that you must do to change your old conditioning.
You will eventually get to a point where you absolutely know and believe in every fibre of your being, that every step that you are taking on a daily basis is a valuable step, no matter how small it is, and is leading you closer and closer to realising your dreams.
The quicker you saturate your subconscious mind with thoughts of success, the faster you will become it.
It's a "snowball effect"!
You will eventually reach the point where you are literally pulling opportunities for profit to you faster than you can take advantage of them. Imagine what that will be like for you. Opportunities coming to you as opposed to you having to go out and chase them down. 
This is one of the main reasons we set up the Millionairess Club. To create a community of likeminded women who will speed up the process of becoming even more successful through collaboration and sharing of specific knowledge. 

Step 7:  This is the REAL SECRET and is the most amazing step of all - FAITH
Have TOTAL Faith In Yourself and the 'universe' that it will happen! You have to trust and let go of all attachment.  
Be Grateful For EVERYTHING You Have ...!!! NO MATTER WHAT...!!! 
And Remember To be thankful For The Wealth And Abundance That Is Already Yours (even before it comes)!!! 
This is the Attitude of "Gratitude".
Most likely you already know how to be grateful, however the secret to "Gratitude" is to be able to be grateful for everything in your life consistently, without judgment, no matter how good or bad current circumstances may appear to be.
Gratitude will accelerate your wealth process because it is a statement of belief that you already have what you are focused on creating and are about to experience.

These are the 7 Steps that if you only practice these, your life will change dramatically. 
You'll hear more about these in the Millionairess Club, our courses and in our other face to face sessions. 

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Educated women 'aid long life'

A well-educated woman positively influences both her own and her partner's chances of a long life, Swedish research suggests.

A man whose partner had only a school education has a 25% greater risk of dying early than if she had had a university education, it suggests.

The authors say educated women may be more likely to understand the various health messages their families needed.

The findings are based on a study of 1.5m working Swedes, aged 30 to 59.

The study, in the journal of Epidemiology and Community Healthcare, says that in the case of men, it is their income and social status that affect women's lifespan.

The researchers looked at data from the 1990 Swedish census and followed up information on causes of death, including cancer and circulatory diseases like heart disease and stroke from the cause of death registers up to 2003.

University education

A woman's education and social status were more important for a man's life chances than his own education, the findings indicate.

And a woman's education also affects her own mortality, with someone with a school education having a 53% greater risk of dying early than a university educated woman.

The authors said: "Education is of great importance through a direct influence on mortality as well as indirectly via occupation and income.

"Education may also have an indirect effect through its possible importance for choice of partner."

Dr Robert Erikson, who led the research, said: "Women traditionally take more responsibility for the home than men do and, as a consequence, women's education might be more important for the family lifestyle - for example, in terms of food habits - than men' s education.

"It's still the case that women tend to put the food on the table and in that way have a very direct influence.

"Women with higher education may also receive better medical treatment and their partners may benefit too."

Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, of the UK's Faculty of Public Health, said: "This study shows how closely education, lifestyle and long-term health are linked together.

"If we're serious about radically improving the health of the nation, we must fully invest in high-quality education at all levels."

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