Table of Contents

VII. Skills-based Training: Empowering Women in their Families and Communities

A. Nature of the problem

There are more than 40 million women with disabilities in India. Gender discrimination compounds the discrimination these women already face as people with disabilities. Many girls and women with disabilities live their lives in complete deprivation with a very little control over their lives, and totally dependent on their families. Most often, they are treated as helpless and unable to do anything either for themselves or for their family. In many families they are kept hidden so as not to damage the marriage prospects of their siblings. In addition, some members of society regard women with disabilities as bad women. Women with disabilities suffer doubly from being women and being disable. Women are most often the most neglected, marginalized and hidden group of people with disabilities. Yet issues concerning the situation of women with disabilities have received little attention from the mainstream gender movement.

Many families do not want to put their time or resources into the welfare of their children with disabilities as they are considered non-productive and unable to contribute to the family’s needs or economic security. Their basic needs and rights – like healthcare, education, skills training etc., are not considered as important. The literacy rate of women with disabilities is very low as a result. Access to rehabilitation facilities is also very limited. Further, few women with disabilities choose to wear appliances, compared with men. The dominant presence of the male technicians in the field of rehabilitation is one reason for this. Women, particularly those from more traditional societies, find the measurement and fitting of aids often embarrassing and immodest. The lack of female technicians is therefore an immense hindrance to the achievement of mobility for girls and women with disability.

The challenges above are largely the result of negative cultural and societal attitudes rather than of the physical experience of a disability. Collecting data on how community attitudes impact on women with disability, and the specific nature of the challenges they face as a result, is an essential first step in changing these attitudes. Increased understanding of the situation and status of women with disabilities can also led to increased community pressure on governments to provide legislative and policy support to women and men with disability. With this as a goal, Mobility India, a Bangalore-based NGO, conducted a sample survey of women with disabilities in Bangalore. The survey reported the following findings:

• The majority of the women with disabilities live in poor and isolated conditions;
• The visibility of women with disabilities in the community is strikingly less than of their male counterparts;
• They are mostly deprived of their basic rights such as education, health care, skill training, employment, family life and other social services; and
• Very few women with disabilities partake in rehabilitation or use aids and appliances for their personal mobility.

In addition, the survey found that only 1 per cent of women make use of skills training opportunities provided by government agencies and/or NGOs. Further, most are trained in tailoring, candle making, book binding, basket weaving etc., trades which no longer have the potential to generate sufficient income to make them independent or self-sufficient.

The results of the survey highlighted the urgent need to find and create increased and more economically beneficial opportunities to mainstream girls and women with disabilities. It also highlighted the need for alternative vocational/skills training in which women could develop their potential and be assisted in becoming economically independent.

The dire findings of the survey provided the impetus for Mobility India’s “Rehabilitation Aids Workshop by Women with Disabilities”. The main objectives of the programme were to:

• Train women with disabilities in the manufacture and repair of rehabilitation aids and appliances so that more women technicians would be available to address the needs of women with disabilities; and
• Promote equality for women with disabilities, to become economically independent, self-reliant and integrated into the mainstream.

B. Nature of the organization

The Rehabilitation Aids Workshop by Women with Disabilities (RAWWD) is a group of young women aged between 20 and 25 years who have physical, mainly mobility impairment. The project started in 1996. Ten women with physical impairment were identified from lower income families. They were given mobility appliances to enhance their mobility and confidence. This was followed by a one-and-a-half year course in the production of mobility aids and appliances. After the training, the participants were assisted in finding employment or setting up their own workshop.

Figure 3. Prema, Anita and Chandrama busy in the workshop

Training was provided in all aspects of running a workshop – such as purchasing of machines and tools, raw materials, contacting hospitals and other private practitioners for clients, need assessment and taking care of the clients, keeping accounts and all other related matters.

After completion of the training, Mobility India continued to provide technical support and additional on-the-job training to further develop and advance the women’s skills. In just two years the workshop became self-sustaining. The women trainees established good relations with hospitals and private practitioners (the main source of clients), and became proficient at procuring raw materials for making the appliances, conducting regular follow-ups, keeping records of the clients, maintaining accounts and other related tasks.

The increased income and economic independence their new skills brought them also brought them respect and acceptance in their families and communities. With their new found confidence as active contributors to their families, the women are no longer looked down upon.

C. Achievements

Although the project experienced some initial difficulties during its implementation period, its outcomes have made it a success story. Through the training the lives of the women trainees were expanded and enhanced. It gave the women their self-respect and confidence back, and demonstrated that they could be active members and contributors to their community and its development.

Their new found economic independence also brought social respect and acceptance. They earned this respect and acceptance in two important ways – through economic contributions to their families, and through their contributions to their community by providing much needed services and support for the rehabilitation of the physically impaired.

As importantly, the project produced a pool of female technicians – a great need identified by the earlier survey. This project will also encourage other girls and women with disabilities to take up mobility appliances to enhance their personal mobility. The project also created a new opportunity for women’s vocational rehabilitation. The skills gained under the project may assist many women in the future to become economically independent if they choose to pursue the training. Furthermore, the project helped to demonstrate the potential of women with disabilities. It also showed that if well-designed training that is responsive to the needs of the local community is provided, woman with disabilities can master anything, including unconventional or male-dominated professions.

In addition to the impact on the women, the project has made an important impact on the local communities. Community attitude change has been achieved, with many families recognizing the benefits of enabling their daughters, sisters, mothers or wives to partake in skills training and enhancement.

D. Key lessons learned

This project was the first of its kind in India, and the lessons learned from its successes and failures have proved invaluable for replication and further development of the project.

One important insight provided by the project was the impact of the hidden or scarce visibility of women with disabilities. This emerged as a vital issue that needs to be addressed. In addition, further education and more accessible education need to be made available for women and girls with disabilities. The lack of a minimum education increases their vulnerability and reduces opportunities to partake in vocational and/or technical training.

It was also found that there is a lack of interest in many families in encouraging their girls and women to undertake skills training. Families often reported that they felt that women and girls with disabilities were “no good for anything”, and that “their marriage prospects are very low”. There is also an evident lack of interest among the women and girls themselves to take up what is often seen as an unconventional vocation. However, despite their initial lack of support and encouragement, many families took back their daughters when they started earning money as a result of their new skills.
The most important lesson learned is the impact that poverty has on women and their families. This, in addition to disability and low literacy rates, is what contributes most to the negative stereotype of women with disability as an economic burden on their families. To achieve equality, poverty as the root cause of discrimination must be tackled. By providing employment and economic opportunities through increased skill levels, RAWWD believes it was able to address this issue through its programme.

E. Sustainability

The project did not get any financial support from government. Mobility India raised funds from various other agencies. A major source of funding came from MIBLOU, Switzerland.

Figure 4. Members of RAWWD and MIBLOU representatives

After the training, Mobility India assisted the trainees to find a suitable location for setting up a workshop. A site was found just opposite one of the largest hospitals in Bangalore, and where most of the clients for fitments come from. Cheshire Home provided the space free of charge in return for free service to the children at the home with disabilities – an example of sharing resources.

In the first year, Mobility India gave full financial support to the running of the workshop, including the salary of the members. This was reduced gradually over three years until the workshop became self-sufficient. At the end of the third year, Mobility India was able to bring to a close its involvement and hand over the workshop to the trainees. Within four years of operation the women running and working in the workshop were drawing regular salaries, had set up a bank account and had accumulated considerable savings. On seeing the success of this project, other groups are voicing interest in replicating the programme.

The workshop is now run and managed entirely by the women themselves. They not only make orthotics, prosthetics, and rehabilitation devices, but also train other young women and girls in the manufacture of these aids and devices. In addition, the income generated by selling the devices ensures that they are self-sustainable – able to continue their activities, run their business, and save for the future and for further growth and income.

Mobility India continues to provide technical support when needed, and to provide training to upgrade the skills of the women technicians. RAWWD has become the strongest partner of Mobility India, a valued partner among its 27 other partners from all over India. Mobility India and its partners work together to reach out to as many people with disabilities, especially young girls and women, as possible.