We are working for Muslim women who are housewives. We are working to make them economically empowered to have their own income being in home. There is pressure from the family members that women should remain at home because if they go out children will not study properly.

Poverty causing divorces

In Rajasthan, poverty is the main problem for Muslim women. Because of lack of enough financial support, Muslim women face lots of problems and often they are even divorced for reason arising out of their financial incapacity. So if Muslim women are made economically and financially empowered, poverty will be curbed and this in turn will solve other problems. This will also give respect to them in their family and in the society. This will give them new identity though being at home.

I have a dream that I see every Muslim woman to have a smile on their faces and I wish they live peacefully within the four corners of the house. If this small thing is achieved, I am sure they will take care of their house more efficiently because a Muslim woman always wants to see members of the family happy and peaceful. So if the families don’t care for her feelings and don’t respect her contribution, she breaks down and it affects her mentally. They deserve respect as Muslim women being in the four walls of the house look after everyone in the family.

Nasrin Jamal, Jharkhand

I work on education of Muslim women and livelihood and health issues. I work on the different schemes that government has for the education of the minority girls and on the issues of health. I work mainly on the adolescent girls and train them with life skills and capacity building on livelihood. Most importantly we work on rights based approach and aware girls and women about their rights.

Gender disparity galore

In our areas we have seen that adolescent daughters and sons are treated differently. Son preferences are much higher. Girls are asked to stay at home and do household work. Girls are also asked to give away the good food to the male members and a feeling of discrimination develops. In this way adolescent girls get frustrated and are exposed
to continuous discrimination. If we give training to such girls to generate income at home, it will help them to overcome frustration and empower them. My dream is that if we give life skill training to these girls they can become social reformer and can lead a better life.

Rehana Pathan, Forum for Muslim Women, Gujarat

In Gujarat, situation has changed in last 2-3 years when many civil organizations felt that our Muslim women must be educated and this initiative has worked well. I wish that all girls feel that they are not only for the household chores but also they can contribute to the society. They can have their own identity. Things have been changing
but more change is required. Empowerment required We dream that all Muslim women walk and talk at par with other members of the other communities. Women from other communities are so empowered that I dream our women too do good and go ahead. This step will start from home. If they are respected at home, then the community will respect them too. They should be empowered and have a source of income for themselves.

A social activist, Hyderabad

In the city of Hyderabad, no matter how poor women are, they are restricted from going out to earn a livelihood. They are confined indoors. Nearly 70% of them do not go out at all. Very few go out only when accompanied by their husbands or male members. Poor girls ‘given’ to Arab sheikhs for money At least one girl in the family is married to a rich Arab man as his third or fourth wife. It is common in the interior of the old Hyderabad city. These girls are ‘given’ in marriage in exchange of money which will enable the poor parents to buy food do for the family for few months. This practice seems decreasing on the surface but it’s still going on secretly. I wish there is a change to this.
Sudipa, women rights activist, Madhya Pradesh

Communalism and security

Basically the main problem is communalism. Muslims are facing discrimination in fund allocation for scholarship. Moreover, advertisement about the scholarship is not published properly and in time to spread the information.

Another issue is security. I dream to improve the whole security situation especially among the Muslim community. This is most important.

Savana Parveen, Nari Avam Sishu Kalyan Kendra, West Bengal

Discrimination in education

Discrimination against women in education is a big challenge. Many Muslim girls who shift from Madrassa education to the formal education system, are looked down upon. This should not happen. Also I feel discrimination in public spaces is an important issue. I have seen a kind of discrimination against Muslims while travelling in train.

People try to identify as Muslims

I dream that Muslim women will have equality with other women. Economic empowerment of Muslim women too is necessary and there should be no discrimination against women in any field.

Nahid Aqeel, Prayatna Foundation, UP

Social exclusion

Muslims are socially excluded and also they are excluded within their own community. I work with Muslim and Dalit women. We aim at improving education of these communities and making them aware about their rights. We also give stress in strengthening the leadership building among the marginalized community like Muslims and Dalits. Our dream is that these women are able to raise their voice by themselves. For this we want to make them educated and empowered.