To improve access to land and resources for women farmers in Uttar Pradesh (UP), one of its focus states, Oxfam India conducted a study along with Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group (GEAG) in 2006.The study aimed to understand whether government schemes actually reached and benefitted women farmers. The study showed only 6 per cent women owned land, 2 per cent had access to credit and only 1 per cent had access to agriculture trainings. It also revealed that the women who owned land were either widows (81 per cent) or a single child (19 per cent). A need was thus felt to assert rights and demand justice for women farmers’ in the state. This was the beginning of AAROH Campaign, a women farmers’ campaign, in 2006. The AAROH Campaign is supported by Oxfam India, and led by GEAG in coordination with four other regional not-for-profits. This paper documents the AAROH campaign achievments and challenges.
Source: OXFAM in Action
