Organised by
The Working Women’s Forum/Indian Cooperative Network for Women” (Chennai, H.Q.)

The Working Women’s Forum (WWF) – Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW), has been “the only cooperative worldwide to receive the honour to conduct a side event at the 61st session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development (UNCSocD 61) on 9th Feb, 2023 at 8.15 to 9.30 pm IST from Chennai H.Q. The side event is entitled “The role of Young Women in Cooperatives in combating inequalities, enhancing productivity towards 2030 Global agenda”.
It is a honor for the WWF –ICNW, that in its 27 years of the UN ECOSOC consultative status, it is the only cooperative to be selected consecutively for the 2nd time and win this recognition. This year 57 side events took place in 8 days viewed by all continents.
The Working Women’s Forum (India) and Indian Cooperative Network for Women has reached 6,20,000 informal sector poor women in South India (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Telangana), performing 275 occupation. Having provided around 500 Crore, organizing women through credit groups, counseling, training in empowerment/gender awareness/ skills/ savings, market linkages, climate change solutions, right based capacity buildings.
This side event highlighted the key issues and the manner in which poor young women are transformed from atomized women workers into cooperative leaders, based on WWF-ICNW experience. Cases too from different regions of the world will be presented through panel discussion. As young women experience more disadvantages in cooperatives and their economic empowerment & equal participation in work is crucial to eliminate poverty and strengthen the global economy.
As our president in her welcome address pointed out the theme of the program highlights. Young women hailing from poor background with no backup & zero inputs (poverty, illiteracy, etc.,) make them as late starters (after 30 years), as they experience life cycle difficulties (after marriage & reproductive roles) as the WWF-ICNW experience points out. Their spouses are problematic (alcoholic/ irregular or poor income contribution). Some unable to go for work even if educated, as they to take care of home & children. Some young women, aged around 25 years work & study (independent & inspiring), are also engaged in entrepreneurial work without parental support. This is possible only through cooperatives like WWF-ICNW, which play a important role in poverty reduction. Even the youngest, poorest & semi-literate women can manage & run institutions (such as WWF-ICNW) through financial inclusion of cooperatives, transforming them & their families from survival to indebtness to further development/ empowerment & gender consciousness, ensuring financial inclusion.

Young women learn traditional skills by continuing the tradition in second generation (silk weaving in Kanchipuram, agricultural families etc). They also expand their business, creating assets, investments & generating employment. Demonstrating that Young, poor and semi illiterate women can also lead & manage business & households.

Highlights of the event:
Madam Daniela Bas, the dynamic UN focal point on cooperatives, Director – UNDESA and Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, initiated her speech by commenting on Dr.Nandini Azad’s (President WWF-ICNW) work as tireless energy & commitment towards inclusive social development and realization of SDGs. She stressed that the SDG 8,5,10 and the importance of cooperatives in combating inequality. She highlighted that women in India have voices & representation in cooperatives because of the efforts of WWF-ICNW and appreciated their work during the pandemic. She detailed the plight of women workers in informal sector and solutions from mass movements such as ours.
Mr. Arnold Puech D’ Alissac, President, World Farmers Organization (WFO) inspired us in his speech by celebrating the women farmers who play crucial role as both farmers and leaders of producers of cooperative organizations. He stated that Dr. Azad as the one of the brightest example of the above statement through her commitment as facilitator of cooperative working groups at the WFO. Later he highlighted that if women farmers are provided equal opportunity & resources, worldwide “hunger” would be reduced. He also added about the importance of women farmers role and young people’s participation in agriculture. He also announced the 3rd edition of the WFO Gymnasium (training young female/male farmers on technical knowledge about agriculture).
Ms Lana Zaman, Associate Sustainable Development Officer at UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, emphasized insisted that the gender disparities begin from childhood & escalate during adolescence. She spoke of the challenges & opportunities faced by the young women in Agriculture. She elaborated on the UN programs for women in Agriculture (accelerating progress towards the economic empowerment of rural women) including jointly implemented by IFAD, FAO, UN Women, WFP Network’s). Further opportunities for the next generation were enumerated such as education, digitalization, information and communication technologies, climate resilience & climate- smart agriculture. Cooperative action was critical to reach the 2030 goal for women and girls, she concluded.
Mr. Andreas Kappes, Secretary General, The International Raiffeisen Union (IRU),Germany (Oldest cooperative union in the world of whose board Dr.Nandini Azad, President ICNW is (the 1st woman in 50 years to be elected), stated that without the power and strong commitment of youth & women, the SDG goals may not be met. He explained inequalities faced by young women presenting facts and figures stating that in Asia, there is only 12-20% women leaders among 100 men & in Africa women produce 80% of food, but only own 1% land. He added that cooperatives are effective means of creating opportunities for young women in various sectors and mentioned our cooperative network i.e., ICNW in India as a famous example for it. Later he described cooperatives from the of DGRV (Directorate of German banks) through young women’s case studies i.e., in Columbia, Latin America particularly the importance of cooperatives in improving social and economic participation of young women.
Ms Faith Wayua, We Effect representative in Africa, highlighted on the Gender mainstreaming approach for women in cooperatives to ensure equal participation of women, girls, boys & men in their program (leadership & management positions). She also added that to address the gender gap, policies on inclusion of women & girls in decision making can be useful strategies. She elaborated about the program of We Effect, “leadership for change” and initiatives to protect women farmers from financial shocks ; and gender role transformation.
Mr. Hirofumi Kobayashi, Executive Director, Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (IDACA) Japan, congratulated Dr. Azad & the team for the event. Later he added figures on the Gender Gap Index (GGI) in the Asian countries and women’s representation in higher echelons of cooperatives. Stating that Japan is in the 116th position out of 146 countries with GGI interms of development of women in economy, education & politics, Philippines in 90th position, Taiwan in 79th, Korea in 99th & China in 107th position in GGI. He presented about young women’s participation at training courses in the IDACA (and reservation of quotes).
The event was held on the 91st birth anniversary of our founder president Padmasri Late Dr. H.S. Jaya Arunachalam wherein awards given in her name to deserving successful micro entrepreneurs from South India (6 Nos) that were released at the event (Micro entrepreneurs, that have taken subsequent loans from ICNW-WWF, increased employment, moved from informal to pre-formal sector, educated their children, empowered and involved in the WWF/ICNW member/gender based activity).

Six women leaders from South India (Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka) were chosen for the award through Quantitative analysis (technical criteria – parameters of repayment, no moratorium, no rescheduling, no overdues/ default with loan cycle) & Qualitative analysis (criteria is the members loyalty to values of organization, attending trainings, bringing new members, attending meetings). The other general criteria includes standing of members in cooperatives/ community in terms of civic actions (Good Samaritans).

Padmasri Late Dr. H.S. Jaya Arunachalm Awardees are 1. Ms. Sundari Devaraj (54 years) member from ICNW Kancheepuram cooperative branch, turned from wage earner to loom owner (25 years loanee) from Rs.1000. 2. Ms. Boddu Ruthu (35 years) member from ICNW Narasapur cooperative branch, transformed as self employed carpenter from wage earner (11 years loanee) from Rs.1000 to Rs.40000). 3. Ms. Pushpalatha Somasundaram (55 years) member from ICNW Adiramapattinam cooperative branch, expanded her small animal husbandry to agricultural cultivation (20 years loanee) from Rs.200 to Rs.50000. 4. Ms. Devika Narendran (53 years) member from ICNW Central Madras cooperative branch, transformed as medical shop owner from wage earning newspaper distribution (20 years loanee) from Rs.1000 to Rs.50000. 5. Shilpa Nagaraj (40 years) member from ICNW Chennapatna, cooperative branch (18 years loanee) from Rs.2000 to Rs.50000 from wage earner to petty shop owner. 6. Kavitha Sreenivasan
(38 years) member from ICNW South Madras cooperative branch, was a wage earning fisher woman invests on children as doctor, physiotherapists & provision store (20 years loanee) from Rs.2000 to Rs.50000. Many of the mass leaders watching from the 13 cooperatives in 4 states of South India provided case studies from South India during the discussion and Q&A session.

Thankyou.

For any other clarification please do not hesitate to E-mail us at:  wwforumindia@gmail.com, icprd96@gmail.com.  (you can kindly call 24992853 or Ms.Sumathy Cell: 9080354134, Ms.Anjalatchi Cell: 09361691027 Mr. Saravanan Cell: 9884634080. Ms.Parvathy Cell:9380551956). Enclosed herewith is the case studies of the awardees and photos and other photos.

If you need personal interview kindly contact Dr. Nandini Azad: 9810354181.