Development in a Globalized World

Some 200,000 crimes against women are committed in India every year - that's according to official figures. But the number of unreported cases is estimated to be much higher. Women are often simply not listened to by the authorities. And so especially in rural parts of the country cases of domestic violence, rapes and killings are often overlooked. That is also the case in Bundelkhand, a region in northernl India, one of the country's poorest and most challenged regions.

But some women have started to break the vicious cycle and fight for women's rights. One is a group of women all dressed up in bright pink sarees, called the Gulabi Gang. The other one is a team of female journalists publishing a rural paper, all written and distributed by women. Both of these very inspiring projects have gained huge respect within their communities and beyond.

They show that with inspiration, guts and intelligence, promoting women's rights can bring about positive change and support for both women and men in society.

The report was compiled in coproduction between IGNOU, New Delhi, and Deutsche Welle

Report: Anwar J.Ashraf/ Nina Haase