EMPOWER PEOPLE

20/05/2026

🌿 Women from Dhubri district of Assam, through the Naari Nusrat Group, are building a successful livelihood model with their hand fan business.

Under the leadership of the group’s Sakhi Leader, Alima Khatun, this initiative is steadily growing and creating new opportunities for rural women. Recently, 12 hand fans supplied to a shop in Bilasipara were completely sold out, and the group has now received a new order for 20 more hand fans. 🪭✨

With the growing demand, the women are now preparing to scale up production together so they can regularly supply to more shops in the coming months. 🤝

Built on locally available materials and traditional skills, this low-cost business is becoming a sustainable source of income for many women from May to October each year. 🌸

The Naari Nusrat Group is proving that collective effort, local innovation, and women’s leadership can create lasting pathways toward self-reliance and economic empowerment. ✨

18/05/2026

Women with lived experiences are building their own survivor-led collectives, leadership structures, and district-level organizations.

This podcast episode explores solidarity, democratic participation, safety networks, grassroots leadership, and the journey from charity-based approaches toward collective change.

सखी नेता कैसे अपने अंदर नेतृत्व, संघर्ष, सामुदायिक बदलाव और सशक्तिकरण की ताकत लेकर सामने आती हैं. ये उसी बदलाव का ब्...

16/05/2026

The 4-day Peer Counseling Workshop conducted from 11 to 14 May 2026 at Clifftop Retreat, Yamunanagar, under the Project Activating Survivors Assistance Program, has successfully concluded.

Supported by the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, the workshop brought together 15 peer counselors, referred to as Salah Sakhis, for intensive training under Empower People’s trauma-informed peer counselling protocols. The workshop focused on strengthening survivor-centered and community-based psychosocial support systems for women affected by trafficking, violence, abandonment, and social isolation.

The term “Salah Sakhi” refers to trained peer counselors who provide emotional support, active listening, crisis response, and referral assistance within their communities. The training emphasized empathy, confidentiality, psychological first aid, ethical engagement, and the importance of survivor-led support networks that help women move from isolation toward solidarity and collective resilience.

The workshop was facilitated by Runjhun Sharma, Rajbala (Project Coordinator), Urmila Badal (President, Sakhi Mandal), and Shafiq R Khan, Founder of Empower People. The training process was further supported by volunteer Arsh Khan along with the active participation and coordination of Anjule Shyam Maurya, Rajendra Prasad (Haryana State Coordinator), Dildar Hussain (Convenor, Empower People Yamunanagar), Anjum Bano (Press Secretary, Sakhi Mandal), and Shilpa Kumari.

Through interactive learning methods including role-plays, case simulations, active listening exercises, crisis response training, ethics and confidentiality modules, referral mapping, and practical counselling sessions, participants were trained to identify high-risk situations, provide psychological first aid, strengthen survivor support pathways, and respond sensitively to women experiencing violence, exploitation, contemporary forms of slavery, and mental distress.

The workshop also highlighted the role of peer solidarity, survivor leadership, and culturally rooted support systems in rebuilding trust and dignity among vulnerable women.

15/04/2026

Yesterday, we came together to celebrate a moment of dignity, identity, and collective strength.

At Empower People, every gathering is more than an event—it is a reaffirmation that voices long silenced are rising, asserting their space, and shaping their own narratives.

As we mark this during Dalit History Month, the significance deepens. This is not just about remembering history—it is about reclaiming it, owning it, and carrying it forward with pride. It is about honoring struggles, celebrating resilience, and strengthening the path toward justice and equality.

Our work continues with renewed commitment—towards Participation, Access, Recognition, and Ownership for every individual we stand with.

06/04/2026

Bride trafficking monthly roundup-

This discussion uncovers the harsh reality of bride trafficking in India. Based on shocking reports published in newspapers during March 2026. From broken dr...

01/04/2026

April 1—but this is serious work.

Team Empower People, along with Sakhi Mandal representatives, met the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Haryana in Chandigarh to formally present a detailed memorandum and a proposed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The focus: establishing a structured, state-level response mechanism for women in cross-region marriages.

The delegation highlighted urgent gaps in protection, access to services, and institutional coordination—calling for time-bound policy action.

In a parallel engagement, Sakhi Mandal members—Chanda, Urmila, Shilpa, and Ruby—met Home Secretary Mr. Sudhir Rajpal. They shared both systemic challenges and lived experiences, bringing critical ground realities into the discussion.

The Home Secretary assured action, including:
• Escalation of the matter to the DGP, Haryana
• Directions for sensitive handling of such cases
• Communication to SPs across districts for appropriate response mechanisms

This is a significant step toward institutional accountability and a more responsive system for women affected by cross-region marriages.

The work ahead is clear: translate commitment into implementation.

16/03/2026

Women from the Sakhi Mandal in Jind district recently held a local meeting to discuss their demand charter. The discussion focused on the challenges faced by women who have come to Haryana after marrying from other states and are still struggling to access their basic rights.

One woman shared:
“We only want what is already written in the law—to receive our rights without having to run from office to office again and again.”

Although rules and laws exist, the absence of a clear SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) regarding women like us often leads to us being seen as “outsiders” or “Biharis.” Because of this, we repeatedly face difficulties in accessing basic services such as identity documents, ration cards, children’s documentation, and other public services. Different government offices often give different responses, making the process even more complicated.
Another woman added:
“If the rules already exist, there should also be a clear process so that no woman has to struggle to claim her rights.”

The purpose of this Sakhi Mandal meeting was to collectively raise these concerns and bring them to the attention of the administration, so that a clear process can be established and women can access their rights without unnecessary obstacles.

13/03/2026

Human trafficking continues to remain a serious concern across many parts of India. News reported during the month of February once again highlighted the vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit and the urgent need for stronger community-based prevention.

In this discussion, we reflect on recent trafficking-related news and discuss the work being carried out by Empower People in addressing the issue at the grassroots level.

Over the years, our work has shown that effective responses to trafficking must go beyond immediate reaction. Sustainable change requires community awareness, survivor-centered approaches, and stronger collaboration between civil society and public institutions.

Conversations like these are important in keeping the issue visible and encouraging wider public engagement in tackling trafficking.

Watch the discussion here:

This discussion uncovers the harsh reality of bride trafficking in India. Based on shocking reports published in newspapers during February 2026. From broken...

11/03/2026

Empowered women of Azad Women Group’s Sakhi Mandal raise their voices in Yamunanagar!
Featured in Punjab Kesari for taking action this Women’s Day.

09/03/2026

The Empower People team gathered in Yamunanagar for a review meeting to reflect on the grassroots work carried out during 2025.
As an organization working to address bride trafficking, our conversations were deeply rooted in the realities we encounter every day in villages and communities. The team reflected on the small victories achieved over the past year, while also openly discussing the gaps and challenges that still persist on the ground.
The meeting became a space for honest conversations—where field experiences, lessons learned, and responsibilities were shared collectively. It reminded us that the fight against bride trafficking requires constant reflection, learning, and stronger action.
With a deeper understanding of the challenges ahead, the team concluded the meeting with renewed energy and commitment to continue standing with vulnerable and at-risk women and girls.

08/03/2026

https://youtu.be/KhPWOcnog7E?si=h2v45i5pxOiiWKm0