Over the last decade more Indian children have gained access to basic education, yet serious challenges of retention, quality education and its link to jobs remain. USAID’s education interventions focus on improving the quality of education in partnership with the government’s own efforts. Programs promote the use of technologies to improve classroom study and interventions to provide quality education to hard-to-reach children. Successful models have been scaled up through government resources and public-private partnerships.

Gender inequalities are severe. Many women confront violence in their families and society and lack the ability or support to protect their rights and interests. USAID’s access to justice program works with Indian NGOs to advocate for legal and institutional reforms; shift popular attitudes on issues like dowry and sex selective abortion; and increase access to legal rights information and redressal services. The program puts a special focus on the needs of Muslim women. USAID also addresses the issue of trafficking of women and children by promoting care of survivors, victim-witnesses and children.

Key Accomplishments

Education

• Started as a pilot program in 900 schools, use of radio lessons has been scaled up through government resources in the four states of Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. Over 13 million students now learn from interactive radio broadcast lessons.
• An alliance of education NGOs, corporations and USAID promotes advocacy and innovations in technology for quality education and vocational skills training.
• More than 100 USAID-supported NGOs provide educational opportunities to the hardest-to-reach children in Delhi, Kolkatta, and Mumbai and in rural areas of Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Technical assistance builds the capacity of these NGOs.
• A project in Andhra Pradesh is improving the quality of madrasa (Islamic school) formal and vocational training. The state is expanding the model to cover 1,200 madrasas benefiting over 90,000 Muslim children and youth.
• USAID supports curriculum development and training of teachers, communities and government officials to encourage sound health and hygiene behavior among students in selected government schools in Karnataka and Jharkhand states.
• A public-private partnership links education of youth to employment opportunities. More than 15,000 disadvantaged youth are being trained – in partnership with industry, local-NGOs and government – and placed in jobs.

Gender and the Law

• USAID works with NGOs in Karnataka and Rajasthan on the issue of violence against women. The program provides legal information, counseling, mediation and representation services. Nearly 75,000 women have directly benefited from the program.
• Created under a USAID program, WomenPowerConnect, a national level coalition with state chapters, lobbies state and national governments on women’s issues. It played a significant role in the passage of a long-stalled domestic violence bill.
• The Muslim Women’s Initiative has increased Muslim women’s awareness of their rights under Islam and the constitution, thus building their self-confidence and encouraging discussions on violence. Religious and community leaders are important stakeholders.
• Training provided to over 1,500 doctors and prosecutors helps them evaluate biases and better handle cases of violence against women.
• In Rajasthan, research, advocacy and outreach on the issue of “missing girls” led to positive action. The Sikh religious community adopted anti-female feticide oaths as part of wedding ceremonies; communities celebrate births of daughters; and implementation of the law has strengthened.
• USAID supports development, dissemination and use of protocols on care of survivors of trafficking, “victim witness” protection and safe migration.
• Through strengthened cross-border vigilance and capacity building, anti-trafficking efforts provided services to over 300,000 vulnerable individuals. Building on this work, USAID strengthens community-based child protection systems, counseling and livelihood services to disadvantaged women and children.

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