Amie's Tote

With the world's second largest population and twelfth largest economy, economic reforms have transformed the Indian economy into one of the fastest growing in the world, yet many citizens do not feel the benefits of this economic progress.   Distribution of wealth in India is fairly uneven.   The top 10% of income groups earn approximately 33% of the country's total income and one out of every four individuals lives on less than the government defined poverty level of $0.40 a day.  

Women's empowerment plays a key role in future poverty alleviation.   In general, women are the most disadvantaged group in Indian society.   While their status is very much dependent on their social and ethnic backgrounds, women are the most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.   As of 2005, it is estimated that 5.7 million Indians were living with HIV/AIDS--the dominant age group was ages 15-49 and 40 percent of this number were women.   Higher infection rates among women are caused by a variety of factors including gender based violence and prostitution.  

India's quickly growing economy has been accompanied by technological advancements which have had unforeseen consequences. As the middle class continues to grow and more women can afford ultrasounds, many couples are choosing to abort female fetuses. The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke out in 2008 regarding the problem that he termed, a "national shame." His statement is supported by statistics.   In 1981 there were 962 girls for every 1,000 boys in India; in the last Indian census, the ratio was 927 girls to 1,000 boys.   The practice clearly reflects a preference for boy children who are expected to earn higher salaries, do not require expensive dowries and can carry on the family name.   Embedded practices of gender discrimination result in few educational opportunities for women, low literacy rates, and biased inheritance and divorce laws.   All of these prevent women from accumulating assets, making it difficult to establish their own independence or provide for their own security.  

Because of the key connection between women's empowerment and poverty alleviation, many internal and international organizations are attempting to address the disadvantaged role of women in Indian society. Efforts include increasing female access to education, bringing women together in small organizations to create a sense of community, security and independence, and the use of micro-loans.   The practice of micro-lending seeks to get small amounts of capital into the hands of women, who in India would most likely be excluded from receiving loans, as well as business education and support.  

Country Statistics:

Female life expectancy at birth: 71.9 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 32.31 deaths/1,000 live births
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence: 36% (UN AIDS, 2007 est.)
Female literacy: 47.8% (2001 census) (vs. 73.4% for males)
GDP per capita income: $2,700 (2007 est.)

• 14x12x3 inches
• Sturdy short and long handle
• Internal Velcro compartment for keys
• Canvas material
• Rust or Green color options

$16.00 USD

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These totes tell the story of a woman's journey to freedom. Located in Northern Calcutta, this collective helps women break free from the sex industry. Seeing first hand that poverty robs people of their dignity and children of their innocence by forcing people into prostitution, our partners provide an opportunity for women to make a living without selling their bodies. Women who work in this collective have the choice to work decent hours for decent pay and to learn important skills like reading and writing. They take pride in passing freedom on to the next generation, breaking the cycle of daughters becoming part of the sex industry in the footsteps of their mothers. Through purchasing our Amie bag, you become part of this story - and the artisans thank you.