Women's Feature Service

When women in rural India are still fighting for basic rights like education, Vandana Bahadur Maida has broken all stereotypes by becoming the first woman sarpanch of her village in Madhya Pradesh. It is just the beginning and she has already taken some strong steps. Here's a tête-à-tête with her.

2015 was the year of many unseen and unsung heroines - women who broke stereotypes and achieved immense success for themselves and their communities. Here is a loud shout out to 5 such amazing women and their brilliant work.

The excerpt from the book 'My Half Of The Sky’ by Indrani Raimedhi talks about Birubala Rabha who has been crusading against witch-hunting for several years now. She went door-to-door to spread awareness about the cause and became architect of the country’s most stringent laws against witch-hunting recently enacted by Assam.

A doctor who operated in torch light, brave ASHA workers who risked their lives to treat people in Maoist affected areas or the life saving floating clinics of Assam - learn how innovative healthcare services in times of distress are saving crucial lives.

Archana started dabbling in adventure sports 20 days after her wedding, and hasn't looked back since then. She is India’s first woman civilian Building Aerial Span Earth jumper as well as India's first woman master scuba diver trainer. Here's more about her journey in her own words.

Since marriage is considered sacred, a woman is expected to willingly subject her body to being used and ravaged. Here is why former Member of Planning Commission and a leading voice on women’s rights in India, Syeda Hameed believes that marital rape cannot be justified.

What Melinda Gates has to say about women's healthcare in developing countries like India and what makes her optimistic towards change. Here are her views on why women's healthcare is crucial.

These women turned into masons and inspired every household to construct toilets. Today, this small village in MP is an open-defecation-free zone. Know all about the villagers' inspiring journey of change.

Here is the tale of one lady who not only practiced proper sanitation in her own house but also enabled the entire village to construct toilets. Thanks to her intervention and awareness, 25 households in her village have constructed toilets already. Read more.

Meet Parbati, a female mahout who tames elephants, uses ash instead of toothpaste, sleeps inside a tent on a threadbare mattress without a pillow and with tools of her trade all around her. In this excerpt from My Half Of The Sky, published by Sage Publications, author Indrani Raimedhi talks to Parbati about her life in the wild.