Green Army

Green Group/Green Army

Social evils in rural India, such as domestic violence, addiction, gambling, hunger, poverty, and societal discrimination, continue to affect women and children. Hope Welfare Trust's mission is to empower marginalized women through literacy, awareness of government schemes, health education, and self-defense training.

What is Green Army?

The Green Army is a grassroots initiative by Hope Welfare Trust, established in 2015 in Kushiyari village, aimed at empowering women in rural India to combat domestic violence and social evils. It has grown significantly, involving thousands of women across districts in Uttar Pradesh like Varanasi, Mirzapur, and Ayodhya.

Key Features of Green Army:-

Collective Empowerment:

The Green Army consists of groups of 15–25 women who advocate for their rights and support each other in overcoming challenges like domestic abuse, substance addiction, and societal discrimination.

Social Reform:

The initiative works to eradicate issues such as alcoholism, gambling, dowry practices, and superstitions. Members engage with local communities to promote girls' education and improve village conditions.

Self-Defense and Training:

Women in the Green Army receive training in self-defense and community safety, enabling them to protect themselves and actively maintain safety within their villages.

Economic Independence:

The Green Army promotes financial independence among women by facilitating skill development programs and establishing small enterprises such as sewing centers. This economic empowerment helps women break free from abusive relationships.

Recognition and Support:

The efforts of the Green Army have garnered attention from notable figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised their work in generating self-employment. This recognition boosts morale and encourages further community engagement.

Overall, the Green Army represents a transformative force in rural India, providing women with the tools they need to challenge oppression, advocate for their rights, and contribute positively to their communities.

Objectives of Green Army:

Empowerment through education
Community safety and advocacy
Promotion of sustainable practices
Economic empowerment
Social change initiatives
Collaboration with local authorities
Collective action for change

How Green Army works?

The Green Army intervenes in rural communities primarily to combat domestic violence and empower women, employing various problem-solving initiatives:

Empowerment and Awareness: The Green Army educates women about their rights and provides training on self-defense, enabling them to stand against domestic abuse and societal oppression. This includes raising awareness about fundamental rights and encouraging women to advocate for themselves.
Community Support and Counseling: Members of the Green Army offer counseling to both victims of domestic violence and their abusers. They engage in dialogue with men to address issues of violence and addiction, promoting non-violent resolutions while maintaining a focus on self-defense when necessary.
Collective Action: The Green Army operates as a self-help group, with approximately 1,800 members across various villages. By forming collectives of 25 women in each village, they create a support network that empowers individuals to confront abusive situations together.
Addressing Substance Abuse: The initiative has successfully reduced alcohol and drug addiction in many villages through proactive engagement and community activism, which helps create safer environments for women and children.
Promoting Education: The Green Army actively works towards educating girls and improving overall literacy rates within their communities. They have distributed bicycles to facilitate access to schools, thereby encouraging education among young girls.
Promotion of Sustainable Practices: The Green Army encourages environmental stewardship by promoting cleanliness, waste reduction, and the use of eco-friendly materials like jute bags.
Economic Independence: To foster financial freedom among women, the Green Army has initiated employment opportunities through sewing centers, vegetable carts, and snack stalls. They also support women in producing goods like diyas and pickles for sale under the brand "Swambhu," which means 'Independent' in English.
Community Development Initiatives: Beyond individual empowerment, the Green Army aims to improve overall village conditions by tackling issues like dowry practices and superstitions, thereby fostering a healthier community environment.
Non-violent Intervention: The Green Army prefers dialogue and persuasion over physical confrontation, even when prepared to defend members.
Collaboration with Local Authorities: The Green Army works with local governing bodies to ensure government schemes reach beneficiaries, thereby facilitating rural development.

Through these initiatives, the Green Army not only addresses immediate issues of domestic violence but also promotes long-term social change by empowering women and enhancing community resilience.

Impact of Green Group

Social ills (hooch alcoholism, gambling) have ceased in host villages due to proactive activism by trained women.
In Naxal-affected areas, the Green Group maintains vigilance against antisocial activities and reports incidents to the police.
Incidences of domestic violence have significantly declined.
Cases of child marriages have come to a halt due to women's empowerment efforts.
Government schemes effectively reach intended beneficiaries, leading to rural development, thanks to interaction with local governing bodies like gram panchayats and choupals.
There is an increase in children's enrollments in schools—another green achievement.