Visit Anandwani — An Indian Village Where Women Own The Homes

India’s devotion towards female deities often feels like satire, when we look at how oppressed the matriarchy still is. Even now, the urban working woman continues to fight against sexism and sexual harassment at work, while housewives receive a modicum of respect, for the sheer amount of work they do. You would think with all the development in the cities, however, more of it would resonate on a mental level too.

Still, like a breath of fresh air, comes a village in Maharashtra that succeeds in honouring the women of their village. Anandwadi, a village in Latur, was first reported by TOI, as a village entirely run by its women. Although they’re a small village, with a population of 635, they’ve clearly gone about creating awareness in a big way — by transferring every house in the names of the women in the family.

Nyanoba Chame, a member of the village’s gram sabha told the newspaper, “Like we bring the goddess Laxmi to our house every Diwali, we decided to honour our Laxmis (wives/daughters) by taking this decision. Women shouldn’t feel the need to be dependent on anyone, since they run the home. Why shouldn’t they own it? This will also help to get rid of the patriarchal mindset of people.” Some villagers aren’t even stopping at just their homes, fields are also being transferred in the name of women. This movement was initiated by a simple suggestion made at a gram sabha meeting, and was met with immediate approval, by a majority.

However, this initiative isn’t the only reason this village made it to the news. Besides their wonderful gesture towards women empowerment, the entire adult population of this village has pledged its organs for medical research. Their only request to the authorities of the state government, is to provide for facilities that allow for organ transplants in government hospitals in Latur.

But of course, they don’t stop there. For a year now, the village has also been contributing towards the weddings of girls in the village. Previously a cost only the family had to bear, is now taken care of by the whole village. A mass wedding is conducted, on a specific day of the year. If you’re curious about how this works, you can visit the village on April 29, the assigned day for 2017.

Be warned, don’t go there in anticipation of a celebration amok with alcohol and more, for liquor and tobacco are banned here. As Bhagyashree Chame, the sarpanch of Anandwani says, “From now on, the village has taken the responsibility of looking after the health of its residents. So smoking, chewing tobacco and drinking are strictly banned here.” Anandwani definitely has all its bases covered, and will hopefully begin to influence their neighbours, as well as the nation.