For the Public Good: Women, Health, and Equity in Rural India (Policy to Practice)

For the Public Good details the role of the Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP), a groundbreaking, internationally recognized primary health care model that uses local solutions to solve intractable global health problems. Emphasizing equity and community participation, this grassroots approach recruits local women to be educated as village-based health workers. In turn, women village health workers collaborate to overcome the dominant double prejudices in local villages--caste and gender inequality. In one generation, village health workers have progressed from child brides and sequestered wives to knowledgeable health practitioners, valued teachers, and community leaders. Through collective efforts, CRHP has reduced infant and maternal mortality, eliminated some endemic health problems, and advanced economic well-being in villages with women's cooperative lending groups. This book describes how the recognition and elimination of embedded inequalities--in this case caste discrimination, gender subordination, and class injustice--promote health and well-being and collaboratively establish the public good. 1. Two Hundred and Fifty Miles East of Bombay -- 2. The Endemic Problem of Caste and Gender Inequality -- 3. Health is What Women Do: Transitions and Transformations -- : 4. "Why Are You Sitting at Home Being Oppressed?": Becoming a Village Health Worker -- 5. Women and Child Health: You Will Give Birth to a Beautiful Baby -- 6. Money in Her Hand: Mahila Vikas Mandal -- 7. Standing on My Own: Women and Equity -- Conclusion: Local Solutions to Global Problems Cover Title Page Table of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Two Hundred and Fifty Miles East of Bombay Chapter 2: The Endemic Problem of Caste and Gender Inequality Chapter 3: Health Is What Women Do Chapter 4: “Why Are You Sitting at Home Being Oppressed?” Chapter 5: Woman and Child Health Chapter 6: Money in Her Hand Chapter 7: Standing on My Own Conclusion: Local Solutions to Global Problems Bibliography Index Details the role of the Comprehensive Rural Health Project, a groundbreaking, internationally recognised primary health care model that uses local solutions to solve intractable global health problems. Emphasizing equity and community participation, this grassroots approach recruits local women to be educated as village-based health workers. "For the Public Good: Women Health and Equity in Rural India gives a first hand account of how local solutions can solve global health problems changing the lives of thousands of rural villagers"-- Provided by publisher V illage-based health workers actively challengingthe dominant double prejudices of caste and gender inequality in India