Recent economic changes have had a profoundly marginalizing effect on the position of women in Ladakh. As men and young people flock to the city in search of jobs and schooling, women are being left on their own to tend their farms. As a result their decision-making power has decreased while their workload increased.

The Women’s Alliance of Ladakh was set up in 1991 with the twin goals of raising the status of rural women and to strengthen local culture and agriculture. Since its inception the WAL membership was swelled to over 5000 women belonging to over 100 villages from all areas of Ladakh.
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION :
Women’s Alliance of Ladakh_________________________________________________________________
Leh-Ladakh
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF WAL :
* To maintain respect for the ethical and spiritual values on which Ladakhi culture is based.
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To promote development in harmony with the above values benefiting the entire community without harming nature of future generations.
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To encourage a respect for Ladakhi culture and to counter the embarrassment that many young people feel about Ladakhi food, dress, language, song and dance.
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To highlight the importance of agriculture for the Ladakhi economy and to counter the notion that farming is an inferior occupation. Also to protect indigenous knowledge and seeds and warn against the dangers of cash cropping, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and hybridized seeds.
* To maintain respect for local knowledge, crafts, and practical skills.
* To affirm and support extended families and strong communities.
WAL CENTRE MEETING :

The monthly Meeting of Women’s Alliance working committee members are held the 10th of every month, in addition to holding different meetings with the village women who come to visit at the centre. The objectives of these is to discuss among the women about the different issues and for women to show and share their skills to the other attendants and provide information on the income derived from these activities. The meetings encourage the aims of village meeting: self-respect and pride in traditional (organic) forms of agriculture as a primary economic activity; health hazard issues such as discouraging the use of pesticides, burning plastic products or disposal of batteries in canals, carrying irrigation and drinking water in the villages.


Activities