India, March 8 -- As many of us sit in the ivory towers of the ever-growing metropolitan cities of India, it's easy to believe that women have achieved unprecedented levels of freedom and agency - breaking glass ceilings and excelling in various spheres of life. But this perception masks a harsh reality: A large section of India's population still resides in rural India, where women continue to grapple with the foundational struggles of the women's movement. Mobility is restricted, early marriages and violence persist, and their ability to 'earn or decide' for themselves, is suffocated by entrenched patriarchy.

For women and girls in rural areas, many factors compound their vulnerability. Poverty, gender inequality, and social exclusion ...