In the heart of the Indian state of Gujarat, the Thakor community has lived a painful paradox for generations: women work the land with their hands, but cannot own it. While their husbands, fathers, and brothers migrate to big cities in search of fortune, the women remain in the villages, cultivating the fields and caring for their families. Yet, by tradition, land ownership remains an exclusively male privilege. This injustice is not sanctioned by Indian law, which recognizes women's social and economic rights, but is rooted in local culture and lack of information.
The Thakor women do not give up. With perseverance and passion, they continue to work the land, even if they see no improvement in their social status. Often, to meet daily needs, they are forced to turn to moneylenders, falling into a vicious cycle of poverty, violence, and exploitation. Theirs is a silent struggle, but full of dignity.
The Church's Response: Training and Hope
In this context, the Church reaches out to these women. The Magis Foundation ETS, an initiative of the Euro-Mediterranean Province of the Society of Jesus, has launched a support and empowerment project in collaboration with the Sangath training center, active in Madosa since 1988. The goal is twofold: on one hand, to inform women about their rights; on the other, to help them achieve greater economic independence.
As Francesca Flosi, Magis's project manager for Asia, explains, the path is complex and takes time. "We have given ourselves three years to significantly impact awareness and begin to see substantial benefits," she says. The work takes place in twenty villages, where Sangath staff train and sensitize women, also promoting their leadership in the agricultural sector, with special attention to the environment and climate change.
An Integral Approach
The project is not limited to providing legal knowledge. It is a holistic accompaniment that touches the spiritual and social spheres. The women are encouraged to rediscover their dignity as daughters of God, as Psalm 139 reminds us: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful" (Psalm 139:14). This awareness becomes the foundation for claiming their rights and building a different future.
In addition, sustainable agricultural techniques are taught, which respect the environment and improve productivity. The women learn to produce natural pesticides, manage water more efficiently, and diversify crops. In this way, they not only increase their income but also become stewards of creation, in line with Pope Francis's invitation in the encyclical Laudato Si'.
The Bible and Justice for Women
Scripture offers many insights into women's dignity and social justice. In the book of Proverbs, the wise woman is described as one who "selects wool and flax and works with eager hands" (Proverbs 31:13). This image echoes the tireless work of Thakor women, who deserve not only recognition but also fairness.
Jesus, too, in the Gospels, shows a revolutionary attitude toward women. He speaks with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), allows a sinful woman to anoint him (Luke 7), and entrusts women with the first announcement of the resurrection (Matthew 28). His attention to the marginalized women of his time is a model for the Church today, called to stand with the most vulnerable.
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
This word from Saint Paul reminds us that in Christ, every distinction of gender, ethnicity, or social status is overcome. It is an invitation to work for a world where all people, especially women, can live their dignity and rights fully.
The Magis and Sangath project continues, planting seeds of hope in the hearts of Thakor women. Through training, faith, and solidarity, they are writing a new story, where the land they work with their hands also belongs to them in justice.
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