Puja Changoiwala is a Mumbai-based independent journalist and author. https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/contributor/puja-changoiwala/rss en Financial Inclusion Thu, 09 Aug 2018 14:20:00 +0000 Puja Changoiwala https://www.newsdeeply.com/womensadvancement/articles/2018/08/09/indigenous-women-in-mumbai-miss-out-on-indias-bank-account-drive https://www.newsdeeply.com/womensadvancement/articles/2018/08/09/indigenous-women-in-mumbai-miss-out-on-indias-bank-account-drive Aarey Milk Colony is a lush forest on the outskirts of India’s commercial capital, but a nationwide program to boost financial inclusion has passed many of its female inhabitants by. Asset and Property Rights Equal Pay and Opportunity Fri, 22 Jun 2018 14:10:00 +0000 Puja Changoiwala https://www.newsdeeply.com/womensadvancement/articles/2018/06/22/the-hidden-struggles-of-indias-war-widows https://www.newsdeeply.com/womensadvancement/articles/2018/06/22/the-hidden-struggles-of-indias-war-widows Despite being at peace, India has the largest number of war widows in the world. They say the government assistance they have received is not enough to live a dignified life. Financial Inclusion Solutions Tue, 27 Mar 2018 11:20:00 +0000 Puja Changoiwala https://www.newsdeeply.com/womensadvancement/articles/2018/03/27/nowhere-safe-for-dirty-money-after-sex-workers-bank-closes-in-mumbai https://www.newsdeeply.com/womensadvancement/articles/2018/03/27/nowhere-safe-for-dirty-money-after-sex-workers-bank-closes-in-mumbai Sangini Cooperative Bank was the only financial institution in Mumbai to offer sex workers access to savings and credit. Now that the bank has closed, the women are left with only two options: hide their money or risk losing it to moneylenders and con men. Health Minority Rights Reproductive Rights Solutions Tue, 19 Dec 2017 04:12:37 +0000 Puja Changoiwala https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/12/19/the-fight-to-end-forced-sterilization-of-girls-with-disabilities https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/12/19/the-fight-to-end-forced-sterilization-of-girls-with-disabilities Girls with disabilities in India are often at risk of forced hysterectomies when they begin to menstruate. One activist in Mumbai is educating both parents and children about periods to protect girls from unnecessary procedures and other types of abuse. Education Health Wed, 11 Oct 2017 07:36:12 +0000 Puja Changoiwala https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/10/11/girls-share-stories-of-their-first-periods-to-fight-menstrual-stigma https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/10/11/girls-share-stories-of-their-first-periods-to-fight-menstrual-stigma In India, a 26-year-old software engineer has begun collecting testimonies about girls’ first experiences with menstruation in an attempt to bust some of the most pernicious myths about periods.