Women are the  most  affected  group which can  be  reflected  in  indicators
such as low literacy  rate, a significant  gender gap in  primary  education, high prevalence of a number of forms of violence against  them, and lack of access to financial  resources. Worsening  environmental  conditions and the  absence of basic services, also deprive these women access  to healthy and productive lives.  A large number of girls and women are deprived of exercising their right because of  social and cultural  traditions,  norms,  beliefs  and  practices, and economic constraints.

It is such  background  factors  that make women to be one of the  vulnerable  groups  that  need  to be  strengthened. In  spite of  the hurdles  they  face  women  have to  perform  most  of  the  domestic  work, besides working in the fields(rural areas) and pursuing a career ( urban areas).  COI has made positive strides in women’s empowerment through the formation of Self Help Groups (SHG’s) which provide women with resources for generating income.