Campaign for Autonomous Nyaya Panchayats in Himachal Pradesh

Social Uplift Through Rural Action (SUTRA), a non-governmental voluntary organisation, was established with the support from Social Work Resource Centre (SWRC), Tilonia.

SUTRA has been working in Himachal Pradesh since 1977 and was registered in 1985. From service provision, the organisation moved towards transformational change to address the problems emerging from their erstwhile beneficiaries. These included alcoholism, domestic and social violence, land encroachment, child marriages, health, girls’ education and declining sex ratios. Women’s collectives were formed and various training programs were conducted to empower these groups.

SUTRA’s goal is to enable the establishment of Gender Just Governance. It continues to work with several national and international organisations on the issue of decentralized governance, reproductive health, issues of single women and gender-just development.

SUTRA, through its network of small voluntary organizations, works with village based Mahila Mandals and women representatives of Gram Panchayats spread across 7 districts of Himachal Pradesh. SUTRA also works on policy and advocacy of various issues at the state and national level.

 SUTRA is registered under Societies Act 1860 and with Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to receive foreign funds.

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