SUTRA's JOURNEY
Social Uplift Through Rural Action (SUTRA) has had its share of trials and triumphs over the years since it was founded. An overview of the journey so far.....
1977-83
Establishing Identity -
Establishment of Social Work Resource Centre(SWRC), Tilonia Branch
Various community-based programmemes – Community Health Centres, Mother and Child Health care, Organisation of Mahila Mandals, Income Generation Activities, Agriculture development programmemes.
Our approach during period was that of an extension agency of the government.
SUTRA was appreciated the local government and people as an honest and efficient service provider.
1983-85
From working for Community to Working with Community –
Evaluation and Agenda setting by Mahila Mandal (MM) women,
Anti-alcohol movement launched,
Conversion of Village Common Land into Commercial Forestry opposed,
Soft loans for single women/MM members – No subsidy No Interest basis
Introduction of Smokeless Chulha, Work with Bamboo-basket makers in 5 villages started
First time women took morcha (rally) to district headquarters and followed it up with Padyatra (march on foot) to Shimla and gheroed Chief Minister!
State oppression started
1985-95
From Class approach to Feminist Approach to Women’s issues
Expansion & Consolidation
Registration of SUTRA and move to its own campus
Domestic Violence Free Village campaign launched -30 villages became Domestic (Visible) Violence Free, 300 Mahila Mandals in 9 dev. blocks associated.
State recognised MMs as Third Party to take cognizance of offences under Dowry Prohibition Act
Legal literacy, capacity building of Mahila Mandals in use of 498A IPC and Dowry Prohibition Act
Dr Janet Price a feminist medical practitioner joined SUTRA and brought in ‘feminist thinking’ and approach to `issues’.
This led to bringing out – First book on Management of Menstruation as part of Women and RH Developed 8 booklets based on Lifecycle of women
First voluntary organisation to organise residential camps for adolescent girls (1989)- 150 Yuvati Sangathans.
Women involved in Smokeless Chulha programme were given training in para-veterinary services based on modern as well as traditional systems of cattle cure. They became known as Dungar Dai (Cattle Midwives)
Mahila Samakhaya Programme launched
Expansion of SUTRA – directly as well as through establishment of sister organizations
Sanitation programme launched.
SUTRA was invited on Sub-Committee on WCD for 7th Five Year Plan
Faced various inquiries instituted by the State Government, Faced smear campaign by other NGOs
SUTRA became Resource Agency for various NGOs in North India, SUTRA booklets transcribed in various Indian languages,
SUTRA women activists visited Europe and participated in Beijing Conference
Support provided to earthquake victims of Uttarkashi
1995-97
Stock Taking -
Focus was on internal capacity building of SUTRA staff to work with Panchayati Raj Institutions
Support to UNFPA Project in Haryana- SUTRA was the main Training Institution for Sanjivani programme
800 women’s testimonies about domestic violence - visible violence eliminated, Mahila Mandals became resource agencies for women from other villages facing domestic violence-- they moved away from formal legal action to social negotiations,
Women expressed dissatisfaction with reservation policy under 73rd Amendments but still participated in elections. Elections became tool for dividing Mahila Mandals.
Watershed Project initiated
Evaluation of work done so far pointed out that SUTRA had missed out on Equity- especially Dalit women and their issues ignored
1997-2000
Moving towards Gender & Equity Approach
From Political Empowerment to Economic Activities
Initiation of Micro Credit- A million Rupee micro credit programme established
Redesigning inputs for Mahila Mandals - taking up issues of Dalit women – discrimination in Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha meetings were taken up
Work started with women members of PRIs- training with women Pradhans
Support to UNFPA sponsored Sanjivani programme in Haryana
Initial inputs for Swashakti Project of Women and Child Department
Initiation of Reproductive and Child Health Programme
Emergence of Sex Selective Abortions
Nuclear family formation in villages disabled SUTRA to go in for residential training programmes for second generation members of Mahila Mandals
2001-05
Emerging of Soft Issues, Work with PRIs
Campaign on Save the Girl Child initiated- State Government accepted early registration of pregnancy as a policy- Lowering of sex ratio issue transferred to Gram Panchayats, Sex ratio in 24 out of 30 Gram Panchayats improved
Work with Gram Sabha by establishing Panchayat Mandali (Community Based Organisations)
Micro Credit programme increased to 9 Million Rupee
Mother NGO under RCH programme
SUTRA became Resource Agency for UNFPA
Launching of Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan -membership increased from 105 to 10,053 over the years
State Government initiated special educational grant for children of Single Women.
2,630 Single women walked for 3 days to present memorandum to Chief Minister- State acceded to recognise deserted and widowed women staying at parent’s homes as separate family and issue of ration cards, Six monthly Janta Adalat for Single women initiated at Sub-divisional and district level, Increase in social security pension from Rs 200 to 330.
Efforts to get Deserted women as a separate category in Census 2011 was accepted in principle, but has not been implemented
Problems with CAPART– non-release of funds
Developing understanding of gender construction within Community Governance of Primitive Tribes -Work with Primitive Tribes in Chattisgarh was undertaken to help SWISS-Aid to formulate its gender policy (within programmemes for Primitive Tribes)
Gender Justice & Nyaya Panchayats in Himachal Pradesh- Study was conducted on working of Nyaya Panchayats (Judiciary work of Gram Panchayats) – campaign was launched on Autonomous Nyaya Panchayats. The Planning Commission of India supported the campaign. 10,150 women were mobilised for signature campaign making demand for autonomous Nyaya Panchayat
Engendering Gram Panchayats - Mahila Gram Sabha concept was introduced and after initial hesitation, 30 GPs accepted and held Mahila Gram Sabha. Women took up non-threatening issues – such as drinking water, roads etc. Advocacy with State Government for Mahila Gram Sabha succeeded and State asked every GP to have a Mahila Gram Sabha (Sept 2007) Concept of Mahila Gram Sabha spread to almost 300 Gram Panchayats
Arresting Decline in sex ratio and Reproductive Health Rights - State accepted decline in sex ratio as major issue and initiated Beti Anmol Hai programme under National Rural Health Mission, Sex ratio at state level improved marginally, UNFPA accepted the model for replications- A 2 year project for replication of the model was approved and the end-line evaluation showed that there are firm indications of sex ratio at birth improving. It is sad that we have to stop the work before we could get definite achievements.
Say No to early Age Hysterectomy campaign launched Problems with Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) – non-release of funds started – Large chunk of money stuck with CSWB
2011 -2015
Shift in Strategic Objective: Agency for Change from Women’s CBOs to Gram Panchayats (Local Self Government)
Further strengthening Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan,
Ashoka Foundation-Change Makers Award for ENSS.
Agenda for future
- Work on arresting decline in sex ratio needs to continue
- Work on removal of stigma attached to abortions and promoting access to safe abortion
- Promoting temporary contraception instead of terminal methods
- Institutionalising Mahila Gram Sabha
- Making Gram Panchayats responsive to Gender Justice as a next step of Mahila Gram Sabha – framing policy for Women’s Empowerment at GP level and owning up of the same in other words GP to say Zero Tolerance Towards Domestic Violence
- Say No to early Age Hysterectomy campaign needs to be continued
- Work towards establishing Autonomous Nyaya Panchayats
1977-83
Establishing Identity -
Establishment of Social Work Resource Centre(SWRC), Tilonia Branch
Various community-based programmemes – Community Health Centres, Mother and Child Health care, Organisation of Mahila Mandals, Income Generation Activities, Agriculture development programmemes.
Our approach during period was that of an extension agency of the government.
SUTRA was appreciated the local government and people as an honest and efficient service provider.
1983-85
From working for Community to Working with Community –
Evaluation and Agenda setting by Mahila Mandal (MM) women,
Anti-alcohol movement launched,
Conversion of Village Common Land into Commercial Forestry opposed,
Soft loans for single women/MM members – No subsidy No Interest basis
Introduction of Smokeless Chulha, Work with Bamboo-basket makers in 5 villages started
First time women took morcha (rally) to district headquarters and followed it up with Padyatra (march on foot) to Shimla and gheroed Chief Minister!
State oppression started
1985-95
From Class approach to Feminist Approach to Women’s issues
Expansion & Consolidation
Registration of SUTRA and move to its own campus
Domestic Violence Free Village campaign launched -30 villages became Domestic (Visible) Violence Free, 300 Mahila Mandals in 9 dev. blocks associated.
State recognised MMs as Third Party to take cognizance of offences under Dowry Prohibition Act
Legal literacy, capacity building of Mahila Mandals in use of 498A IPC and Dowry Prohibition Act
Dr Janet Price a feminist medical practitioner joined SUTRA and brought in ‘feminist thinking’ and approach to `issues’.
This led to bringing out – First book on Management of Menstruation as part of Women and RH Developed 8 booklets based on Lifecycle of women
First voluntary organisation to organise residential camps for adolescent girls (1989)- 150 Yuvati Sangathans.
Women involved in Smokeless Chulha programme were given training in para-veterinary services based on modern as well as traditional systems of cattle cure. They became known as Dungar Dai (Cattle Midwives)
Mahila Samakhaya Programme launched
Expansion of SUTRA – directly as well as through establishment of sister organizations
Sanitation programme launched.
SUTRA was invited on Sub-Committee on WCD for 7th Five Year Plan
Faced various inquiries instituted by the State Government, Faced smear campaign by other NGOs
SUTRA became Resource Agency for various NGOs in North India, SUTRA booklets transcribed in various Indian languages,
SUTRA women activists visited Europe and participated in Beijing Conference
Support provided to earthquake victims of Uttarkashi
1995-97
Stock Taking -
Focus was on internal capacity building of SUTRA staff to work with Panchayati Raj Institutions
Support to UNFPA Project in Haryana- SUTRA was the main Training Institution for Sanjivani programme
800 women’s testimonies about domestic violence - visible violence eliminated, Mahila Mandals became resource agencies for women from other villages facing domestic violence-- they moved away from formal legal action to social negotiations,
Women expressed dissatisfaction with reservation policy under 73rd Amendments but still participated in elections. Elections became tool for dividing Mahila Mandals.
Watershed Project initiated
Evaluation of work done so far pointed out that SUTRA had missed out on Equity- especially Dalit women and their issues ignored
1997-2000
Moving towards Gender & Equity Approach
From Political Empowerment to Economic Activities
Initiation of Micro Credit- A million Rupee micro credit programme established
Redesigning inputs for Mahila Mandals - taking up issues of Dalit women – discrimination in Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha meetings were taken up
Work started with women members of PRIs- training with women Pradhans
Support to UNFPA sponsored Sanjivani programme in Haryana
Initial inputs for Swashakti Project of Women and Child Department
Initiation of Reproductive and Child Health Programme
Emergence of Sex Selective Abortions
Nuclear family formation in villages disabled SUTRA to go in for residential training programmes for second generation members of Mahila Mandals
2001-05
Emerging of Soft Issues, Work with PRIs
Campaign on Save the Girl Child initiated- State Government accepted early registration of pregnancy as a policy- Lowering of sex ratio issue transferred to Gram Panchayats, Sex ratio in 24 out of 30 Gram Panchayats improved
Work with Gram Sabha by establishing Panchayat Mandali (Community Based Organisations)
Micro Credit programme increased to 9 Million Rupee
Mother NGO under RCH programme
SUTRA became Resource Agency for UNFPA
Launching of Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan -membership increased from 105 to 10,053 over the years
State Government initiated special educational grant for children of Single Women.
2,630 Single women walked for 3 days to present memorandum to Chief Minister- State acceded to recognise deserted and widowed women staying at parent’s homes as separate family and issue of ration cards, Six monthly Janta Adalat for Single women initiated at Sub-divisional and district level, Increase in social security pension from Rs 200 to 330.
Efforts to get Deserted women as a separate category in Census 2011 was accepted in principle, but has not been implemented
Problems with CAPART– non-release of funds
Developing understanding of gender construction within Community Governance of Primitive Tribes -Work with Primitive Tribes in Chattisgarh was undertaken to help SWISS-Aid to formulate its gender policy (within programmemes for Primitive Tribes)
Gender Justice & Nyaya Panchayats in Himachal Pradesh- Study was conducted on working of Nyaya Panchayats (Judiciary work of Gram Panchayats) – campaign was launched on Autonomous Nyaya Panchayats. The Planning Commission of India supported the campaign. 10,150 women were mobilised for signature campaign making demand for autonomous Nyaya Panchayat
Engendering Gram Panchayats - Mahila Gram Sabha concept was introduced and after initial hesitation, 30 GPs accepted and held Mahila Gram Sabha. Women took up non-threatening issues – such as drinking water, roads etc. Advocacy with State Government for Mahila Gram Sabha succeeded and State asked every GP to have a Mahila Gram Sabha (Sept 2007) Concept of Mahila Gram Sabha spread to almost 300 Gram Panchayats
Arresting Decline in sex ratio and Reproductive Health Rights - State accepted decline in sex ratio as major issue and initiated Beti Anmol Hai programme under National Rural Health Mission, Sex ratio at state level improved marginally, UNFPA accepted the model for replications- A 2 year project for replication of the model was approved and the end-line evaluation showed that there are firm indications of sex ratio at birth improving. It is sad that we have to stop the work before we could get definite achievements.
Say No to early Age Hysterectomy campaign launched Problems with Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) – non-release of funds started – Large chunk of money stuck with CSWB
2011 -2015
Shift in Strategic Objective: Agency for Change from Women’s CBOs to Gram Panchayats (Local Self Government)
Further strengthening Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan,
Ashoka Foundation-Change Makers Award for ENSS.
Agenda for future
- Work on arresting decline in sex ratio needs to continue
- Work on removal of stigma attached to abortions and promoting access to safe abortion
- Promoting temporary contraception instead of terminal methods
- Institutionalising Mahila Gram Sabha
- Making Gram Panchayats responsive to Gender Justice as a next step of Mahila Gram Sabha – framing policy for Women’s Empowerment at GP level and owning up of the same in other words GP to say Zero Tolerance Towards Domestic Violence
- Say No to early Age Hysterectomy campaign needs to be continued
- Work towards establishing Autonomous Nyaya Panchayats