Sahiyar (Stree Sangathan)-a Project Review (3 years later)

Divya Singh7/11/2010

Background of project

•JHU, PennState and Columbus chapter approved this project in 2006•Prior to this, JHU had worked with Sahiyar on another project in 2005, for which funding was sent via a sister NGO•NGO applied for short term FCRA in 2006•Clearance didn’t come through until April 2010•Need fresh review for AID’s accounting work•Money to come from AID central + Gujarat pool

Needed: Review of work in the last 3 years

Background of NGO

•Started by a group of MSU Students in 1984• Truptiben & Deepti Ghelani (Sahiyar), husband Rohit (environmentalist)• Swati & Michael (Mozda project)• Gautam bhai (Duke & Gujarat cell)

•Working for Women’s rights for >25 years in Vadodara city- work on sex selective abortions to women affected by communal violence

•Long term goal: create a society in which women have equal status and recognition as all human beings•Short term: undertake activities which will have immediate as well as long term affect

Violence against women

•Campaign against sex-selection & declining sex ratios in Gujarat

• Rapid industrialisation in the 90’s in gujarat pushed urbanization, but also saw drop in sex ratio(from 947 in 1981 to 928 in 1991 and 878 in 2001From a high of 955 in 1961)

• Big victory came in early 2003 with the central lawPCPNDT Act (Pre conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act).

For Implementation of this law, undertakes awareness campaigns every year

LET THE DAUGHTERS BE BORN,BLOSSOM AND REACH THE SKY !

Violence against women•Supporting Women in Crises: provides counseling, legal and practical help center

• New center in the center of the city in a girls hostel run by another NGO

• 2001-2008: 454 cases in total, of which 373 cases

• 2007-2009: 152 new cases, of which 114 are on domestic violence, 2 sexual harassement & rest areother kinds (religious, etc..)

Violence against women

•Skits & plays: many venues

Violence against women

•Campaign for implementation of Domestic Violence Act 2005

• 16-day campaign to oppose violence against women

• Representatives in state level meetings• Organized discussions & distributed

leaflets• City wide Postar competition & exhibit• Cultural programmes• State level conference presentation on

reducing sex ratio in gujaratCampaign for implementation of Domestic Violence Act 2005

Work with Adolescent girls• Basic education to girls about changing bodies & emotions

Provides space to talk about their dilemmas•2007-2009, reached out to 1933 girls in 20 shibirs•Skill learning (Mehendi)& Awareness group (basic rights)•Scholarship for education

68 girls have received financial support from well wishers

Work with Youth group•Involving youth to keep away from bad element•Campaigns for No plastic, water contamination •Workshops on communal harmony & gender justice

Training for Peace & Justice•New Initiation since 2007:after gujarat riots, need to train grassroots women leaders from all communities - financial support from American jewish world service

•30 women trained so far •Basic rights, womens rights, •Visit to policestation, govt offices, municipal wards & court

Community engagement

•Celebrating International Women’s day

Community engagement•Celebrating International Women’s day, centennial year in 2009•Film screening in many communitiess•36 groups from all over Gujarat came together, including many big personalities

Mahila Mandal: SHGs for women

•Self help groups for small loans: currenly closed•Computer center: basic training

The team

The Budget1. Honorarium for Coordinator of Legal Help, Counseling and Mahila Mandals Rs. 36,000

2. Honorarium for Coordinator of work with Adolescent Girls and Awareness Programs Rs. 36,000

3. Honorarium for part time counselor Rs. 24,000

4. Honorarium for part time legal Advisor Rs. 12,000

5. Field Workers (2 with each Coordinator) Rs. 1,20,000

6. Honorarium for Part-time Accountant Rs. 12,000

7. Local Conveyance & Traveling for 6 Full-time Activists & 10 Volunteers Rs. 36,000

8. Publication of booklets, leaflets and other campaign material Rs. 1,00,000

9. Other Miscellaneous Expenses Rs. 42,000

10 Rent to store material and finished product for kite-making Rs. 15,000

11. Honorarium for the coordinator of kite-making effort Rs. 18,000

12. Designing, printing and marketing of kites with awareness slogans Rs. 10,000

13. Trainings ,Exposure tour etc. to other women's cooperatives.     Rs. 10,000

TotalRs. 4,71,000(= $10,500)