The Spirit of The Collective U.P. Mahila Samakhya Experience 1997-98

Abstract

From Introduction: The last eight years saw Mahlla Samakhya, Uttar Pradesh establish itself as a well defined programme. The processes have also concretised into focused interventions which are visible in a cadre of experienced and committed resource women personnel who have effectively established the empowerment process, strong collectives and tangible alternative educational centres of learning. The programme has expanded to cover ten districts, four older districts of Tehri, Banda (Shahuji Maharaj Nagar) Saharanpur, Varanasi funded by the Netherlands Government, and the remaining six districts of Allahabad, Pauri, Sitapur, Etawah (Auraiya) Gorakhpur, and Nainital supported by the World Bank assisted U.P. Basic Education Project. With the increase in number of the districts in the state, two of the MS districts Banda and Etawah underwent a change of name. It may be noted that in former Banda district the programme was operational in the sub-division of KarvI and in Etawah the programme took root in Auraiya Block- Hence with District Implementation Units already in operation there was no obstruction in implementation. While in Varanasi, Chakia Block came under the newly formed district of Chandauli, the management of this area continues through the DIU in Varanasi.