User:Anushkaasharma/sandbox

History
Women joined the fight for independence actively during the Satyagraha Movement. But the problems faced by these women in stepping out of their house were what prompted the establishment of an organisation run by women, for women. Founded by Mridula Sarabhai in 1934, Jyoti Sangh became the means to provide the women joining the independence movements with social acceptance and economic independence.

Mridula Sarabhai was further joined by other active women participants of the independence movement and women seeking skill and development for personal economic stability and independence. Jyoti Sangh is seen as a pioneer in its Rahat Kendra (counselling centres)  for family disputes. Other counselling centres consist of a school for mentally challenged girl children and a project to spread awareness about HIV/Aids among sex workers.

Its majorly successful small-scale projects include training women in craft making, thepla and pickle making,  stitching and knitting classes, and  coaching classes for senior citizens.

Although the leading committee at Jyoti Sangh steered it into new directions, some believe it was mostly unsuccessful in its large-scale projects due to restricted financial help from the government. Executive members of Jyoti Sangh preferred simplicity and so, they showed no dynamism in their operations even with changing circumstances, also believed as a reason why it may have reduced and weakened operations in recent times.

Jyoti Sangh’s latest large-scale project was in 2009 in association with about 4000 sex workers to educate them about sexually transmitted diseases, and also bring behavioural change by giving them an opportunity to learn activities aiding their own source of income.

Core Committee

 * 1) Mridula Sarabhai
 * 2) Charumati Yoddha
 * 3) Vijayalakshmi Pandit
 * 4) Sarladevi Sarabhai
 * 5) Sharda Mehta
 * 6) Lilavati Desai
 * 7) Ansuya Parikh
 * 8) Urmilla Girdharlal
 * 9) Udayprabha Mehta
 * 10) Padma Jaikrishna
 * 11) Hemlata Hegishte
 * 12) Vidya Mehta
 * 13) Saroj Zaveri
 * 14) Nirmla Patel
 * 15) Mrinalini Doctor
 * 16) Bharati Gandhi
 * 17) Meher Medora