User:Dev Derasari/sandbox

= Jyoti Sangh =

Jyoti Sangh is the first organisation which was set up in the year 1934 for women rights in India. The founder of this organisation was Mridula Sarabhai who was a politician and an activist in those times and belonged to the Sarabhai Industrialist family which resided in Ahmedabad. She started this organisation or a reform in India from Ahmedabad with support of many big politician and freedom fighters one of those was the father of our nation Gandhiji. Their soul mission, vision and the goal was to empower women in India. They did this by educating women in different fields which could possibly help them to grow. Majorly the education was done in the areas of stitching, craft making, etc. in short work which could be done even from home. This organisation also made women realize their rights and encourage them to be a part of the freedom struggle which India was going through or fighting at that time. The first movement which they participated was the Satyagraha movement. But in recent times this organisation has reached its stagnation point.

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 centers)  for family disputes. Other counselling centers 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.

Objectives
Jyoti sangh is an organization by the women and for the women. The main objective of the organization is to empower the women and to make them socially, politically and economically stronger. The organization aims to help women step out of their house and fulfill their dreams. As the name Jyoti which means light suggests, the organization aspires to spread light in the life of poor and helpless people. Jyoti sangh was the very first organization at the time of the freedom movement in India that encouraged women to step out and actively participate in the movement. The organization continuously strives to help women and to solve their problems. The main aim to start an organization like Jyoti sangh was to address the problems faced by the women, to rescue them and to assure social respect and economic independence. Jyoti sangh undertakes various activities with an aim to impart skill and knowledge through training and to make women economically self dependent. The organization attempts to create awareness among the people for the need to respect women as an individual.

Contribution
Jyoti sangh has played a major role in uplifting the condition of underprivileged women. It has improved the life of many women’s by helping and encouraging them to live their lives with confidence and dignity. The Charumati Yoddha Rahat Vibha, department of counseling has helped to improve the condition of numerous women suffering and experiencing any kind of harassment. The organization creates awareness in the society and educates women to demand their rights. Jyoti sangh through its various activities provides training and skills to make women self dependent and a contributing member of the society.

Education and training
Jyoti Sangh has training centers to help women in getting work easily and be economically self-dependent. In addition to the courses, Jyoti Sangh organizes educational trips, cultural programs and different competitions to develop talent and personality. The courses available are:

Charumati Yoddha Rahat Vibhag
Charumati Yoddha Rahat Vibhag is a department, in Jyoti sangh, for family counseling since 1934. This is the first counseling center in Gujarat state. Experienced counselors deal with the issues related to women abuses and domestic violence like dowry, alcoholism, infanticide, mental and physical harassment, low income and old-age issues. The counselors use scientific methods to help women by counselling their family members, taking help of police and helping women in going to the court, if needed.Women from the whole state especially from the rural areas take help from this department. Charumati Yoddha Rahat Vibhag is also working on preventing child marriage in the state. The department has been arranging many campaigns and different programs in various communities to bring awareness about the law and protection available to women and empowers them to use it.

Department for mentally challenged adolescent girls
A school with the aim of socializing and rehabilitating mentally challenged girls to teach personal care, art, craft, social and cultural activities.Many girls from the school have received recognition and won prizes at state and national level competitions.

Publications
Jyoti Patrika is a periodical magazine published to bring awareness about ongoing activities of Jyoti Sangh and informative articles from prominent authors. Sashti Poshak Vangi, a book diet and low cost nutritious dishes. Vaitalik, a life sketch of Mridula Sarabhai. A booklet providing information about laws on women and their rights. Jyoti Sangh has also published papers on issues, laws and guidelines related to women.

Fundraising
Jyoti Sangh raises money by building new relationships. They find big-big investors to invest in NGOs.Some people give food, money or clothes on auspicious days or on their birthday, anniversary,etc. This is a public charity and they receive funds by government, general public and by private companies or foundations. In this NGOs the people who are living their they work according to their abilities and skills; some people sew the clothes, make bags or some may sell the books of good authors that some people have donate the books to generate funds.

Awards and Achievements
In Jyoti Sangh's women have become a role model and are providing moral support to the next generations. Jyoti Sangh got the award of "Best Women's organization" in 1989-1990 by Gujarat government. They also got awards for best family planning program and consumer protection cell. Gujarat government gifted a piece of land as appreciation for their service towards the women of Gujarat at Bhimjipura, Navadaj, Ahmadabad. Jyoti Sangh has participated at the World Conference of Women at Beijing, China. Jyoti Sangh has also participated in World AIDS Conference at Durban in South Africa and also participated in a special session of United Nations General Assembly for HIV AIDS in USA.

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