Project Title

Women’s Health and Development through Empowerment with community Participation in an Urban Poor Setting –An action Approach

Funding Agency

Duration of the project

British High Commission

April 2002 to March 2005

Geographical Coverage

Sangam Vihar, a resettlement colony in New Delhi, targeting a population of 50,000

Objectives

• Provide and link for quality Reproductive and Child Health services for enhancing women and child health

• Sensitise and involve men in health and development of women

• Promote a realization of women’s rights amongst women and the community at large

• Build capacities of women for better self identity, esteem and negotiating skills through their active participation at all levels

• Strengthen women based groups on development issues

• Enhance women’s understanding & access to redressal of social injustice like violence, divorce etc.

Project Brief

Community awareness and sensitisation is a key strategy of the project. Interaction with Gender groups is undertaken, in a planned way, on different health and development issues.

The project is also focusing on women’s literacy and other empowering activities. Two WDCs are functional in the programme area. Linkages have been developed with various organizations i.e., Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST) Shrishti, Shramic Vidyapeeth, Vidya etc. for technical, financial and material support. However, Women’s empowerment is not viewed in isolation but male involvement is sought too through group meetings, workplace interventions, one to one interaction, mass campaigns and couple meetings.

Health services have been established which provide Primary Health Care services to the community for addressing the immediate health problems. Gynecology and Pediatric clinics and Youth friendly reproductive health services are a feature of health care aspect of the project. In the empowerment process the community groups are being encouraged to get formalized and take up relevant causes.