Bharatiya Stree Shakti
Established in 1988, Bharatiya Stree Shakti is a voluntary, autonomous, apolitical organization committed to empowerment of women, families and the society at large. BSS activities focus on five key aspects or Panchsutri.
To create a cohesive environment in society, where every woman experience dignity and freedom, the active participation of women, men and families is essential. An involvement of entire society through dialogue and action, with compassion and cooperation will ensure harmony. We see ourselves as enablers of a holistic, unbiased and inclusive approach to women empowerment.
Our team members hold different capabilities and backgrounds and belong to different sections of the society. We are homemakers, entrepreneurs, professors, teachers, social workers, lawyers, bankers, doctors, engineers, mental health experts and so on.
Focus areas of BSS and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):-
Since Inception BSS started working on 5 important verticals (five key aspects or Panchsutri), Education, Health, Economic Independence, Gender Equality and Self-Esteem. These verticals cover most of the global goals for sustainable development. We address these aspects through our activities which include awareness, campaigns, surveys and research, workshops and training, events and festivals, seminars and conferences, personal as well as fam ily counselling.
- Education covers SDG 4- Quality Education
- Health covers SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being, SDG 6- Clean water and Sanitation, SDG 7- Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 13- Climate Action.
- Economic Independence covers SDG 1- No Poverty, SDG 2- Zero Hunger, SDG 8- Decent work and Economic growth
- Gender Equality covers SDG 5- Gender equality and SDG 10- Reduced Inequalities
- Self-Esteem covers SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, Strong Family Institutions
Knowledge, Information and Agency to execute the Right are key drivers of Women Empowerment. BSS is becoming a strong pool between needy women and systemic gaps. Help Desk initiative is proving helpful in bridging the gap between beneficiary women and Government schemes. Gram Chetana initiative is demonstrating its usefulness for rural women and women migrated to cities. Gender Club involves youth advocating Equality & Partnership.
VISION
To reinstate the innate strengths, qualities and capacities of women with dignity and equal status of women in the family and society.
We envisage a gender-just society ensuring eradication of discrimination at all levels and recognizing women’s contribution and role in family and nation-building.
MISSION
- To create a conducive environment befitting to empower women and to sensitize men.
- To work together for equality, justice and act against exploitative compulsions, perpetuated by patriarchal social structure.
- To reach out to the last woman who is at the bottom of the pyramid.
REACH
- Presently, we work in 14 states: Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh .
- Bharatiya Stree Shakti is an All-India Organisation and has state units; and other NGOs are affiliated to the central unit. The state units are, Stree Chetana of Kerala, Stree Chetana of Gujarat, Bharatiya Stree Shakti of Madhya Pradesh, MaNaSSa (Marudhar Nari Sashaktikaran Sangathan) of Rajasthan, SWAR (Strong Women Association for Reformation) of Odisha. The other NGOs are Ahilya Mahila Mandal of Pen (Maharashtra).
The other associated organisations / state units are Nari Shakti, Jammu & Kashmir, Bharatiya Stree Shakti centres working at Delhi, Chandigarh, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
All these units collectively make a cluster of 61 branches and Samparka Sthan (Place of Contact) all over India.
- BSS runs 9 Family counselling centres; 3 are select special cells attached to police stations and are supported by State government of Maharashtra, and 7 are run by the organisation on voluntary basis at Pune 1, Sangola 1, Kerala 1, Mumbai 4.
- In association with National Commission for Women BSS runs 12 Pre-Marital Communication Centres (PMCC) which are in Maharashtra – (Mumbai 2, Nagpur 1, , Sangola 1, Kerala 2 -, Gujarat 2, Madhya Pradesh 2
- 120 self-help groups and its 3000 + members and around 12,000 volunteers working in 61 branches support us to meet our goals.
Highlights of Organisational expanse
- During our long organisational journey Bharatiya Stree Shakti counselling centres have handled over 1,05,000 cases so far.
- We’ve reached over 3,40,000 women through our Legal Awareness programmes.
- Our flagship program “Kali Umaltana” – an adolescent age training workshops initially conducted for girls, has empowered over 9 lakh girls in past 35 years. As per the need of an hour adolescent age counselling is extended to boys also. The program covers issues of relationships, peer pressures, drugs, abuse, addictions etc.
- We’ve conducted Gender Sensitization programmes for over 1,70,000 primary school teachers and students of Maharashtra.
- We are on the list of recommended NGOs of Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth and the Mumbai Sheriff’s list.
- We are also registered with National Commission for Women.
- We have signed MOUs with multiple renowned universities to run our activities.
- BSS has designed a value-added course on ‘Indian Feminism’ being conducted through universities.