SHAKTI -
Networking for the non profit NGO Sector

Shakti was started, and registered as a Trust in 1985 by a group of women who saw the need for focused, practical research, training, and communication for the NGO sector. The present trustees are Rima Kashyap (Managing Trustee) Sasha Anand (services sector), Dr. Mirra Savara (Consultant, Corporate Social Responsibility), and Ruchira Gupta (journalist-activist)

Networking has been Shakti's strengths. Starting with women's health issues it enlarged its scope to do research, training and networking with those working on a variety of issues with different perspectives.

Shakti brings out NGO Connect, which is probably India's first periodical which concentrates only on non-profit NGO news. The newsletter gives information about the work of myriad NGOs in various fields. It covers all major areas like HIV/AIDS, health, corporate social responsibility, etc and also has a classified section for work, jobs, equipment etc. The emphasis is on news that enriches the sector so that better networking is possible.

NGO Connect, a bi-monthly printed paper , aims at also having a Net presence and being self supporting in two years time.

NGO Connect seeks cooperation and assistance for making this service a contribution to strengthen the nonprofit sector

Shakti's past activities:

A workshop on "Feminist perspectives on Women, Health and Reproduction in India held in Mumbai in 1986. Women researchers and activists came together for the first time to develop the Indian women's perspective of women 's health. Amongst the papers presented were "Who determines women's health: the social trap"; "Campaign against amniocentesis"; "Occupational Health hazards of self-employed women"; "Blind spot in health policy" "Ill health, early death-women's destiny?"

The proceedings were published in a book, "In search of our bodies: A feminist look at Women, Health & Reproduction in India" (1987). This was a major contribution to developing a perspective and network of women health activists in India.

A monthly newsletter Campaign News was started to keep women activists and academicians in touch regarding campaigns relating to women and health in India. This was circulated to over 1500 activists in India and abroad.

Women and Naturopathy : Women have often been the target for new drugs, and there was a need to bring an alternative perspective to the health movement. Workshops were organised in rural women's health centres which used the framework of self help. Traditional remedies were documented. Proceedings were published as a book (1988).

Women and appropriate technology : A new technology for charkha spinning in the wool spinning industry was developed by the Intermediate Technology Group. Shakti researched the social challenges faced, and developed strategies for improving the acceptance of the technology. (1992)

Women in the unorganised sector : Women in five different occupational groups were studied to understand the sort of organisations which would be useful for their empowerment, and to develop public policy towards these sectors. The study, (1992-94) was funded by the Ford foundation and covered fisher women, home workers, women caterers, domestic servants and sweepers. The organisations covered were unions, women organisations, caste organisations, an NGO and a cooperative. The study was published as a book.

Sexual behaviour studies to develop communication strategy for prevention of HIV/AIDS : The first sexual behaviour studies in India were done by Shakti. In 4 cities,in Maharashtra youth, blue collar workers, white collar workers , tribals and the rural populations were surveyed to understand the sexual behaviour patterns and attitudes towards sexuality. A total of 4,000 men and women were covered in Pune, Nasik, Thane and rural pockets outside of Pune. Funded by the Ford Foundation, Shakti worked closely with many NGOs and the Directorate of Health Services, Govt. of Maharashtra (1994-8).

A 2-day workshop in Marathi on AIDS awareness and Sexual Research was organized on Jan 17, 18 1995 in Pune and attended by voluntary organizations from Mumbai, Pune, Miraj, Nagpur, Beed, Sangli, Nanded, Baramati, Aurangabad and Ahmednagar.

Shakti, in 2002-3 has supported the setting up of a help line for Lesbians, Aanchal so that lesbians can meet and discuss their problems in the privacy of their own groups.

Shakti is actively supporting the project of Apne Aap Women Worldwide, a project aimed to end sex trafficking, Apne Aap has set up a centre for women in sex work in Kolkata, and Shakti is supporting their endeavour to set up a similar community centre in Mumbai. Apne Aap perspective is to empower the women to run their own community centre, a credit centre and to develop a succession policy for their children.

Shakti was involved in co-ordinating the visit of Intersect to consider world-wide coalitions of groups in the fields of Women & Violence and AIDS.