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A Brief History of the Organization

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Jnana Prabodhini (JP) was founded by the Late Dr. V.V alias Appasaheb Pendse in 1962-63. He was an Educationist and Professor of Psychology in University of Pune. Inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s Philosophy, he decided to make social experiments in Man-Making Education. His ideas are manifested in 5 regular schools and various enrichment programmes. These activities cover all age groups from primary stage to post graduate courses. JP’s work is recognized as pioneering in many educational experiments and movements in India and across other nations.

This multifarious organization works in eight dimensions – Education, Research, Rural Development, Health, Awakening of Woman Power, Leadership Development, National Integration and Social Entrepreneurship.

Impact created by JP – Indianized and standardized tests to identify 120 factors of intelligence based on model of Dr. J. P. Guilford, Pioneered the concept of gifted education in schools –taken up by Jawahar Navoday Vidyalayas after visit of Union HRD minister.

‘Stree Shakti Prabodhan, Grameen’ division of JP started working in Velhe taluka in 1995. As the name suggests, it works to bring this vision into reality through empowering rural women. It is active in parts of Bhor, Velhe and Haveli talukas of Pune district.

The entry point activity is the women Self Help Groups (SHGs) or microcredit groups. Through SHGs a strong network of dedicated local women is built. With their help, the work is gradually expanded in various fields such as health, co-curricular education, personality development for adolescent girls, balwadis and parental training to young mothers, skill and entrepreneurship development and recently, leadership development at the local level.

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Presence in the proposed geography

Jnana Prabodhini has been working in indicated geographical location and implementing various programs in multiple extents more than thirty years. ‘Stree Shakti Prabodhan, Grameen’ (or ‘Rural Women Empowerment’) initial program was on maternal health with GTZ funding, as an extension of earlier work of Prabodhini. While working with the pregnant mothers ( in collaboration with Patnakar Trust from 1997), JP realized that they are all mostly subsistence farmers, in precarious financial conditions.Most were indebted to local money lenders because they could not get credit from the banks. And the interest rate of the money-lender used to be 5-10 % PER MONTH!! That is 60 to 120 % per year. So they were trapped in poverty for generations. One effective solution for this was organizing microcredit or Self Help Groups.  So in 1995 we started organizing the Self Help groups for women. Currently 320 SHGs only for women members are existing and 5200 account holders are taking benefits. 2000+ Adolescent girls are being benefited with personality development programmes. Young mothers 600+ have undergone the parenting sessions. 30+ age group of women experiencing Health  awareness and checkup programmes (2000+ per year) consistently for 10 years in collaboration with funding organizations, skill development( 1750 per year) for last 8 years, local leadership development ( 250 per year) for last 7 years.

JP Experience 

Working in 120 villages from 3 talukas in Pune District

Highlight - all these programs started at a small case level and have grownup over the years.

Experinece in Finance domain 

  • Started since 1995 and running 300+ SHGs currently with 5000+ account holders

  • Worked with RBI (College of Agriculture banking) for Financial inclusion of Khopi village

Experience in self-employment/skill training

  • CIDA (Canadian Govt Agency) - 1997 - 2000 : 500 w9men trained in craft based training 

  • NABARD - 2000 - 2012             4 REDP programs with handholding support reached out to 150+ women training them on Tailoring and Agro based products 

  • Ram Sita Puranik Tantraniketan (tech institute) by Maharashtra Foundation (USA) at Shivapur running since 1998 and has reached 2500+ women  

Women Empowerment

  • 2000+ Adolescent girls benefited with personality development programmes.

  • Young mothers 600+ have undergone the parenting sessions.

  • 30+ age group of women experiencing Health awareness and checkup programmes (2000+ per year) consistently for 10 years in collaboration with funding organizations

  • Skill Development (1750 per year) for last 8 years 

  • Local leadership development (250 per year) for last 7 years 

Background

Current State -

In last 25 years, JP has developed network in 100 villages in Bhor, Velhe Talukas while running self help groups in 65 villages. During these years JP has realized that following are challenges with rural females

  • Gender wave hasn't reached at grassroot level in rural areas, hence women are not aware of the benefits of government policies

  • Lack of education, exposure to the outside world, social barriers(womanhood) has not given opportunities for females in developing overall confidence level

  • Social dynamics has great influence in ensuring no involvement of women in decision making as well as contribution at the family/ village level 

  • Lack of personality and leadership development in women and no opportunities for growth at individual level  

JP's Perspective - 

  • Females at different age groups need to me made stronger and more confident

  • capacity building of rural women on gender issues, their rights and entitlements, a detailed module on financial well-being has been thought of by JP and would like to propose the same to provide right intervention 

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