NISHTHA, West Bengal, India

NISHTHA was born some thirty years back within a socio-economic environment of rural Bengal, where girl children, adolescent girls and women from poor families led a miserable existence lacking in all aspects of development -- education, health, nutrition, livelihood, cultural activities and any kind of relief from the drudgery of every day life.

Some enlightened women from the area decided that something has to be done to bring about positive changes in the conditions of these women. They set up a small group of women and named themselves NISHTHA or dedication. In the course of the years the organization has grown substantially in area and activities.
Today its work area spans more than 60 villages in the South 24 Parganas district of the State of West Bengal, India. It works in Health including Reproductive and Sexual health; Education, where its main efforts go in mainstreaming poor children, especially girls; Income generation for women through forming trade groups; organic, people friendly farming through organizing training programs for adolescent girls and women, who are to take up the role of trainers themselves; awareness building regarding issues concerning women in the families and communities through peer group activities and continuous campaigns; networking with like-minded individuals and agencies nationally and internationally and various other programs.

But as NISHTHA has progressed from one area to another and from one kind of activity to others, it has never lost its original vision of a just and equitable society, where women will take their rightful place and contribute to as well as enjoy the fruits of real development. In all its multifarious activities NISHTHA has kept its mission of empowerment of women alive.  
From a wretched life, where they never spoke up against the social wrongs perpetrated against them, NISHTHA's women  have advanced to vocal, active groups, who are constantly fighting to enhance the status of life for themselves, their families and the community at large. 

We are aware that we still have a long way to go. But we see before us a time, when with help and co-operation from our sisters from far and near we shall build up a world, where the working women, the dalits and the other backward women of to day, who by their constant thankless diligence are building up the world around us, but whose contribution to human progress remains unrecognized by themselves as well as others will realize their own power and take the leadership in all aspects of life in a fair and happy world.