‘tapan Foundations (N. G. O.)’ has formed several self-help groups in the area. These self-help groups are running in the villages of Agra district of UP. It has successfully organized women in self-help groups at grass-root level. Under this project 400 families belonging to weaker sections are benefited. Now they feel more aware, confident and organized to fight against all types of exploitation. Self-Help Groups have given them voice and courage to speak and stand on their own. This new awakening among women has brough about a new change in their status in community. People now know that women who were silent sufferers yesterday are now united under the banner of the organization. The organization wants to help women generate alternative sources of income. Women are exploited because they are economically dependent on others. Without economic empowerment, social awareness has no meaning at all. It has always kept its focus on capacity building of community. Under this project, the organization has mobilized large number of women belonging to low income groups to engage in various income generating activities through self help groups. The organization helps them get information, training and other supports. ‘tapan Foundations (N. G. O.)’ helped women form self-help groups in Agra. The objective of this programme was to make these women economically self dependent. The women who have joined these self-help groups are now saving money and helping each other. They feel more confident to face all types of challenges in life. These activities given them a sense of pride and dignity. Women are exploited because they are economically dependent on others. Without economic empowerment, social awareness has no meaning at all. Keeping all this in mind, the organization has kept it focus on capacity building of community. ‘tapan Foundations (N. G. O.)’ has mobilized a large number of women belonging to low-income groups to form their self-help groups and engage in various income generating activities. The organization helps them by providing information, training and other supports. The project will soon come into full swing when these women start earning for themselves and their families.

‘tapan Foundations (N. G. O.)’ has been very active in launching campaigns for social awareness among masses. During the last few years we were engaged in educating the people about the danger of AIDS, Drug Addiction and Alcoholism. The organization also creates awareness against many other social malpractices such as child marriage, dowry system and female infanticides etc. Songs, dances and street-plays support our campaign. It helps us in eliciting community support at grass root level ‘tapan Foundations (N. G. O.)’ has been actively advocating for various social issues of deprived and exploited communities. We use all platforms for voicing people’s concern by participating in discussions at seminars and workshops organized by other NGOs and action groups. It is therefore needless to say that the organization has missed no opportunity to express its solidarity against people’s exploitation in any form.

‘tapan Foundations (N. G. O.)’ is working to improve the living standards of rural folk in the district of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is also trying to create environmental-awareness among the people. The organization has been actively involving the local population and non-governmental agencies. It has installed hand-pumps for safe drinking water in villages, and has set up a handicraft production unit too. The handicraft production unit has provided employment to local women. It also involved in an integrated rural development program for school-going and non-school-going children, educated unemployed youth, women interested in improving their socio-economic status, small and marginal farmers and agricultural laborers looking for additional employment opportunities.

The organization also conducts awareness programmes on Reproductive child health issues. Its awareness programme includes subjects such as child survival and safe motherhood, women’s health, Family planning, adolescent health, early registration of pregnant women, antenatal care, promoting institutional delivery, preventing diseases by vaccination, distribution of condoms, referral services, Adolescent reproductive health care and counseling etc. The organization aims to improve women’s access to quality reproductive health services and empower them to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. It also works to increase community access to appropriate reproductive health care services through training and developing positive community behavior about reproductive health. It ensures that projects are sensitive to local beliefs and can be sustained in the long term. Its programmes aim to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality among women. The organization addresses to the need of understanding the special needs of adolescents by the community as well as the health and development agencies working in different communities. It involves capacity building of the NGOs, institutions and other service providers in this area, sensitization of the community including policy makers, service providers, teachers, and others on the needs of the adolescents and improving the reproductive health status of adolescents. It health activities include awareness and sensitization programs through dissemination of information/knowledge on adolescent health and development issues with rights and gender perspectives, Emphasis is to involve and enhance community participation especially with adolescent groups. The organization is running community health programmes in Agra. Under this programme. 6 health camps were held this year. The objective of these health camps was to create health awareness among all sections of community and to provide them basic health services such as health checkup, immunization and referral services. With the help of its teamof doctors and nurses, health checkups were conducted on 250 persons. People with common ailments were distributed free medicines. Patients requiring further diagnosisand treatment were referred to other hospitals and dispensaries. Doctors held talks on various health related topics such as importance of immunization, symptoms and treatments of common diseases, community hygiene etc, A large number of people including women participated in these health camps. Street plays on health issues were also organized at these occasions. The organization held a ‘Save Motherhood’ programme in which 240 households were covered. The programme was aimed at creating awareness for healthy mother and child. With the help of charts and posters many health awareness issues werecovered. The organization also established a reproductive health care unit for one week to educate women and adolescent girls about different issues pertaining to reproductive and maternity health care.