GrOW Resources

Report:

CBPS GrOW Karnataka Report

Working Papers:

1. Researchers as Policy Activists: An Experience-Based Framework for Responsive Policy Engagement by Jyotsna Jha has been published as a part of the GrOW Working Paper Series (Produced with support from McGill University and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The paper can be viewed here.
2. Mahila Samakhya: A Reflection – A programme with a difference
   Vrinda Sarup
   August 2020
   Research Paper
   CBPS WP 2020/03
3. Uneasy tenants in the Master’s house: Reflections on Mahila Samakhya
   Kalyani Menon-Sen
   February 2018
   Research Paper
   CBPS WP 2020/02

Articles:

• Jyotsna Jha and Niveditha Menon’s article has been published in The Economic and Political Weekly (March 19, 2016 – on page 21) on: Why It Is Important to Retain an Independent Mahila Samakhya Programme. The article can be viewed here.
• Alejandra Vargas Garcia from International Development Research Centre (IDRC) has written about the Workshop on Mahila Samakhya’s Impact on Social and Economic Change: Building on the Evidences which was organised on 16 January 2016 by CBPS in New Delhi. It has been featured on the IDRC Website and can be viewed here.

Newspaper Articles and Media Coverage:

• Bangalore News Network covered the CBPS GrOW film screening for media titled ‘Conversation Among Equals’ on 28 February 2018.
• Press Release Watch covered the CBPS GrOW film screening for media titled ‘Conversation Among Equals’ on 27 February 2018.
• Niki Wilson’s article titled Determining women’s destiny – How evaluating an educational program that helps women in India empower themselves could help ensure its future. It was published on 17 May 2016 in the Charting Change website. Niveditha Menon and the CBPS GrOW team have been mentioned in this article.
• On July 12 2016, The Telegraph, Calcutta, India published an article titled Social battle that empowered a deprived caste with rights that referenced the EPW article on Mahila Samakhya written by Jyostna Jha and Niveditha Menon.
• On 17 February 2016, Hindustan Exclusive (Muzaffarpur) published an article on Women’s Empowerment in Bihar, with a reference to CBPS Study on Mahila Samakhya. Jyotsna Jha, CBPS and Edgard Rodriguez, IDRC, Canada attended Mahila Samakhya’s Federation meeting at Muzaffarpur.

Toolkits:

Presentations:

A few presentations based on the study are available below:

1. The team presented a paper titled “The Individual and the Collective: Understanding the Empowerment Process of Mahila Samakhya in Bihar” on 5 May 2017 in the technical session on Unlocking the Potential of Feminisms and Women’s Movement, organized by the Third World Conference on Women’s studies, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Presentation will be made available on request.
2. Two paper presentations were made via teleconference at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Lahore, Pakistan. The first presentation was on 22 of April, 2017 titled ‘The methodology of Mahila Samakhya: Understanding the Sangha as a space for empowerment’. The second presentation was on 23 April 2017 titled ‘Impact of Women’s Action Groups over Three decades: Quasi-Experimental Approach to estimate the Economic Empowerment of Women in Three Districts in Bihar’. Presentations will be made available on request.
3. A Workshop on Mahila Samakhya’s Impact on Social and Economic Change: Building on the Evidences was organised on 16 January 2016  in New Delhi, with presentations from CBPS, Ankur Sarin (IIMA), Arnab Mukherji (IIMB) and the Mahila Samakhya Policy Brief.
4. The research design of the study was presented at our Annual Seminar 2015 and is available here.

CBPS GrOW Blog:

• Niveditha has written a blog on A Woman’s Day and it can be viewed here.
• Maithreyi has written a blog on The Many Faces of Participatory Methodologies here and it can be viewed here.
• Shreekanth has written a blog on The Problem of Researchers’ Discretion in Propensity Score Matching and it can be viewed here.
• Neha has written a blog on Fitting into my own shoes: Reflections from the Field and it can be viewed here.
• Padmaja has written a blog on Reflections on Field-Work and it can be viewed here.
• Niveditha has written a blog on Do women in India require empowerment? and it can be viewed here.
• Jyotsna has written a blog on Women’s Empowerment: Still a Long Way to go! (Dilli abhi bahut door hai) and can be viewed here.

CBPS GrOW Films: 

Visual material has been a critical element to this project, and we have collated a few of these into short videos and films. They are:

• A brief video made by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada about the study is available here.
• A brief introduction to the premise of the study, the research questions, and the methodology of the study can be found here.

CBPS GrOW Mahila Samakhya (MS) Documentary:

CBPS has completed a study on the impact of Mahila Samakhya (MS) in Bihar and Karnataka. A short documentary showcasing the MS programme’s objectives and processes, the impact of the programme as seen through our study, the policy advocacy efforts that we made, as well as the experience of the research team has been documented through this short film. The documentary highlights the contributions of the MS programme to the empowerment of women, and advocates the need for the continuation of programmes such as MS.

English Version
Hindi Version

We have made a series of Stories of Mahila Samakhya called ‘Conversation Among Equals’ – both in English, Hindi and Kannada. 

Federation – The Mahila Samakhya (MS) Federation is a nodal point for all MS sanghas (collective action groups) participating at the block level under the MS programme. The federation was conceptualised as an institution that would function as a support system for the sanghas and when it is mature, act independently from Mahila Samakhya’s official structure on women empowerment issues.

English Version
Hindi Version
Kannada Version

Enabling Political Participation – One of the critical activities of Mahila Samakhya (MS) was to ensure that women function as fully engaged citizens so that they not only participate but are also part of the local self government and Panchayati Raj institutions.

English Version
Hindi Version
Kannada Version

Nari Adalat -Nari Adalat or “women’s courts” is one of the many women-centric institutions that has become independent of the Mahila Samakhya (MS) administration.  The MS federations have taken over the responsibility of keeping this institution alive where women seek redressal for disputes, acts of violence or any other issues concerning their daily lives.

English Version
Hindi Version
Kannada Version

Rabita Devi, Adhora Village, Kaimur, Bihar – Rabita Devi is from a remote village in Adhora, in the district of Kaimur, Bihar, where it is hard to get any state amenities or entitlements. This is the story of Rabita and her journey with MS. Her story is of continued hardship and constant negotiations with the structural inequalities of our society.

English Version
Hindi Version
Kannada Version

Savitri, Rajwada Village Muzzaffarpur, Bihar – Savitri has been a Mahila Samakhya (MS) worker from the very beginning of the programme in Muzzaffarpur. She studied at the Jagagi Centre (centres for adult education) to be well-versed in masonry and became the first Mahila Mistiri (woman mason), challenging several gender- and caste-based taboos. She went on to be a trainer in MS in Masonry to many women group members. This is her journey with MS.

English Version
Hindi Version
Kannada Version

Sulochana Devi, Dighri Village, Katihar, Bihar – Sulochana Devi worked as a sahiyogini with Mahila Samakhya (MS) and worked on issues regarding health. She was instrumental in bringing about changes in health and well-being of the MS members in her villages. This is the story of Sulochana Devi and her journey with MS.

English Version
Hindi Version
Kannada Version

Julie Kumari, Sahyogini, Mahila Samakhya, Katihar, Bihar – Julie Kumari joined Mahila Samakhya (MS) as a Sahyogini. She was a cluster facilitatator for 10 villages. At the end of four years there, she formed 11 women’s groups in 12 villages. This is her story of her and her family of their journey with MS.

English Version
Hindi Version
Kannada Version

Nusrat Jahan, Resource Person, Mahila Samakhya (MS), Muzzafarpur, Bihar – Nusrat Jahan worked as a resource person at MS in Muzzafarpur, Bihar. The first in her family to hold a job that entailed travel to the most remote areas to reach the most marginalised sections of women in Muzzafarpur, this is the story of Nusrat’s journey with MS.

English Version
Hindi Version
Kannada Version

Gundenahalli – Gundenahalli is a village located in the Byadgi  Taluk, Haveri District, Karnataka. Mahila Samakhya created two sanghas in the Lambani community who live in Gundenahalli. When MS first approached the community, they were wary and resistant. Over time, the relationship between the community and MS has evolved, benefiting both MS and the community. This movie documents this journey.

English Version
Kannada Version
Hindi Version

Hiremankatti – Hiremankatti is a village located in Shiggaon Taluk, Haveri District, Karnataka. For many years, Irrupamma played an active role in the creation and functioning of informal savings groups. With the help of Mahila Samakhya, these women were able to create linkages to government programmes and schemes. This movie documents the way women are able to create new pathways of empowerment, with their previous experience, Irrupama’s guidance, and the constant support of Mahila Samakhya.

English Version
Kannada Version
Hindi Version