The Mukta Mahila Manch on Sinhagad Road is an organisation of women that addresses their issues and instils in them a sense of pride about their culture and heritage
Diniar B Patel | Sinhagad Road
The Mukta Mahila Manch on Sinhagad Road was started by Nava Sinhagad Parisar Publications Pvt Ltd in December 2006 with a view to inspire in women a sense of pride and awareness about their rich culture and heritage.
The response generated by advertisements for women members was so strong that within days the quota of 1000 members was fiiled up. According to Jitendra S Ranade, managing director of Mukta, "We took an annual subscription amount of Rs 125 from each member. The response generated was so enthusiastic that we had to close membership after 1000 members joined us," he said.
The Manch, made up of ladies, discusses their problems and takes pains in seeing that women interact with each other and help resolve issues - both at the workplace as well as the domestic front. "Activities like seminars and sports meets help the ladies bond with each other," says Ranade. Ranade elaborates that in the Rs 125 charged by the Manch, the women get three annual nataks (plays) free. Besides holding regular talks on issues from health to beauty, blood donation camps are also organised.
"Noted theatre personalities like Prakash Inamdar and his wife Jaimala have conducted workshops for us. We have found that the main cause of problems in families is lack of time. The pressures of work are so heavy that women find it difficult to manage time. We are trying to get them to take out time both for themselves and the family. Our Manch is so popular that we have decided to start one at Karve Nagar and another one at Kothrud," said Ranade. In fact the Karve Nagar branch of the Manch will be inaugurated on May 11. The focus of all these branches would remain the same - help women to unwind and at the same time give them a platform to address their issues. Volunteers have been selected from the group of 1,000 strong ladies to organise events, raise awareness and highlight issues. Events like an all ladies rally on Gudi Padwa was organized by them. "During Gudi Padwa a cultural programme was held where women came in their national dress and enthraled the audience with song and dance," said Ranade.
"The Samity is very clear that there is no discrimination in the name of caste or creed. The nice thing about the Samity is that everyone is made to feel important. We celebrate birthdays of our women members by sending them birthday cards and flowers. Sometimes the women and their near forget their birthdays. Our greetings add joy to the family and make the women feel special. We have also started a library for ladies and charge a mere Rs 200 as membership. Women can either browse through books or take them home to read," said Jitendra.
The Nava Sinhagad Parisar is so happy with its Samity that it plans to set up Mukta manch’s in every area of the city.
|
Enlarge
