Women Wing (Matru Shakti)

With a view to push forward the activities of the Mahila Organization, Mahila Pratinidhi Sammelans are organized once in two years on all Bharat level. Normally about 200 women participate in these Sammelans. During this period, such Sammelans have been arranged at places like Ayodhya, Saharanpur, Brindavan, Akola, Vijayavada, Shrinathji etc, wherein participation from all the provinces in the country was ensured. These included some of the dedicated sisters, who used to travel continuously in the states like Bihar, Assam, Bengal and Jammu-Kashmir under the most daunting circumstances , who were associated with the Parishad’s activities and with the help of their incessant involvement, the work of Mahila Vibhag was growing continuously. The contribution of Dr Urmila Jamadar, Shantidev Bala, Meenatai Bhat, Sadhwi Kamalesh Bharati, Alka Joshi, Dr Nirmala Purohit, Malati Sharma, Girija Dubey apart from Sushri Mandakini Dani in the expansion of women’s Organization was quite appreciable.

Shriram Janmabhumi Andolan

•Women have participated in Shri Ram Janmabhumi Mukti Andolan with full heart and soul along with the men right from the beginning. Their contribution from Shriram-Janaki Rath Yatras to the second Karsewa was significantly important. Looking to it, the Mahila Vibhag got an inspiration to awaken its own Yuvati Shakti.

•Dr Urmila Jamdar, the Vice-President of the Parishad, who had joined this Andolan by relinquishing her clinic to her children, rushed forward and took on her head the stroke of the lathi (stick) wielded by the police aimed at Shri Ashokji Singhal during the lathi-charge on Rambhaktas at Ayodhya. These dedicated sister workers gave an altogether new direction to the Andolan by forsaking the chappals, leaving their hair unkempt, putting on saffron robes, or by taking only one meals a day etc.

•When the Shri Ram Janmabhumi Andolan was in full swing, the contribution of the women workers was appreciable in promoting it up to the village and Khand levels. Many women got prepared to sacrifice every thing by deserting their home and hearth to plunge along with their husbands and children in every dimension of this Andolan like Shri Ram Shila Pujan, Shri Ram Jyoti Prasar, Paduka Pujan etc.

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Constructive

Most of the children, who had received proper Sanskars in the Sanskar Kendras and Balwadis run by the Mahila Vibhag have reformed their respective families also. Not only this, Many activi- ties are being conducted by these Sanskar Kendras to train the children and their mothers to be self-reliant. The children are developing interest in spiritual matters; and are attracted towards culture and becoming more awakened towards Sanskars through the medium of Satsanghs con ducted by the women workers.

¨On the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami in 1984, first Balwadi was started in one Sewa Basti in Nagpur. After contacting some young girls of these Sewa Basti, it was found that they teacher of Balwadi, if they are properly trained and good Sanskars are imparted to them. After experiencing the need of this, similar work was started in 7 villages surrounding Rewapari. Two objectives were there while starting these Balwadis : One, to impart good Sanskars to the children of the Basti and increase the contacts with the people there; and two, to make the girls, who had either failed or could not continue their education after 10th class, competent to conduct the Baiwadis by imparting them necessary training. For this purpose, a plan of Residential Training Camps was prepared for these girls in summer every year. Since these trainees have ample time in such Residential Camps, they can be imparted good Sanskars and given the training propererly.

¨A Deepotsava programme was performed by the women in Nagapur immediately after the Deepavali in 1984. Similar programmes were arranged in different Bastis in the whole of Corporation city.

¨Public awakening programmes were undertaken as a part of Bangladesh Abhiyan by holding cor- ner meetings at various places and delivering lectures.

¨First Mahila Sammelan was held in the premises of Shriram Mandir at Ramanagar in December. The paticipation of 250 Mahilas from Vidarbha was appreciable. The Mahila Pramukh Mandatai Dani was present in this Sammelan, wherein a total of 3,000 Mahilas participated.

¨‘Matru-Shakti Kalyan Kendra’ was registered by the Mahila Vibhag of Vidarbha Prant in 1992. The objective of this trust was to independently run the service activities for the Mahilas. A security cell was run for the women who were destitutes, deserted and exploited. The Centre was providing these women with the accommodation, food and rehabilitation as also to impart necessary educa- tion to give them social status. It had also started its own vocational center. About 40-50 women were benefited through this centre.The center was having a library also to make available good literature for the children and women to read.

¨Various traditional festivals like Guru Pournima, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Deepavali, Makar Sankranti, Ramnavami etc. were being celebrated through the medium of Balwadis.

¨ ‘Women Parents Meets’ were being arranged on various occasions.

¨An Annual Gadhering was also being held for the children; and various competitions and cultural programmes were conducted. Every Basti was holding its own programme.

¨Akhila Bharatiya Mahila Sammelan was organised at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Delhi on 07 May 1994. Over one lakh women were present in this Sammelan.

¨Mahila Vibhag has played an important role in creating a sense of antagonism against the evil practises like untouchability, dowry etc. in the society. Different programmes were arranged to eradicate these bad customs. The society was awakened against these maladies through the medium of these programmes.

¨The dedication shown by Sushri. Prajna Mahalaya in pushing forward the agitational and organisa- tional activities together with the constructive activities in Orissa province was inspiring indeed! It was the result of her untiring dedicated efforts that full-time workers remained active in huge numbers in Orissa even later on. This sister had paddled her cycle even to the remotest villages and conducted Satsanghs, Tailoring Centers and other service activities. It is only through the inspiration from this sister, that other sisters were walking long distances upto 10 KMs in a bid to attain these works. One must appreciate this.

¨An important task of Mahila Vibhag has been “Parivar Sanskar” also. It is an accepred fect that the Sanskrti is protected on the basis of Parivar Sanskar only. This work is conveyed to the Matru- Shakti of Bharat through the medium of Sadhwis of the Mahila Vibhag.

¨There are over 47 Satsang going on in the city of Bangalore.

¨Over 1000 school teachers take part in organizing the huge Shri Krishna Janmashtami programmes in the city Chennai every year.

¨Most of the Aacharyas working in the seva karya of Ekal Vidyalaya are women taking that number almost to 15000 (about 70%).

¨Many interesting programmes dealing with environment protection are being done by Matrushakti & Tejaswini Manch in Kerala.

¨Over 5800 sanyojikas are appointed now at district and Prakhand level.

¨Very big Deep pujan programmes involving a few thousand women are conducted in Tamilnadu and Mumbai routinely.