History

Prayaas Public Charitable Trust

Prayaas was established as a public charitable trust in 2011 under the aegis of Parichiti. From October 2024 independently Prayaas, a women lead public charitable trust envisions a gender equal society in which women’s leadership and achievements are increased and their successes are acknowledged and celebrated. The leadership and member of the Prayaas is same as Parichiti. The leadership has an experience of working with marginal people in urban and rural settlements for more than two decades. 

Here is the timeline of the history of Prayaas for easy understanding:

2000

• October: Registered as Society (Parichiti of Kolkata)
• Working for domestic workers (WDW) right as volunteer service
• Rescuing a survivor of workplace harassment
• Legal intervention – Murder of WDW at workplace

2004

• Funding by Global Fund for Women to work for domestic workers rights
• Field exposure
• Relationship building with domestic workers at 03 railway stations 

2007

• Funding by Shapla Neer: Citizen’s committee in Japan for overseas support.
• Research study about domestic workers
• Introduced ‘Bishram Ghar’ rest room for WDWs during working hours.
• Formation of ‘Samadhan Dal’ –  WDW collective for addressing the issues of DWs.
• 04 domestic workers community group formed

2010

• Support received from Child Rights and You [CRY]
• Working on Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 with 07 schools in 02 districts of West Bengal focusing the daughters of domestic workers.
• Working with School Education Department and School teachers to resist school dropout and early marriage.

2011

• Funding received from Dorabji Tata Trust
• Intervention on better working conditions of domestic workers
• Field intervention stated, community group
• Managed 08 domestic workers community groups

2012

• Funding by South Asian Women’s Fund to work with domestic workers.
• Regular intervention at 12 communities. 

2017

• Parichiti Merged with Centre for Health and Social Justice due to funding crisis and non-existing of FCRA registration.
• Started the project ‘Partnering for Change’ funded by the United Nation’s Trust Fund on equal sharing of gender roles and societal responsibilities among diverse gender identities especially women and men. 
• Started the project ‘Ek Saath’ funded by Oak foundation on Creating a network of responsible men towards the equality of women. 
• Started working with elderly women. i.e. retired domestic workers in the slums of Kolkata

2018

• Funding by Global fund for Women to work on domestic workers rights. 
• Regular intervention at 16 communities.

2021

• Funded by Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiative for the Project Nirnay, on empowerment of women against GBV and providing comprehensive support through a responsible support system.
• Started Crisis Support Centre- One window comprehensive support centre for survivors
• Started 24X7 active helpline for survivors seeking support
• Worked on 25 communities of Kolkata and South 24 Parganas  including 20 WDW communities consisting of 530 members, 20 men’s groups of 250 members, 03 adolescent girls groups of 75 members. 

2022

• Selected in GROW 100 and Received GROW fund by Edelgive Foundation on Organisational Development.
• Received funding from Global Fund for Women on domestic workers rights.

2023

• Received funding from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropy to work with young men and boys at school-college and communities, on self-efficacy active citizenship and gender championship.

2024

• Funding support of APF ended
• Ended up ties with Centre for Health and Social Justice
• PRAYAAS Trust registered in 2011 stated working independently with a personal consultancy received by Managing trustee Kakuli Deb by the Global Fund for Women.

Currently we are working on some specific thematic areas with an intersectional approach, the thematic areas are as follows –

Building Leadership: Intervention with Adolescent girls

We empower adolescent girls by connecting them to various vocational training courses and fostering self-awareness through structured capacity-building sessions. Our initiative encompasses three adolescent girls’ groups, involving a total of 50 participants. These groups serve as safe spaces where young girls can freely express their aspirations, fears, and confusions. Within these supportive environments, they engage in meaningful interactions, discussions, and debates, building collective strength to overcome societal barriers imposed on them as girl child.

In addition to this, we focus on sensitizing adolescent girls on critical issues such as menstrual health and hygiene, nutrition, body literacy, managing relationships, understanding gender dynamics, and more. Furthermore, their extracurricular talents are nurtured and showcased through participation in various events and programs, encouraging holistic development and self-confidence.

Engaging adult women: Intervention with Adult Women with special focus on Women Domestic Workers

Our work with adult women focuses specifically on domestic workers, with 677 domestic workers directly engaged and an additional 58 women from various unorganized sectors connected to our initiatives. Addressing both their personal and professional lives, we empower women domestic workers by helping them enhance their skills, aiming to ensure better income opportunities.

To reduce workplace harassment, by fostering positive relationships between domestic workers and employers through targeted campaigns, interface meetings, and other interventions. These efforts contribute to improved and dignified working conditions for domestic workers. Furthermore, we link domestic workers and their families to various government schemes and entitlements, enabling access to social security. To date, we have successfully connected 220 women to these entitlements, reinforcing their financial and social well-being.

Crisis Support Centre: A 24X7 one window comprehensive support centre for women in distress

Gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, remains a pressing issue affecting women within their families. To address this, we have established the Crisis Support Centre, a comprehensive one-stop support system designed for survivors of violence. Through the Crisis Support Centre, we provide a range of services, including psycho-social and legal assistance, as well as emergency support such as access to ration, medicine, and other essential resources. Survivors are connected with service providers including child care support, through referrals and linkages, empowering them to overcome trauma and rebuild their lives with dignity.

A 24/7 helpline is operated as part of the Crisis Support Centre, offering immediate and extended assistance to survivors. To date, the helpline has provided crucial support to 6,006 women in need. Currently, the Crisis Support Centre’s services are available primarily in three districts: Kolkata, South 24 Parganas, and North 24 Parganas and also other twelve districts including Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Medinipur, Murshidabad, Malda, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar etc. The center has supported 230 women thus far, with 30 women currently benefiting from its services, including 15 availing legal assistance.

In addition to addressing immediate needs, the center connects women to vocational training programs and refers them to potential opportunities to ensure income security. These efforts contribute to fostering resilience and enabling survivors to lead dignified lives.

Work with Elderly women

Elderly women living in urban slums are experiencing severe social and financial isolation. To address this, Prayaas is actively working to improve their living conditions and overall well-being, offering support that helps them lead more dignified and connected lives.

At present 260 elderly women are enrolled in 7 centres placed in 5 low income communities in Kolkata. Through this day care centre elderly women receive psycho-social support for their well being. They get supplementary nutrition on a regular basis to meet the nutritional gap. Healthcare support in the form of health camps, eye camps and spectacles free of cost. In addition to that elderly women are linked with different government entitlements.

Till now 65 elderly women are linked with different Government entitlements. In the last year 02 health camps were organized, and 229 women attended these camps. 130 women received spectacles in the last year which improved their vision and mobility contributing to better quality of life.

Engaging Men and Boys: Promoting gender justice – Championing good behavioural practices

Prayaas is committed to promoting gender equality by engaging men and boys in collaboration with its partners, networks, and direct project implementation. The organization works within various networks to revitalize efforts toward engaging men through a feminist approach.

Prayaas’ engagement strategy focuses on fostering direct connections with community members, including parents, family members, Panchayat leaders, School Management Committees, PRI members, and local politicians. This approach aims to cultivate active citizenship, build resilient communities, and enhance self-efficacy.

Men and boys engaged in these initiatives play a crucial role in preventing and addressing violence against women by adopting and promoting positive practices within their communities and academic institutions including schools and colleges.