Chapter History

Asha Darshan is a registered non-governmental organization based in the Baksa district of Assam. It focuses on community development in this insurgency-ridden area through education and organized Self-Help groups (SHGs). The project runs 11 centers (pre-primary, primary and lower secondary) around Tamulpur and Kumarikata areas and has 450 SHGs under its wing. The centers provide a crucial source of schooling to about 1400 children in the age group of 3-15 years. These schools provide a critical, often only source of education; with far and few Government schools in challenging and remote terrain. Midday meal scheme was initiated in November 2005 to address the issue of malnourishment. This program provides children in the Asha Darshan schools with at least one nutritious meal per day. This has led to increased attendance, reduced dropouts and improved overall health and wellbeing of children. Over last decade, Asha darshan schools, although still lacking in infrastructure, has proven to provide best quality education in the region.

Vocational Training program that addressed financial stability for women in the region, attempts to improve traditional weaving practices. Through Government of Delhi, Dept of Science & Technology support, modified looms were introduced and a vocational training center was established that attempts to improve the quality of production and reinvigorate traditional weaving practices. Additionally sewing program attempts to create a means of income generation young girls in the region. The vocational training program reaches over 350 people in the community. The program was supported by a grant from Yahoo! Employee Foundation in 2006 and by NVIDIA in 2012.

Project details

To promote education in a rural poverty ridden area by funding primary and middle schools, and related infrastructure, including mid day meals. Emphasis is on providing vocation skills in the community that will raise standard of living and spread awareness about people’s rights and responsibilities. Asha Darshan tackles the complex issues ranging to militancy led violence, trafficking, and migration through community mobilization and organizing women self-help-groups to improve financial stability of women, and create a forum for social engagement. Mahila Shanti Sena (women peace brigades) works to address the women specific issues such as domestic violence, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and neglect. Women peace cadres are expert in facilitating peaceful discussions and reunification of husband and wife.

Success Stories:

Banaraj Sigha

Family background: The eldest son among 3 children in a family. Sister is reading in class VI and brother in class II. Parents are illiterate. Father is a carpenter in a village, the only earning member. 

Banaraj began his academic career at Asha Satyanarayanpur School in year 2001. He has completed his BBA (Bachelor of Business Management) from Punjab Technical University now. He cherished the dream to join civil services. He is studying sincerely to be successful. 

Banaraj likes the principles of giving back to the society in whatever capacity he can. He meets all his favorite teachers whenever he comes to his village.

Joycharan Barman

Family Background: He lost his mother in his early childhood. Stepmother is a mentally ill patient. All members in the family are illiterate. He joined class III in year 2005. He became the first graduate among Barman Kachari community now in Satyanarayanpur area. The community selected him as a district secretary of Barman Kachari Student’s Union, Baksa. Community entrusted him an important responsibility of advancing the Barman Kachari community. Satellite Council is their main demand. Joycharan is preparing a special support programme under Barman Kachari Student’s Union to make their demand successful. Also, he is running a microfinance group to support businessman with loan. Joycharan wants to be a successful businessman in the future.

Joycharan helps teaching at Ashajyoti school, the same school from which he had passed out.

Nabami Barman (Expert weaver)

Family Background:  She came to learn dobby loom at Asha Darshan 5 years before. Husband is a diabetic patient who cannot go on riding bicycle to weekly market to sell sugar and tea like before. Other two members in the family are a son and a daughter, both students.

Nabami is expert in making handloom fabrics. She makes chaddar-mekhela, Anakata gamosa and bihuwan.   Quality of the product is such that many customers easily get attracted to it and decide to buy own set on the spot. Customers also book on the loom in advance looking the fabric texture. Handloom product is very popular. Supply orders growing up daily. Nabami wants to develop her handloom industry to complete more orders.

Nabami too believes in the principle of giving back to the society. She enrolled many needy women for training handloom skills at Asha Darshan. Near 500 women on different job roles have been trained so far. 

Maina Rabha 

Family background: Maina is 3rd in serial number among 4 children in a family. Father is a daily wage labour, doesn’t get regular employment in village. Maina pursued her education till matriculation. She had to earn wage too to raise money for education.

After matriculation Maina came to Asha Darshan in 2006 to learn cutting & tailoring. She Joined a 6-months training course. She was very sincere in all training activities; her performance was very good during training. Maina establishes her own industry now. Today she is owner of Skill Development Centre (Cutting & Tailoring) running at Tamulpur on the roadside of main national highway. Currently, 15 students are attending its practical and theory classes.

More students want to participate in the training, but for that the centre has to be developed to make more specious for a bigger batch. Maina is trying to raise money for it because she has no extra money, all the money she earned already invested. She will be happier to benefit more needy girls through training. The centre has a registration number of National Board of Vocational Education..

Victim Alaka Talukdar freed from domestic violence by Mahila Shanti Sena

Background: Mahila Shanti Sena rescued her from domestic violence, now living a fearless, peaceful and happy life with husband and two daughters. Alaka got married to her husband against the will of in-laws. Her husband loves her so much so that he can’t think of anything without her. When she went to stay with the in-laws nobody welcomed her. Even later for many years they harassed her and blamed for small things. They blamed her for failing to give birth to a baby boy. They started conspiracy against her and planned to chase out from the home. But Mahila Shanti Sena did not allow this to happen. 

Mahila Shanti Sena organized peaceful discussion on her request. All the adults from the village were present. Reunited the husband and wife, advised others not to trouble them anymore. Aloka got a plot of land where they made own house. Alaka wants to help another woman in the neighborhood who also is facing the same problem.

Rescued Jamuna Roy from atrocities of In-laws, Leading now a life with dignity

Background: Jamuna did inter-caste marriage, was living with her in-laws in the same house. But one day the in-laws suspected her of having illicit relationship. So, they chased her out from home.

Helpless Jamuna came to Mahila Shanti Sena for help. More than one hundred Mahila Shanti Sena assembled at her house to discuss the issue. Complaints of the both sides were heard.  After, Jamuna found not guilty at all. The in-laws apologized for abusing her, promised not to repeat it in the future. Mahila Shanti Sena reminded them about the consequence of violating women’s rights.

Jamuna is feeling better now and enjoying a life with dignity with her husband and little son. Her husband is very supportive, helped building own house in a separate plot of land. Jamuna understands the women problems, she is ready to guide other women overcome such problems.