Manjari Corner

In a move to boost rural economic development, Manjari Foundation have officially signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rajasthan Grameen Aajeevika Vikas Parishad (Rajeevika). This 5 year partnership will identify 10-12 high-potential enterprises and move them from local initiatives to market-ready businesses. A two-day training program was organised at Dariba location focusing on capacity building, teamwork and field skills for the group sakhis. Financial literacy training was conducted in Bhaldia, which included money management, savings, investment strategies, and maintaining income-expenditure balance. Information was also provided about Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana. In collaboration with RSETI, Manjari has trained thirty rural women from Batheda Khurd village, Mawli on artificial jewelry making.

Setting the ball rolling…

The Second Chance Programme implemented by Manjari Foundation and supported by Pradan and UN Women has set the ball rolling for several women like Promilla Karmakar. Aged 24 years, Promilla is from Assam, now based in Jaisalmer where she is working as domestic help at the residence of an Airforce professional. Promilla is one of six children of a single mother.

Her late father was murdered in a family dispute. Unfortunately, owing to several family issues, she had to discontinue her education after Class 5 and start working at an early age to support her family. Even today, Promilla who is still unmarried, bears the sole responsibility of supporting her mother financially. She contributes INR 3000 every month, out of her earnings of INR 5000.

It was the intervention of Manjari Foundation that opened new prospects for Promilla. The moment she heard about the Second Chance Education Programme, she was eager to become a part of it. In 2019 she got her name enrolled under NIOS (Open University) for a Class 10 examination. The day she received the study kit, she got emotional. “I couldn’t express the joy I felt in words”, she says.

For the first time in her life, Promilla feels a strong will and motivation to do something for herself. We hope this Second Chance will brighten up her future…