The J.P. Naik Centre for Development and Education of Rural Women, popularly known as Grameen Mahila Vikasini (GMV) was established in 1994 Shivapur village (Taluka Haveli, District Pune) for conducting research studies and experimental programmes concerning education and empowerment of rural women. Vocational education programmes both related to agriculture and non-formal education for girls and women from surrounding villages of Shivapur, have been organized in the light of the Institute’s main objectives viz.
Education for All and Health for All. All these programmes are interlinked with rural development. Organization of women’s Self Help Groups, updating the skills of women farmers, improving the health status of women and children, are given priority. To produce marketable goods, trainings are also conducted to develop skills required in sewing and tailoring. . All these programmes are conducted within the framework of action-research and the activities of GMV have been financed from Trust funds of the Indian Institute of Education.
The centre has been conducting vocational education classes for local women. Vocational classes conducted in Aarvi village, especially in sewing and tailoring. These classes were conducted based on the demand of the local women. Around 30 women including college going girls benefited in acquiring skill in basic as well as blouse stitching. The ‘Kushala section of vocational education at GMV produced 120 seminar bags for i-earn international organization, as well as different variety bags, door mats, quilts, saree bags, rexin purses, throughout the year. ‘Kushala’ took part in ‘Deccan Jatra’ had a stall for seven days. This was organized by Zilla Parishad. But the season, timing of month of Deccan Jatra was not suitable for the public. But it was good experience.
Community Learning Centres are located in Shivapur and seven surrounding villages, viz. Shriramnagar, Khed, Kasurdi, Aarvi, Gauddara, Kalyan and Awasarwadi. These are managed by the Prachetas (women Animators). The Prachetas are also trained as Arogya-Preraks in order to treat simple illnesses under the guidance of the Public Health Centre, which also trained them as ‘Depot Holders’. Monthly in-service trainings are conducted for Prachetas by resource persons, who train them in the areas of health, hygiene, rural development, bank-linkages, and related government schemes. In their monthly meetings they are given legal information as well as information regarding the important
National Day celebrations as well as festivals. They even manage the SHGs activities from their own villages and the maintain registers, which are checked periodically at the GMV centre, Shivapur.
Several agricultural development activities were conducted in the villages surrounding the Institute’s well equipped centre located at Shivapur village. Intensive programmes have been undertaken in seven villages including the Institute’s Community Learning Centres which are located in six villages including the Shivapur village. By and large, the non-formal agricultural education has become popular during this process. The other activities conducted by these centres are;