Home of the Shramajeevi Sanghatana and Vidhayak Sansad

Shramajeevi Sanghatana Welcome to our home

Vidhayak Sansad INDIA

This home page is in the process of being finalised, but in the meanwhile, the following would serve as an introduction. The following report on the activities and profile of Shramajeevi Sanghatana and Vidhayak Sansad was published in 1996.

We believe that serious and focussed grassroots work does lead to a positive change in peoples’ lives and puts them in control of their own futures and destiny. The work done by Shramajeevi Sanghatana and Vidhayak Sansad amongst the marginalised tribes of Thane district in the state of Maharashtra in India, is only the beginning of the story.....READ ON

Taking Roots - Spreading Wings
Fifteen Years of Changing Lives

This book is a looking back at seventeen beautiful and eventful years, in which Vidhayak Sansad and Shramajeevi Sanghatana have grown beyond our dreams. When we started Vidhayak Sansad in the tiny village of Dahisar, we had only ourselves to give. We knew little of any laws, and nothing about the existence of bonded labour. We only wanted to bring some change in the lives of the people.

This understanding was our touchstone. Whenever in doubt, we ask ourselves - is this going to change the lives of the people? We tried out many things. Shramajeevi Sanghatana was born, and later five small Co-operative societies. Together, we went through many experiments. Some bore out well, some were utter disasters. Yet, through rain and sunshine, we were never alone. So many hands reached out to us. People of villages have showered us with immeasurable affection. Our friends in Mumbai and elsewhere, have supported us in crises, and joined in our celebrations.

Seventeen years seems to be a long time, yet it is nothing compared to the centuries of oppression. In these years, we have seen at close quarters, how the caste, class and gender ridden society operates upon the lives of the victims. Everything we did, from pig rearing to, to mass mobilisation, to watershed development, to filing petitions in the courts of law, was focused only at one point - fight against an unjust and inhuman system.

Some things have definitely changed. In 400 villages bonded labour is a thing of the past, so is auctioning of women. But the list of challenges remains unending - the criminal-politician nexus, land grabbing, child labour, atrocities against women, exploitation on powerlooms. Sometimes we feel, this is only the beginning.

We are much stronger than we were seventeen years ago. Our roots are firmly entrenched in the reality of the situation, and thus, we are ready to take on new challenges. Our wings are poised for flight to another zenith.

This website would trace the roots, and also look up at the sky. It will tell the story of how the organisations, how we changed, and the villages changed. Yes, many lives changed in the course of seventeen years. We hope all those who read will find their own meanings in these stories.

Contact us for further information and also let us know what you would like to see on our website in terms of human rights issues and assessments.

Email to us at:

Shramajeevi Sanghatana: shramajeevi@geocities.com
Vidhayak Sansad: shramajeevi@theoffice.net