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The Area and The People:
Khunti block is one of the backward and remote blocks of the Ranchi district of Jharkhand.
As per 2001 census average 36% of the population in the project area is literate while only 24% amongst women. Khunti Block comprises 144 villages spread across 43,421.02 hectares. Forestland area is 4,150.98 hectares. Only 1,810.08 hectares of the total land area is irrigated (unirrigated arable land is 26,301.76 acres)
Though most part of the block is surrounded by river there is always considerable crisis of water resources. Irrigation facilities are not commonly available hence agriculture is at subsistence level. Production is not enough to sustain family requirements. Upland rainfed crops are primarily produced perforce.
Very few villages are now having access to the telephone service within the village. Even though comparable 2001 data is not available yet in 2004 the status of communication particularly telephone, electricity and roads continues to be abysmal.
5% of the total Population of the block is engaged in various handicrafts. But the problem with these artisans is that they do not get good price for their work.
This Block does not have presence of any industry hence there are no opportunities for the growing population and people are finding their way through engaging themselves in burglary, theft, killing and also joining the insurgent groups
Though we are not exactly a women’s organisation but the focus of part of our programs is on the tribal women and children, as they are the most backward and neglected half of the society. Women Empowerment is a process what we understand at our level. Our emphasis is one socio-economic development of women through access to opportunities like income generation, health, education, legal system, judiciary etc.
Migration:
Many young male-female members of the family are migrating from this state in search of job and survival. In this group children below 18 years are also forced to work as labour or household workers. Many of them are badly exploited. Child abuse is common for this group. According to the survey approximately 70,000 population is migrating from the region. In Khunti Block alone more than 600 children are migrated in year 2003. (In Ranchi District there are around 22 Blocks). When these children and young people return home, they bring worries, health diseases like AIDS.
Advocacy Skill Building:
Emphasis must be placed on active
participation in decision-making by women (and other weaker sections) with a view to enhance their role, status and leadership in local self-governance. This is possible only if Women Empowerment through
strengthening women SHG groups and forming new wherever possible. Improve their access and credit facilities for economic empowerment and social recognition and reduction in dependency from the money lenders.
To fight for human rights and social justice,
effective use of information is a powerful tool. Invariably the least powerful
(the women, and the scheduled tribe and scheduled caste) often lack the advocacy
skills necessary to influence public opinion and public policy. But building
capacity to advocate effectively at various levels can influence policies and
begin to change social and economical realities for marginalized sections. This
is what we are trying to do in our ongoing project funded by DFID.
Though we are not exactly a women’s organisation but the focus of part of our
programs is on the tribal women and children, as they are the most backward and
neglected half of the society. Women Empowerment is a process what we understand
at our level. Our emphasis is one socio-economic development of women through
access to opportunities like income generation, health, education, legal system,
judiciary etc. | 
