The health initiatives promoted by DISHA in reproductive and child health care improved the health status of dalit women. This was implemented in collaboration with the district administration and a cadre of trained community health workers has enabled women to limit their family size, make informed choices of family planning methods and has resulted in improvement of their reproductive health status. DISHA has empowered individuals (teachers, community health workers and volunteers) drawn from the community to function as social entrepreneurs for long-term sustainability.
To continue with the process of bringing dalit women together for development in twenty villages of Bodhgaya, DISHA is empowering 1753 dalit women members of 156 self-help groups from 20 villages to participate in the governance process, overcome social exclusion, and provide means to make themselves heard especially by government for realizing their entitlements for an improved quality of life. DISHA will take up these activities at the Panchayat levels by forming ‘Mahila Shanti Dal’ (women’s peace corps) during the next three years during which time their capacities to realize their rights and entitlements will also be built up.
