OurYouth Network Partners

New Barracpur Ankur Young girls Organization.

Background

ANKUR is a young girl’s organization, dedicated to women empowerment. We are working in the New Barrackpur ULB to empower the adolescent girls to protect themselves against violation of their rights since 2006. Last six years we have been working on 13 wards of New Barrackpur ULB on the issue of ARSH and Rights of ado girls. At first Ankur was working under NBP Municipality but now Ankur has got her self identity. Presently Ankur is working on adolescent health, right, education and vocational trainings. The lack of universal access to education is a major challenge, yet we believe that women are more in need of a helping hand so that is where we have placed our focus. It has always been more dangerous to be women than a soldier. We believe economic empowerment of these women will facilitate social and political empowerment of women. They will actively take part in the decision making in the family and community. Our aim is to create a youth friendly environment wherein the adolescent girls can share their views even on sensitive issues like sexual health, rights and duties etc. It also will ensure that these girls have the basic information or knowledge of ARSH issues which is generally neither easily available nor accessible. We want to ensure that women can live healthier, happier lives. West Bengal govt. has come forward with their helping hand to support “Ankur” and the mission “empowerment of the adolescent girls to protect themselves against violation of their rights” .There are also many well wishers of Ankur who are supporting us to move forward in this stony path.

MISSION:

We believe in “AMRAI KARBO/AMRAI LADBO/AMRAI JITBO”

• Women empowerment

Women bear almost all responsibility for meeting basic needs of the family, yet are systematically denied the resources, information and freedom of action they need to fulfill this responsibility.

• Rights of women. We want to make a society were there is equal rights for both men and women. We believe that they should be given their rights so that they have the same social, economical and political status as men.

• No early marriage. Despite many poor countries enacting marriageable age laws to limit marriage to a minimum age 18, traditional marriages of girls of younger ages are widespread.

• Fight against dowry. Though prohibited by law in 1961, the extraction of DOWRY from the bride's family prior to marriage still occurs. The official records of these incidents are low because they are often reported as accidents or suicides by the family. We don’t let any girl to death like “Nirupama” of R.N. Tagore.

• Education for every girl child. In a male-oriented society where education opportunities for the poor are few, women are less likely to receive them. We believe in "If you educate a man you educate a person, but if you educate a woman you educate a family."

• To improve the quality of life of young women via skills training and career services

AREA SPECIFIC PROBLEM:

 Drop outs.  Early marriage  Unemployment

ISSUES

• Health, • Livelihood, • Rights, • Education.