Mahila Jan Adhikar Samiti

MJAS works with the rural and urban poor, dalit, deprived women and elected women representatives in Central Rajasthan. The Samiti has consistently carried out synchronized efforts against women’s discrimination to ensure achievement of their constitutional and human rights. Along with providing assistance in the cases of violence, desertion, social practices and caste based- discrimination and land related issues, MJAS has been flagging issues and concerns of the women’s movement in Rajasthan since 1980s. For close to a decade the organization has mobilized women and communities on these issues to fight for Gender Justice. Working in rural as well as urban areas MJAS aims at providing relief to women in difficult situations through organizing women’s groups at the village and at the locality. Together with this process of micro-level strengthening, the organization envisages imparting training and information to women to build their capacities.
The Samiti works towards emancipating women from normative traditions as well as inhuman practices which still continue to inflict them. Traditions like Nata, Witch Hunting, Ghosts and spirits, Jhar-phoonk having two wives and depriving women and children from their right to property continue to be justified and accepted in many communities. Provision of gender justice through social and legal means and understanding such root problems in the context of socio- economic activities, form an important part of MJAS interventions. In this entire process of struggle the most important outcome observed is that women now are able to understand and as a result have become vocal about their problems. The collective was formed amidst such group of radical women who have challenged the caste system and the state perpetrators to protect their own rights and that of the community.
MJAS believes that women have the potential to contribute effectively towards social transformation. While many women fight individually and carve out spaces for themselves within the social and political spheres of their communities, MJAS believes that women can build their capacities and over come the limitations posed by the traditional practices only through collective action. They can not only fight for themselves, but also work towards social transformation in all fronts.

Another major focus for MJAS has been on elected women representatives. The Samiti has conceptualized and has implemented several programmes in the past to train women in panchayats for effective action in their constituencies. Various programmes documenting their experiences have been implemented and have been used to influence state policies for ensuring protection for women.
Along with ensuring women’s rights MJAS has been extensively working on issues related to child rights in 15 villages. The organization mainly works towards identification of root cause of denial of rights and targeting at the most disadvantaged sections of children. The focus thus far has been on the structural and systemic factors hampering the rights of the child and has been addressed with respect to the redressal of human rights. In collaboration with village committees the organization works on children’s right to survival, protection, participation and their overall development. This project is supported by CRY for the last seven years.