UMBVS - Urmul Marusthali Bunkar Vikas Samiti

Project Brief: UJS runs 6 month long residential camps for young girls who have had no prior education. They are taught basic education, personal health and hygiene and awareness of women's rights.
Project Type: Community Based Interventions (description)
Primary Focus: children of migrant workers (description)

Secondary Focus: children of dalits/tribals

Area: Rural
Supporting Chapter Contact: Boston
Status: completed - requirements ended
Project Steward: Raj Chauhan
Project Partner(s): Srikanth Voorakaranam
Other Contacts:
Project Address: , Sector-4, Adarsh Nagar,,P.B. No. 12,,Phalodi,
RAJASTHAN  342301
Tel: (02925) 22272
Stewarding Chapter: Boston
Dec 2005SeattleUSD 2021
Jun 2004SeattleUSD 6000
Jun 2004SeattleUSD 6000
Aug 2003SeattleUSD 2280
Jul 2003Silicon ValleyUSD 6722
Mar 2003SeattleUSD 3000
Dec 2003St. LouisUSD 1000
Dec 2002BostonUSD 3000
Dec 2001Work an HourUSD 8500
Dec 2000Work an HourUSD 8500

Total = $47023

While initially concentrating on the Income Generation Programme for the weavers they represented, the scope of the organisation’s activities soon grew to include a pilot project started by the Government of Rajasthan, targeted at educating the girl child. The success of this programme spurred them to take on another scheme launched by the Govt.:the Shikshakarmi Pariyojana. This programme focused on the education of both boys and girls. UMBVS was also selected as the nodal agency for the implementation of the Lok Jumbish Pariyajana (launched by the govt of Rajasthan) in two cluster of Phalaudi Tehsil and one cluster in Pokhran Tehsil.

As of today UMBVS is running 13 Aanganpathshalas, 13 Shikshakarmi schools and 50 non-formal education centers. A total of 4500 girls and boys attend these schools.

Apart from running education programmes, UMBVS is implementing a women’s empowerment programme as well as an integrated rural development programme in 13 villages of the Jodhpur and Jaisalmer Districts. A total of 90 villages are being covered by the organisation, under the aegis of the income generation, education, women’ empowerment and the integrated rural development programmes.

The WAH-2002 proposal addresses the educational needs of the children of migrant farmers in JaiSalmer. Jaisalmer is one of the most backward districts in the State of Rajasthan and will benefit 400 children. The Indira Gandhi canal is snaking its way across the State, and has already reached Mohangarh Tehsil. The distribution of land (irrigated) to dalit farmers is currently underway, and most allottees are moving there with bag and baggage, occupying their piece of land. Apart form the allotment of pattas, the adminisatration has made few other arrangements for these new residents. The area is vast, relentless, scattered with sand dunes. Uninhabited, save for the families that are now slowly arriving: in search of the green dream promised by the canal! Finding a hospital or a school there is impossible.

With funding from Work An Hour-2000, UMBVS has set up 10 schools in the Canal area of Mohangarh with a total of 15 teachers in the Mohangarh district till such time as the administration gets its act together, and provide for the same. The plan is to continue these schools for the period 2002 through 2004. The teacher staffing will stay at the current level of 15 for 2002-2003 and expanded to 20 for 2003-2004. Land for construction of the schools, and also labor for construction were be the contribution of the villagers themselves. The funding requested is a total of $30,545 ($13,345 for 2003-04 and $16,900 for the second year). Efforts would be made to transition the schools to local administration and to secure other sources of funding so that the schools can continue functioning smoothly even after 2 years.

To organise its target population into organized groups.

To increase the capabilities of the weaving community by keeping alive their traditional art and weaving techniques.

To spread awareness of their rights so that the weak and under- privileged class may become self-confident and come into the main-stream of the society.

To increase the capabilities of the weaving community by keeping alive their traditional art and weaving techniques.

To spread awareness of their rights so that the weak and under- privileged class may become self-confident and come into the main-stream of the society.
UMBVS is registered under the Societies Act. This organization came into existence due to an interaction between Urmul Trust (started by Sanjay Ghosh) and the Dalit weavers. During the 1987 drought, the severest in recent years, Sanjoy Ghosh (who was abducted by the ULFA in Assam in 1997) set up self-reliant co-operatives across the desert with Urmul, the voluntary organisation he founded. He went looking for weavers who could utilise the roomfuls of excess wool following the relief programme and found himself at Phaludi, 160 km from Bikaner.

The weavers here belong to the Meghwal caste, the lowest in the hierarchy. Those days they used to just about survive, making shawls using traditional motifs. They would then travel to the interiors to sell their labour of love, while working for the rich farmers’ to pay off ancient debts.

Five tentative weavers took the first step. They set up a design venture with Urmul’s help. Gradually, they set up a chain of educational and health centres, which has now become the lifeline of the region.

In the beginning UMBVS concentrated their work around the development of weavers and their families, but in 1994 a malaria epidemic broke out in the region, and the organization immediately expanded their area of work: forgetting about their target group, they helped to get medical aid to thousands of people.

From then the organization decided to expand their area of work and increase their target group. It now helps women, children and dalits who are economically, socially and politically backward. The organization's vision has grown to one which seeks the establishment of an equal and a society free from exploitation. It's programmes include aspects of income generation, health, education and women's development.

In the beginning UMBVS concentrated their work around the development of weavers and their families, but in 1994 a malaria epidemic broke out in the region, and the organization immediately expanded their area of work: forgetting about their target group, they helped to get medical aid to thousands of people.

From then the organization decided to expand their area of work and increase their target group. It now helps women, children and dalits who are economically, socially and politically backward. The organization's vision has grown to one which seeks the establishment of an equal and a society free from exploitation. It's programmes include aspects of income generation, health, education and women's development.
An Introduction to the State

The Sate of Rajastahan was established in 1956. With 3.4 lack kilometers of land, it is the second largest state in the country after Madhya Pradesh. It is India's 10th most populous State. The State has 32 districts.