The over arching objective of the project is women empowerment by creating enabling environment. This project is submitted by Maval Mahila Vikas Sanstha (MMVS) which has been working in Maval area since 1993.

The project will be implemented in 19 villages near Somatne Phata on Mumbai Pune Highway covering apopulation of about 25,000. The project goal is to strengthen the saving and credit activities by training local SHG leadership, formalize the federation of SHG's into a women's credit co-operative and make it operational for the benefit of women, gender sensitization of adolescent girls and boys as well as men and women through training camps and workshops, to undertake various activities for capacity building of MMVS as a strong organization to deal with the issues of urbanization, industrialization and gender inequalities causing marginalization of women and to initiate the process of networking among the existing youth groups in the villages and co-ordinate their activities and programs through the 'Youth Center'.

This project is envisaged as a three year project at the end of which MMVS anticipates that a 'Pawanai Women's Credit Co-operative' will be registered as per the law and operationalized by women, a strong network will be established amongst the SHG's in the 19 villages of the project area, a Family Counseling Centre will be established which will serve as a resource centre for the village community and will help in resolving marital discord and family issues through counseling and arbitration.

This will result in reducing the rate of domestic violence. The networking amongst youth groups under the youth center will mobilize the village youth for common action on social issues and will contribute in the development of village community. Project Cost: $ 25,500 for one year.