Shakti’s 10th year celebration continues...

Now you can lighten the lives till New Year 2010

Educating girls is the real celebration...and all of us at Shakti invite you to keep celebrating with us.

We take this opportunity to thank all of you for making this Diwali special for the under-privileged girls, who were not able to get education due to lack of funds.

This Diwali, Shakti pledged to illuminate the lives of 500 girls. With your support 200 girls will be able to get education this year. There are yet 300 more girls to be educated. So keeping this in view the festival of Shakti will go on until New Year 2010. You can help by supporting the education of these girls and by spreading the word about it. Do encourage your friends and family to be part of this revolution in educating and empowering girls.

Founded and lead by Anandmurti Gurumaa, Shakti has embarked into its 10th year of empowering and educating girls…And to make this Diwali special, memorable and a true celebration, Shakti pledged to lighten the lamp of education in the lives of 500 more girls. Lives of 200 girls have been brightened. 300 are more to be lightened. So the celebration will continue until 2010.

Activities to bring the change

With your generous support and loving help Shakti has been offering scholarships to under-privileged girls to complete their education up to 12th standard. Along with this, from time to time, Shakti has been actively involved in spreading awareness about the causes which have lead to a sharp imbalance in sex ratio. Through various mediums like music, drama, dance, Shakti has been raising its voice to reach out to the society, which has a major role to bring about the change.

Support to empower & educate girls

With the blessings of Anandmurti Gurumaa, Shakti has been instrumental in facilitating education of many under-privileged girls since its inception 10 years ago in 1999. Plans are afoot to expand the horizon of Shakti in order to offer more opportunities to make these girls self-dependent, confident and stronger individuals.

We urge you to join us in this movement to empower the girl child. Your support to this cause can bring an enormous change in society and make a great difference in the lives of the needy girls.

PS: All donations to SHAKTI are eligible for 50% tax exemption under section 80G

We are at RISK!

Two million foetuses are killed every year through abortion, simply because they are female. - BBC News


Just a sneak peek into the gravity of the imbalance created in the society. Here is the snapshot of the drastic decline in the number of girls as per census 1991-2001 in Haryana, one of the states where the crime of female foeticide is widely practiced. What you see in red shows that the number of girls has gone below 800 for every 1000 boys. What do you think happened to those girls? Very simple...They have been killed! But for what? For your preference of sons...

What do you think is the solution?
Save Girls! Stop Female Foeticide! Under the guided presence of an enlightened master, Anandmurti Gurumaa, Shakti is making a genuine effort to stop this genocide, educate masses about the prevalance of evil practicies like female foeticide and infanticide, and awaken them to the reality of growing disparity in the over all ratio in female-male. If we don't pay attention to this now then it will lead to unmanageable consequences and it will become impossible to make up for the missing girls.

Shakti is a Clarion Call to wake up to the alarming situation, stop the femicide, put an end to the discriminatory treatment given to the girl child, and empower them with education. No parents have the right to kill the girl child. It is agonising to note that the major reason of resorting to the femicide is the preference for sons. Society needs to get rid of this age-old conditoning. Girls support family more than sons do. Girls should be given a chance to live. It's high time now to wake up and not to kill the womb of a mother.

And by providing education to the girls-Shakti is creating a bright future where girls become a pride for parents and nation at large. We have examples of girls scaling heights and becoming great achievers. There are many such examples in our society such as Sania Mirza, Kiran Bedi, Shabana Azmi, Sushmita Sen and Lata Mangeshkar. This has been possible only with education. Educated girls make a better world!

Comment by Anu...

June 5, 2007 7:43 AM

Thanks for publishing the facts and figures related to female infanticide in our country . I hope that more and more people will become aware of the crimes being committed as they see these alarming figures.

A Glimpse of Reality

By Anandmurti Gurumaa

Woman - An embodiment of love & compassion

Woman is an embodiment of love, grace, and compassion; understanding, balanced, sharp, witty, beautiful, and artistic. We can go on and on and still the essence of woman hood will be difficult to define. She creates, she nurtures, she supports, she loves, and she is a power house! But it is extremely agonizing to see her being deprived of the very right to live. Yes, it’s true! The Indian society considers the birth of girl child as a matter of disgrace which has lead to the prevalence of horrid practices like female infanticide and female foeticide.

Perils of technological advancement

The modern technology which was designed to detect any of the gender related congenital abnormality of the foetus is now being widely abused to detect the sex of the foetus with the intention of getting it aborted if it happens to be that of a female. Killing of girls by forcing a sand bag on their face or by throttling within hours of being born is not a rare phenomenon besides the practice of pre-birth-elimination of female foetuses. And the major cause of more women resorting to this practice is because of their preference for sons.

Killing girls because of the age old myths

It is unfortunate that our society prefers sons just because of the myth that they carry forward the name and tradition of the family; they are considered a source of support during old age and for performing religious rites at the time of cremation and subsequently. This entire rubbish ness is instilled in the minds of children too, right from their childhood; girls are given the discriminatory treatment, boys are given preference, and the evil practices continue unabated across India.

Alarming Decline in Sex ratio

We have indeed come a long way but unfortunately towards creating an imbalance in our society. The 2001 census showed evidence that across India there had been a sharp decline in the number of female children. "It’s an urban phenomenon, but what is worrying is that it is spreading to rural areas now as the technology spreads,"

According to the report of United Nation Population Fund, Key findings include:

A national decline from 945 to 927 in the number of girls per 1,000 boys aged 0-6 between 1991 and 2001.

1981-91 census shows 1.37 crore more boys than girls. 2001 census shows there are 42 crore children, with boys outnumbering girls by 1.98 crores.

A grave situation in states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat where the ratio has drastically declined to fewer than 800 girls for every 1,000 boys.

A low child sex ratio in certain districts, including the South West District of Delhi, which are "amongst the most prosperous in the country".
Experts predict that if the trend continues, and reaches the dangerous levels of Haryana or Punjab, the Indian society will have to grapple with severe problems including spiraling crime, trafficking of women and related social problems.

A wake up call for all of us

Preference for sons shall not disappear until girls are empowered as much as boys. Empowering the girl child through education is an indispensable tool to curb the growing menace of gender inequality, declining sex ratio, and discriminatory treatment given to women in India. Empowered woman is strong enough to stand as a support for her family and community at large. She further contributes to the prospects of next generation.

The need of the hour is to raise voice against the killing of girls and make a collective effort to stop this genocide.

'Every woman is an epitome of Shakti- Power’, and should realize this.'

Shakti was launched four years ago, at Amritsar, Punjab. It is a national level program which addresses the above social causes and provides for free scholarships upto senior secondary level to daughters of handicapped parents, widows and war martyrs irrespective of their religious background, caste and language.


Steps taken by Shakti - An initiative to empower the girl child

As of today, 125+ girls are progressing towards their bright future through the Shakti programme. They are provided with annual scholarships to complete their education up to 12th standard.

In the pursuit to empower the girl child, 5 students(girls) of B-Pharmacy, Sonipat; and 30 girl students of Institute of Nursing education, Ludhiana are also being provided financial support to complete their education. These girls have come from rural areas to pursue their education.

Every year special meditation camps are organized for the students in the confines of Gurumaa Ashram, under the directions of Gurumaa Ji. During these residential meditation camps Gurumaa Ji herself introduces these students to various types of meditation techniques. These meditation camps have been very beneficial for the over all growth of students; higher creativity, increased intelligence, improved memory, reduction in stress levels, and increased self confidence.

The training for self defense encompassing basic health regime by qualified professionals, career counseling to acquaint the students about the array of choices available to them, and complete knowledge about different institutes offering professional courses forms part of these meditation camps.

New innovation in Shakti

CEAP –Computer Education Awareness Programme
CEAP, a new dimension to Shakti has enthusiastically embarked on the journey to create awareness about the significance of computers, to the girls of Govt. Schools in Sonipat. Under CEAP around 1500 girls have got their first exposure to the utility of computer including internet and knowledge about its basic functions.

The goal of this programme is to open a well equipped computer institute whereby the short term computer courses can be provided to the girls absolutely at no charge. We further envisage liaising with various organizations in order to offer employment opportunities to these girls.

Let’s come together!

The aim is to bring forth the stark illustrations of reality, and awaken the people to come together and combat the evil-practices prevalent in the society. It is our responsibility to take action against this inhuman treatment.

Join Hands with SHAKTI!

SAVE GIRLS! EMPOWER GIRLS!

Comment by Anu...
June 5, 2007 7:47 AM

Hi, It is very encouraging to see the activities under the Shakti program and how little girls are getting a new leash of life . I was wondering if there could be some program under Shakti which can also stop infanticide from happening in the first place. Like door to door education for families or any action program which can monitor feoticide hotspots to prevent these crimes from happening? Do share your thoughts on this.

SHAKTI CHARITY FUNCTION

By Maggie Mavi

Shakti Charity Evening
Venue : Walsall, UK
Date: 12th July 2006
Time: 6 – 10 pm

I had been inspired to arrange a Shakti Charity Function and was given this opportunity, only after meeting Her Holiness Anandmurti Gurumaa, in April 2006. I had always thought, it was very important to educate females as they raise the standards of the society. Now I had the perfect opportunity to do something and help make a difference. As I felt the urgency to do something for all those females, who just do not get the chance in life. But this was that wonderful way of helping in my own little way…so that those children too would get the only chance in their life , to do something and become something. I surprised myself and found raw energy that I was not aware off before.


After having looked at all the options, it was decided to keep it as a Ladies Garden Party, all evening , in my house. Each one entering the gates had to bring a ticket which had a nominal fee , that all went to the charity.

The function was held in the evening, where a number of stalls selling small items like jewellery, make up, clothes and mehndi were being sold. The profits made were given to the charity fund.





The food was provided by friends and a caterer for free and the tent was heavily subsided. All my family and friends chipped in , where each played their important role to help make the night a success. Raffle prizes were donated and tickets sold …each helping to raise money for Shakti.

Two amazing dances were performed by two talented girls to bring in awe to the evening.

Finally a small speech was made by me , informing the audience of this worthy cause of how girls would be given the opportunity for a full school education and how important it was for us to help this worthy cause. As only with everyone’s help can these girls be given that opportunity of a life time.

It is Gurumaaji’s wish that the-- entire womankind get the message to live with HONOR, PRIDE and STRENGTH.

Comment by Jaz Tagar

I would like to say thank you to maggie mavi for inviting me to her charity function at her house. It was so nice to see that so many people attended and supported shakti charity. JAZ TAGAR

Comment by Pat Kirby

It was a lovely summer evening. The hostess Maggie Mavi, made us feel most welcome and everyone was very friendly. An assortment of food to satisfy everyones palate was displayed. A lovely evening was had by all.

HELP this WORTHY cause and bring CHANGE

comment by Maggie Mavi

Shakti stands as symbol of power: power to generate, to sustain and to protect. Being an embodiment of Shakti, every woman is bestowed with the power to create life. This programme aims at providing a sound education to the girl, making her self-reliant and confident. So that she can emerge as a stronger individual , independent enough to care for herself and strong enough to support her family and children. Now By giving these girls an OPPORTUNITY we are HELPING to GIVE these girls a BRIGHTER FUTURE. WHERE they are becoming --- SELF RELIANT, CONFIDENT, INDEPENDENT, and STRONGER individuals.These girls will not only support themselves but also their immediate families and also their husbands, later on in life. More importantly we are providing POSITIVE role models by giving them an opportunity. So INDIRECTLY this educated child makes and helps the future of her family --- thus improving the society … However this is only possible through the support of people like yourselves. So please do ....HELP this WORTHY cause and bring CHANGE.

comment by ANU

May 3, 2007 6:02 AM

Hi, It is nice to see you write about Shakti on your blog. I am sure a lot of people will become aware and come forward to support this noble cause! Keep it up! Anu

SHAKTI-Empowering the girl child

SHAKTI aims at empowering the girl child, by providing financial support to the daughters of widows and handicapped parents, war martyrs to complete their education up to 12th standard. It has been actively providing academic scholarship to the girls in need with 500+ girls already taken under the SHAKTI project. This is just a beginning as there are many more to be catered to, to be inspired to realize their potential, and excel in life.
You are invited to be part of this mission as it is only through collective human spirit and effort that this work can be accomplished. We need your support to support them. Contribute to SHAKTI and save girls from groping in the darkness of illiteracy.

SHAKTI personified – 21st century woman mystic, Anandmurti Gurumaa

A powerhouse of love, wisdom, truth, and the ultimate blossoming of woman, Anandmurti Gurumaa is a source of inspiration for one and all. She says, ‘every woman is an embodiment of Shakti-the power and must realize this.’ She has been strongly raising her voice against the ill-treatment of girl child and creating a new climate where girl child can blossom to her ultimate self. SHAKTI is one of those efforts which aims at making a positive difference to the lives of all those girls who are deprived of basic education either due to lack of funds or due to the age old thinking of preferring boys than girls.
Her pragmatic teachings inspire the listener to seek, experience, and evolve to an ultimate being. They not only help an individual to find answers to the hidden mysteries but also show a way to discover true happiness that will never wither away.