STEPS
STEPS is a voluntary service society registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Act 1975 in 1991. STEPS is a women's organization which works on issues related to women in general and Muslim women in particular.
STEPS aims have a long-term impact on the lives of the Muslim women, by engaging intensely with social, religious and cultural institutions, to bring about an attitudinal shift about in dominant perceptions of the rights of Muslim women. It believes that interpretation of the Quoran through a patriarchal lens results in discrimination against the women of the community and forces them to lead a subjugated life. STEPS has helped educate women about rights provided by their religion (Shariat), constituted state-legal aid cells to address cases of violations against women, worked with men's groups sensitising them on issues of violence and bodily integrity and networked with Police and Judiciary to ensure gender justice.
Its engagement with victimized Muslim women has made it vulnerable to threats from both within its community and outside it. STEPS takes care to make it clear that it is neither against Islam nor against men in general.
In a pioneering move of sorts it has formed a Muslim Women's Jamaat that engages with the male Jamaats, the State and other members of the civil society on issues related to Muslim women. The Jamaat Movement today is comprised of about 5000 card-holding members and has spread to ten districts in Tamil Nadu. In addition STEPS has formed and strengthened 279 Muslim Womens' SHGs in 10 districts of Tamil Nadu having 4282 members. Most of the women are illiterate, economically impoverished and have been victims of violence and sexual abuse. The empowerment approach of STEPS has invited a very positive response from the Muslim Women and they are now in a position to challenge many archaic and oppressive doctrines of the Jamaat (clerics) regarding their women. The women's Jamaat also has a vision to construct a mosque for Muslim women which would be more than act as a space for Muslim Women to offer prayers alone!
STEPS has a Governing body of 22 members, 19 of whom are women from diverse fields. It has also constituted an Advisory Committee of 9 members for guiding the implementation of the project. The members are also women activists, feminist writers, educationists etc. STEPS also has an Executive Committee of 7 members which closely monitors and guides STEPS work.
The overall Hivos policy on Gender Women and Development places immense emphasis on gender equity and justice as well as on building women's leadership and the work of STEPS is in line with the overall policies of Hivos.
STEPS aims have a long-term impact on the lives of the Muslim women, by engaging intensely with social, religious and cultural institutions, to bring about an attitudinal shift about in dominant perceptions of the rights of Muslim women. It believes that interpretation of the Quoran through a patriarchal lens results in discrimination against the women of the community and forces them to lead a subjugated life. STEPS has helped educate women about rights provided by their religion (Shariat), constituted state-legal aid cells to address cases of violations against women, worked with men's groups sensitising them on issues of violence and bodily integrity and networked with Police and Judiciary to ensure gender justice.
Its engagement with victimized Muslim women has made it vulnerable to threats from both within its community and outside it. STEPS takes care to make it clear that it is neither against Islam nor against men in general.
In a pioneering move of sorts it has formed a Muslim Women's Jamaat that engages with the male Jamaats, the State and other members of the civil society on issues related to Muslim women. The Jamaat Movement today is comprised of about 5000 card-holding members and has spread to ten districts in Tamil Nadu. In addition STEPS has formed and strengthened 279 Muslim Womens' SHGs in 10 districts of Tamil Nadu having 4282 members. Most of the women are illiterate, economically impoverished and have been victims of violence and sexual abuse. The empowerment approach of STEPS has invited a very positive response from the Muslim Women and they are now in a position to challenge many archaic and oppressive doctrines of the Jamaat (clerics) regarding their women. The women's Jamaat also has a vision to construct a mosque for Muslim women which would be more than act as a space for Muslim Women to offer prayers alone!
STEPS has a Governing body of 22 members, 19 of whom are women from diverse fields. It has also constituted an Advisory Committee of 9 members for guiding the implementation of the project. The members are also women activists, feminist writers, educationists etc. STEPS also has an Executive Committee of 7 members which closely monitors and guides STEPS work.
The overall Hivos policy on Gender Women and Development places immense emphasis on gender equity and justice as well as on building women's leadership and the work of STEPS is in line with the overall policies of Hivos.
Type of organisation |
Service organization /non-profit |
Sector |
Gender, Women and Development |
Country |
India |
Founded |
1991 |
Hivos partner since |
2003 |
Website |
http://www.stepspudugai.org |
Strengthening Muslim Women Movement in Tamilnadu
| DAC-sectors: | Strengthening civil society Human rights |
|---|---|
| Location: | Tamilnadu- India |
| Beneficiary: | not relevant/other |
| activity | Formation of 100 muslim womens group in 10 district |
| Direct outreach | 2000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men |
| Indirect outreach | 12000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men |
| activity | Leadership training for Muslim women |
| Direct outreach | 45 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men |
| Indirect outreach | 2000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men |
| Contract total: | 144.025 |
| Contractperiod: | 01-10-2008 until 30-09-2011 |
| Description: | |
|---|---|
| STEPS in the next three years would look forward to institutionalizing its presence at the District level (10 districts) and expanding its member base to include at least 7500 women in Tamil Nadu. In an effort to meet the varying needs and expectations of its members it will expand the range of capacity building services on issues such as Shariat, constitutional and citizens' rights, literacy, health and skills based activities. STEPS will also assist in the formation and institutionalization of the Jamaat Bank which apart from low-interest banking and credit schemes will further the income generation capacities of the Jamaat members. In addition it will expand its donor base and explore and implement activities that will economically empower at least 1000 families within its network. STEPS has also identified dialogue with men as a crucial component to further the effect of their work and during the contract period will include more than 400 men in the Jamaat movement. It will further intensify the legal aid programme by establishing a district-level legal aid cell in Madurai to work on a more regular basis with the district Jamaat leaders. The process initiated by STEPS is a process of reform, not from the outside but from within the Muslim Community itself. The Muslim Women who have been the victims of age long suppression and discrimination by acting as agents of change themselves are setting the stage for sustainable change and development. The activities proposed by STEPS are important to stabilize its standing within the community, and hence Hivos considers it important to support STEPS at this juncture. |
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