Women Empowerment
Shanti Kutir – A Place of Care, Dignity and New Beginnings
At Gramin Evam Nagar Vikas Parishad (GENVP), we believe that every woman deserves to live with dignity, safety, and hope, regardless of her social or economic circumstances. Our work focuses on creating opportunities for women and vulnerable individuals to rebuild their lives, regain confidence, and become more independent.
Project Overview
Project Title: Short Stay Home for Female Beggars – Shanti Kutir
Duration: 2015 onwards
Location: Nalanda, Bihar
Supported By: Saksham, Government of Bihar
GENVP runs Shanti Kutir, a Short Stay Home-cum-Classification Centre for women facing extreme poverty and those engaged in begging. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the State Society for Ultra Poor and Social Welfare (SSUPSW) under the Government of Bihar's Mukhyamantri Bhikshavriti Nivaran Yojna (MBNY), popularly known as “PAHCHAN.”
Shanti Kutir began its operations in 2015 with the aim of providing vulnerable women with a safe and supportive environment where they can receive care, access essential services, develop skills, and work towards rebuilding their lives.
Our Vision
Our vision is to protect and promote the rights of people living in extreme poverty, while providing them with care, protection, opportunities for development, and pathways towards social, economic, and cultural empowerment.
We believe rehabilitation is not simply about providing temporary shelter. It is about helping people regain their identity, confidence, independence, and place within society.
What We Aim to Do
Through Shanti Kutir, GENVP works to:
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Help vulnerable individuals obtain a basic identity and access to essential government services.
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Provide care and support to elderly, sick, and persons with disabilities.
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Create livelihood opportunities through vocational training and skill development.
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Support children who are vulnerable to entering or remaining in begging.
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Connect beneficiaries with financial inclusion and micro-finance opportunities.
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Create awareness among the public about the challenges faced by people living in extreme poverty and encourage alternatives to begging.
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Support beneficiaries in moving towards a more independent and dignified life.
Our Impact
Since the beginning of the initiative, GENVP has worked to identify vulnerable individuals and connect them with care, protection, identity documents, livelihood opportunities, and rehabilitation services.
Our field teams, along with support from local authorities and police, have identified 275 beneficiaries, of whom 213 were enrolled with Shanti Kutir, Nalanda.
The initiative has helped beneficiaries access several important services:
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18 beneficiaries received disability certificates.
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83 beneficiaries obtained identity documents such as Aadhaar and Voter ID.
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20 beneficiaries were linked with bank accounts, supporting greater financial inclusion.
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58 beneficiaries were connected with livelihood programs and skill-training centres.
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2 beneficiaries were connected with old-age pension schemes.
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147 beneficiaries were successfully rehabilitated from Shanti Kutir and supported towards the next stage of their lives.
Building Skills and Independence
A major focus of Shanti Kutir is helping beneficiaries develop practical skills that can provide them with an alternative source of income.
Women and other beneficiaries have received opportunities to learn skills such as making bags, mats, and candles. These activities are designed not only to teach a skill but also to build confidence and create possibilities for earning a livelihood.
Creating a Supportive Environment
Life at Shanti Kutir is also about creating a sense of community and routine. Beneficiaries begin their day with morning prayers and have opportunities to visit nearby places of worship. These simple routines help create a supportive environment and bring a sense of structure, belonging, and dignity to everyday life.
Beyond Shelter – Towards a New Beginning
For GENVP, Shanti Kutir is more than a short-stay home. It is a place where people who have spent years living on the margins of society can receive care, discover their abilities, reconnect with essential services, and begin looking towards a different future.
Every identity document secured, every new skill learned, every person connected to a livelihood opportunity, and every beneficiary successfully rehabilitated represents a step towards greater dignity, independence, and hope.
Through Shanti Kutir, GENVP continues to work towards a society where poverty does not take away a person's identity, rights, or opportunity to live with dignity.