"Education for women's equality" is the basis of the Mahila Samakhya (MS) programme. Provide a girl or women with opportunity for quality education and she will find the road to greater empowerment. Education neutralize gender inequality and is a continuing process in an ever empowering flame that can help an entire community develop. The critical focus in MS is recognize the centrality of education in empowering women to achieve equality. Education in MS is understood not merely as acquiring basic literacy skills but as a process of learning to question, critically analyzing issues and problems and seeking solutions. It endeavors to create an environment for women and girls to leanr at their own pace, and seek knowledge and information to make informed choices. MS believes in enabling women to address and deal with problems of isolation and lack of confidence, struggles for survival, all of which inhibit their learning. It is in this process that women get empowered.

Mahila Samakhya programme was launched in Bihar in 1992. According to the 1991 census, female literacy in Bihar was only 23 percent, compared with 52 percent for men. At the time of the 1991 census, about 80 percent of girls between the ages of 10 and 14 in Bihar state were not attending school. In many rural villages it was very difficult to find even a single literate woman.

The initial going for MS was very tough. Still MS Bihar has taken the pains of creating a platform for the rural poor and deprived women to form their collectives at village level Mahila Samooh to improve their lot.

As first step, Mahila Samakhya in Bihar helped rural women to identify the main problems faced in their daily lives; lack of safe drinking water, low wages, equal wages, domestic violence and to dare to dream of future where they could make their own decisions and enjoy a life of dignity, freedom and respect. This was no easy task in a society where, since birth, women have been brought up to believe that they have no minds of their own, and that the sole purpose of their lives is to bear and rear children, keep their own, and that the sole pupose of their lives is to bear and rear children, keep their men folk happy, and to accept without question all the suffering that life holds in store for them.

As the women gained new information and knowledge, however, their self-confidence increased. They also began to realize that their inability to read and write or even sign their names was a severe handicap when they had to deal with local goverment offices, bank, land owners, the post office, schools and contractors. Even keeping records of their own women's group's activities and setting up a saving account was impossible without literacy and numeracy skills.

Through the mahila Samakhya process and activities, women became aware of their urgent need for relevant, life oriented literacy, numeracy, information and knowledge. Moreover, they wanted to ensure that their daughters would also have access to the same knowledge and skill. In this way, the process of women's empowerment created a strong demand from women and girls for education appropriate to their needs. Moreover, as they gained greater access to education through Mahila Samakhya activities, they used their knowledge and skiils to become more empowered and to improve the lives of their families and communities. Education and empowerment thus became mutually reinforcing strategies.

"I can write my name" says, Kabulan Nesha, Jagjagi Kendra, West Champaran. "I can write my name". Look, it is written in my hand! Ever since I learnt it, I keep writing it on the sand, on the kitechen wall, in the rice.... I write it everywhere. Now no one can erase my name". Sukri, Sakhi, Rohtas. Group leader is addressed as Sakhi.

"For me, a poor village woman in Bihar, this is a monumental achievement. Even today about three women in ten can write their names. In order to hold a pen with confidence and form the letters that point to my unique identity. I have had yo battle through a complex web of cultural, social and economic obstacles. Grinding proverty, social taboos, denial of my right to voice, denail of my worth or contribution to family or neighbourhood, these were the odds I had to face. Today I can write my name. Today I can stand up for myself. Today I can proclaim my identity. Today I can fly. Mahila Samakhya is the wind beneath my wings".

"Earlier i knew nothing. I never used to talk to anybody, but now I have no such hesitation. Education has made me bold enough to speak my mind and do my work without hesitation". ::Mahila Samakhya, Mahila Samooh Member::

"In the past when village meetings were held we were never informed. But now, whenever there are meetings we are given prior information. Even in the meetings our opinions are respected" :: Mukha Sakhi ::

These statements illustrate just a few of the changes that have been brought about in thirteen districts of Bihar covering fifty-seven blocks through Mahila Samakhya programme. Thousands of women have benefited through Mahila Samakhya interventions in education, health, economic initiatives, governance, legal literacy and other issues crucial in the growth and development of women. Young girls and mothers have gone beyond the basic requirements of reading, writing and calculating numbers, towards becoming and integral part of the decisions making in their homes and in the society. Regular womens's groups (Mahila Samooh) meetings, Mahila Shikshan Kendras(MSK), Jagjagi and Kishori Manches have played significant roles in the empowerment process.

Rapiebant me spectacula theatrica, plena imaginibus miseriarum mearum et fomitibus ignis mei. quis est, quod ibi homo vult dolere luctuosa et tragica, quae tamen pati ipse nollet? et tamen pati vult ex eis!