In order to achieve its overall aim, Manthan is working towards the following inter-linked and overlapping objectives:

• Women’s empowerment :Due to the continuation of several old traditions and religious beliefs, the role of women in these communities is still predominantly restricted to domestic chores, as a result of which their interaction with the world outside their immediate social groups remains extremely lim-ited. Women are still not accorded an equal social status and remain excluded to a large extent from key decisions in their communities. Manthan attempts to improve women’s access to in-formation about the changes taking place in the world outside their communities and the new opportunities for them in order to bring them into the mainstream. Manthan particularly works towards increasing women’s access to information about Government schemes relevant to their well being such as those related to social security, health (particularly those related to pregnancy, immunisation, child care, sexually transmitted diseases), water and livelihoods. Manthan also conducts training for women in such activities or skills that can help them gener-ate income. It also places and emphasis on forming their self help groups for savings in order to empower them economically.

• Strengthening of community infrastructure (particularly health, education and water facili-ties) :Traditionally, several forms of infrastructure in these communities have been divided along caste lines and governed separately by different sets of rules, such as the allocation of sepa-rate wells, temples and grazing land on the basis of caste. This is often associated with inequi-table distribution of natural resources and encroachment on village property by influential caste groups. This commonly causes tensions and conflicts. Manthan works towards developing basic infrastructure that is owned collectively by the village and to which all villagers have ac-cess. It has built several such new schools and water facilities. In addition, it also increases people’s awareness of their right to access government facilities that are meant for the whole village but are often controlled by powerful groups such as the health centres and co-operatives.

• Villagers’ active and meaningful engagement with Panchayati Raj (local government system for villages) :Panchayati Raj system has been visualised by the policy makers as the third level of Govern-ment (the other two being Central and State governments) and as being closely connected to the common man. However in reality, most people in these communities are not aware of the role and importance of Panchayati Raj in their lives. They do not participate in it apart from voting in the elections, which take place once in five years. As a result, on the one hand people are unable to make use of several schemes and provisions to enhance their well-being, and on the other hand those who got elected tend to get by without sufficient service due to a lack of social scrutiny. Manthan is trying to increase people’s awareness of the provisions of Pancha-yati Raj, their responsibility to engage with it and the benefits of doing so.

• Conservation and management of natural resources:In order to address the environmental changes taking place in the area as well as those around the world which are of consequence to the local environment, Manthan is working to-wards restoring and maintaining the environmental balance. This includes promoting the con-servation of scarce natural resources as well as their effective management. The livelihoods in this area are closely connected to the state of the local environment, hence efforts to improve the state of the environment invariably involve a co-ordination with efforts to build sustainable livelihoods. This is based on the principle of equitable and appropriate use of natural re-sources. The emphasis is on promoting collective initiatives that seek to address concerns for the long term. Manthan works on issues related to water, energy, land, grazing land, trees and environmental awareness particularly among children.

• Improving access to school education:There are still many children in the rural areas who are not regularly attending school and Manthan strives to provide the access to at least primary school education to them. More than simply getting the children to attend school and teach literacy skills, its effort is to impart such education to children which also includes the ability to be analytical and critical as well as prac-tical skills that are connected to their everyday lives. Manthan understands education as a tool for developing the talents and abilities of the children. Moreover, in addition to classroom edu-cation, the children at Manthan’s schools are actively engaged in creative pursuits, skills train-ing, communal activities and in the running of their schools.
  

• Promoting access to modern and technical knowledge :Recognising the wider technical changes taking place in the society and their relationship with the lives of the rural communities, Manthan tries to empower the villagers with appropriate technology. The focus is on such technology and technical knowledge that is relevant to the everyday lives of the common people in these rural communities. Manthan has a faith in the capability of rural communities to grasp and become proficient in using and managing ad-vanced technologies with appropriate training and support. Instead of simply disseminating technological artefacts for the use by the communities, it trains them in the maintenance, re-pair and upkeep of modern technologies such as solar energy technologies so that they do not depend on outside help for small issues. Manthan does not see the the situation as a choice between acquiring new technology or keeping traditional technology because it acknowledges the value of both and the need to empower people with both to increase their level of self-reliance.

• Reach those sections of society whose basic needs have still not been met :There are several sections of society who are still deprived of the most basic needs for human well being such as appropriate and adequate nourishment, access to clean drinking water, ac-cess to basic education and ability to have a say in community matters. Manthan specifically focuses many of its efforts for working with such people. In Manthan’s work area such mem-bers of society include, amongst others, groups such as nomadic communities, communities with very rigid traditional rules, women, dalits and traditional artisans. In addition to specific initiatives to improve their well being, Manthan pays particular attention to the needs and opinions of such members of the society as part of all its efforts and projects.