Street Shakti means “women power” in Hindi and serves as an income generating program for more than 70 low income women in rural communities outside of Dehradun, in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains. The Purkal Youth Development Society (PYDS) started this project in 2003 to help empower women to become income earners in their family by providing women with the resources and training for producing and selling handicrafts. The women stitch patchwork and embroidered quilts, bags and a variety of beautifully handcrafted products that help them earn a living wage and provide proper education and health for their family and children. The women are organized in six Self Help Groups (SHGs) where they use their earnings to contribute to a group fund and conduct loans to members when in need.
