Ibtada
About Us:
Ibtada is a not for profit, non-governmental development organisation working in the Mewat region of Rajasthan. It is a small endeavor to mainstream the deprived women of this region by organizing, educating and empowering them.
Ibtada is an Urdu word that means ‘the beginning’. It evolved in the year 1997 when the founder Director Rajesh Singhi conducted the Benchmark Survey of Mewat for Government of Rajasthan that unveiled the scale of backwardness in this area.
Ibtada works in about 400 villages in 6 Blocks of Alwar, Rajasthan. This is the most backward region of Mewat and is dominated by Meo-Muslims, the traditional peasantry class. Though converted to Islam 14th century onwards, the Meos still practice many Hindu customs and traditions. The region suffers extreme social and economic backwardness due to lack of resources, awareness, education, health and on account of poor gender status.
