``While economically weak women were being offered a means to earn livelihood under the auspices of the Lalitadevi Stri Sahayak Co-operative Society, established in 1970, organisation workers realised that the causes of women's problems were deep-rooted and called for more meaningful intervention. This was when the Vikas Jyot Trust was born with late Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel as its president,'' says Trust administrative officer P D Chauhan.

The Trust today has expanded its activities from employment generation to offering family counselling and legal aid to women subjected to harassment by way of dowry or family conflicts. ``At our counselling centre, a trained social worker listens to both sides of the story simultaneously trying to bring about a reconciliation if possible. Last year, we actually managed to reach a peaceful settlement of 217 cases out of 233,'' says Chauhan. The counselling centre is supported by the Directorate of Social Defence and is open to all strata of society.

Difficult cases, however, are referred to the Trust's Legal Aid Centre, supported by the Commissionerate of Women and Child Development, constituting a panel of leading advocates, the retired district and sessions judge and aided by a trained social worker.

Notable among its other endeavours are the skill development and employment activities offered at the Trust. ``It is our firm conviction that economic independence alone can ensure a woman a status in her family. We, therefore, focus on training courses where even the less educated women can acquire a skill and feel more confident. These include sewing, knitting and embroidery classes,'' says Chauhan.

The Trust also runs a bakery and snacks unit supplying wares to shops, hotels and canteens in the city. The File Production Centre making files, pads, folders and other office stationery items besides notebooks for school and college students has also received a good response from the local firms educational institutions, claims Chauhan.

Vikas Jyot also runs over 20 creches tending to over 600 children of women employed as farm labourers, industrial workers or domestics. ``The creche not only offers a temporary shelter to the children but also takes care of their physical and mental well-being by providing them food, health check-ups and pre-school education,'' he says.

The Trust has been actively involved in the welfare of the street children working in close liaison with the VMC, Social Defence Department and assistance from UNICEF. Under its street children project, sanctioned by the Government of India, the Trust also recently organised workshops to sensitise police officials towards the street child.