Mission

Sangram is a voluntary organization that works at the grass root level with a lot of activists, volunteers and paid workers. It is slowly gaining importance as a practical training ground for other NGO’s and GO’s interested in working on HIV/AIDS in a rural context. SANGRAM started its work with women in prostitution and sex work from South Maharashtra and North Karnataka way back in 1992 and has since fanned out among diverse populations. SANGRAM is based in Sangli district, which has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in Maharashtra after Mumbai.

The organization works to create a collective consciousness among women, to increase their ability to negotiate safety independently, and strengthen women to assert their rights. Women’s Rights are particularly difficult to talk about, because they question traditional patriarchal structures. It also helps discuss official policies, legal and ethical issues which affect stigmatized and marginalized groups and to create spaces which these groups can use The organization helps to discuss the rights of women, people with diverse sexualities and people living with HIV/AIDS.