About Us

In 1981, Late Shri Mohan Lal laid the foundation of our mission by starting a non-formal school for underprivileged children in Tilamapur village, Varanasi. This small step opened the doors of education to children who had never before seen a classroom. Two years later, the initiative grew into its own building, where Smt. Snehalata Srivastava expanded the vision by starting a vocational training centre for women. The aim was clear—to make women self-reliant through economic, cultural, and educational empowerment.
Recognizing the need for a more structured effort, in 1987, they, along with a group of committed social activists, formed Mahila Arthik, Sanskritik Evam Shaikshik Vikas Sansthan (MASS).
Since then, MASS has been working at the grassroots to animate, educate, organize, and empower the poor—especially women—so they can achieve integral growth and actively participate in community development.
Today, our journey continues with the same passion—to build a society where women, children, and marginalized communities live with dignity, equality, and self-reliance.

Our Journey (Since 1987)

Mahila Arthik, Sanskritik Evam Shaikshik Vikas Sansthan (MASS) was established in the year 1987.

1987-1991

• •“In its very first year, MASS established a formal school to provide education to underprivileged children.”
• • Within the next five years, the organization organized around 300 women in Varanasi district through women’s groups and provided them with vocational training and employment opportunities.

1992-1998

MASS implemented the UBSP (Urban Basic Services for the Poor) poverty alleviation program.

• Objective: To ensure basic necessities like food, health, and education for families living below the poverty line.
• Impact: Approximately 1,200 families directly and 4,800 individuals indirectly benefited.”
• During the same period, MASS also worked under the NCLP (National Child Labour Project) in the slum areas of Varanasi, integrating children working in hazardous industries into mainstream education.
• Impact: More than 3,000 children directly benefited.

1999-2014

The organization worked in Varanasi and nearby districts under the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) with the support of NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development).

• Objective: To provide self-employment opportunities to rural poor
• Work: Formation of Self-Help Groups, capacity building, training, credit linkages, technology, and infrastructure support.
• Impact: More than 2,000 women gained sustainable self-employment

During this period, with the support of the Government of India, MASS also initiated Short Stay Home (Alpavas Griha) and Women’s Helpline schemes

• Objective: To provide social, psychological, counseling, medical, legal aid, shelter, and food to women and adolescent girls who were victims of dowry or other forms of violence.
• Achievement: Many residents of the Short Stay Home were married with due rituals and dignity by the organization.
• Impact: More than 1,500 women directly benefited.
• In collaboration with the National Commission for Women (NCW), the organization conducted campaigns against domestic violence and human trafficking in Varanasi and border areas

2015-Present

. MASS launched several programs, such as

• . National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)
• . Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Program
• . Free Informal Schools and Computer Centers
• . Handicraft and Health Training Programs
• . Operation of a Free Old Age Home in Delhi-NCR (Ghaziabad)

Impact: Through these programs, more than 5,000 people have been directly and indirectly benefited