DISHARI is the Women Resource Development Centre of LAMP ( Liberal Association for Movement of People). The English translation of “DISHARI” is “collectedness of one's mind for ascertaining what one should do”. With this view, DISHARI believes, “ Empowerment of Women leads to empowerment of Society ”. Its headquarters is at West Chowbaga in the south – eastern fringe of Kolkata, which is a slum area popularly known as the “dust bin” of Kolkata.

The International Selection Committee of EXPO -2000,Hannover, Germany, selected " Women Resource Development Centre" (DISHARI) of LAMP as a sustainable development practice out of 513 project proposals selected throughout the world. DISHARI had been classified under "Human Kind" group of organisations. It had committed to all -round socio-economic development activities that lead to women's empowerment-hence strengthening women's network through "Development Communication and Extension Support Services”. It was a recognized project of the World Exposition, Germany- "EXPO 2000 – Hannover " ( Expo Registration No. 0371 ).

In India, women constitute the major socio-cultural and economically oppressed group and an equitable social order can never be established unless the equal rights for both women and the men are recognised in society, LAMP has adopted since its inception, various action programmes of comprehensive development of women in socalled backward communities. These include the spread of education, development of technical skill, women's organisations, seminars on women's rights and publication of books etc. LAMP lays emphasis on adopting innovative actions for comprehensive development as well as empowerment of women with a holistic approach.

With this vision, our Women Resource Development Centre - DISHARI has been successfully undertaking holistic actions for Women's empowerment, which has led to DISHARI 's selection as a model sustainable development project under “Humandkind” category, at EXPO 2000, Hannover , Germany , where an exhibition was held from 1st June to 31st October, 2000, deputing its activities along with others.

With the assistance of the German Consulate, Calcutta, UNESCO Centrum – Nederland, UNESCO Klub, Kettwig, Germany, CEWC, United Kingdom and the Deutsche Kalkutta Gruppe, Germany and also thousands ordinary citizens of Calcutta construction of the Headquarters building of Dishari had been undertaken. Up till now it has been raised to the first floor. The construction of the second floor is going to be completed within 2005.

The building was formally inaugurated on the 16th March, 2000 A.D with the blessings of Dr. (Ms.) Anita Bose Pfaff, Professor of Economics, Auxburg University , Germany

The main activities of DISHARI are :

Capacity Building of Women Social Activists, with a view to train them as to how they can help themselves and other under-priviledged women to re-asses their way of life, attitudes and values in the context of the changing circumstances. Training in Education, Mother and Child Care, Health Care, etc. are being imparted.

Training programmes are also being organised on Gender Justice specially on women's rights, Community Health, Immunisation and Nutrition services. Ante-natal and Post natal Care, school organising and teaching methods, Reproductive Health and Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Self - Help Group formation on Thrift savings and Micro Credit Management.

Eminent and experienced health workers and social workers have been participating in these programmes as resource persons. Besides them, DISHARI has enlisted some well - known medical men, gynaecologists and University professors as its Advisers.

Training-cum-Production unit on diversified jute products has been going on quite successfully with the matching grant of National Centre for Jute Diversification under the Govt. of India. About 100 women have been trained and are now engaged in production of the footwears, different kinds of bags – all of jute, detergent powder, soft toys etc. The products are marketed by LAMP. The target women have been able to raise their family income by about Rs. 3,000/- per annum.  

• 9279 women activists of 602 Women's Self-Help Groups have been trained through Awareness Generation Camps.
• 3204 women activists of 27 Women's Action Groups have been trained through Awareness Generation Camps.
• 918 women leaders of Self-Help Groups have been trained in leadership attainment.
• 171 women leaders of Women's Action Groups have been trained in leadership attainment
• 603 women have been trained in legal education and human rights workshops.
• 4041 children and their mothers have been covered under preliminary education, health care and nutrition services.
• 2511 children have gone through immunisation programme.
• 882 mothers have been benefited by Ante-natal and Post-natal services.
• 1026 mothers/women have received education on general health, child care and Reproductive and Child Health.
• 1206 children (including street children) have been given vocational training.

711 women have been trained in mushroom cultivation and 342 women in sewing and embroidery and 306 women trained in jute and leather handicrafts.

• To strengthen the ongoing programmes at its main Centre.
• To develop more extensively women's leadership and their empowerment through capacity building, for which it has been planned to raise a Corpus Fund of half a million US dollars.

We earnestly hope that philanthropic people, especially women's organisations, from all corners of the world will come forward to contribute to the Corpus Fund. DISHARI believes that empowerment of women leads to the development of the society and ultimately to socio-economic upliftment of the entire nation, in which women have to play a leading role.