10/20/2026
SMOKUS Mothers’ School is a collaborative initiative between the Rotary Club of Whitby, and Shripur Mahila-O-Khadi Unnayan Samity (SMOKUS), in Raiganj, India. The initiative aims to promote adult education and improve the confidence, knowledge, and functional literacy of underprivileged women in the community.
The Mothers’ School, Shiksha Kendra “Bhumi,” has been established with 25 tribal women learners. The centre provides an opportunity for women who had limited or no access to formal education to continue learning in a safe, supportive, and community-based environment.
Most of the participating women are from economically disadvantaged households and work as daily wage labourers. In many families, husbands have migrated to other states in search of employment. As a result, women have taken primary responsibility for childcare, household management, and supporting their children’s education while also contributing to the family income.
The Mothers’ School therefore goes beyond basic literacy. It provides women with opportunities to strengthen their reading, writing, numeracy, communication, awareness, and decision-making skills, enabling them to participate more confidently in family and community life.
