Plain areas of Dehradun district are more equal to the adjoining areas in Uttar Pradesh rather than the hill areas in Uttaranchal province. According to an estimate violence is committed against women in almost 60 per cent of the families in the area. Disha started a campaign on prevention of violence against women in a part of the plain areas of the district in January 2003.

The components of this campaign are:

• Taking out yatras (journey with specific purpose). These are taken once in a month in a cluster of five villages. Campaign material in the form of pamphlets is distributed and smaller corner meetings are held during the yatras. The yatras give message that physical violence (against women) is not the only type of violence - it can have different forms such as denial of education to girl child, denail of proper food and nutrition, sexual and mental harassment, etc.
• Holding of melas (fairs). Village leaders, prominent persons of state and national repute, media, etc., are invited to these melas. Women come out with their stories and communication team stages plays and puppet shows.
• Legal literacy camps. These sharpen skills of women leaders identified in yatras and melas. The focus of legal literacy camps is on means to combat various forms of violence committed on women.
• Involving media. A conference on the issue 'forms of violence against women and role of media' has been organised as a part of this. As a result, news stories about violence against women have started getting prominent place in the print medium.
• Outreach among students. For this students in schools and colleges of the area are reached. They are shown plays and distributed pamphlets. Students are motivated to air their view points on the issue.
• Observance of special events. International Women's Day has been celebrated twice in the area. One annual sammelan (congregation) has also been organised.

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