Since its inception, Dalits and Manjhis have been Manthan’s primary focus and educational intervention has been Manthan’s forte. Bihar Education Project (BEP), NFE, Balwadi programmes, Adult Literacy Education of men and women, Kishori literacy programmes, AIE, etc. are some instances. A customized syllabus was developed under the NFE to teach effectively. Manthan is committed to work with the poorest of the poor to empower them through different social interventions such as Education, Community mobilization, Women empowerment, Capacity building, exploring livelihood options, Legal aid and Research. Manthan has become one of the most recognized and respected voices of the deprived and vulnerable sections in the operational area.

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Manthan emerged as a well-recognized and respected non-governmental, voluntary organization working for the welfare of the people. The government officials looked up to Manthan to give shape to its educational and developmental works. For more than three decades, Manthan was one of the three District Resource Units in Bihar for the implementation of non-formal education. Manthan prepared text books, trained thousands of teachers of non-formal education and ran more than hundred non-formal education Centres.

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Manthan has evolved over the years. It began with NFE in the villages and has evolved into a participatory educational model. Students are enrolled in the Government schools and accompanied through Supplementary Education Centres (SECs) and Cluster Resource Centres (CRCs). These initiatives lead to the 2 years Long Term Residential Programme to help students’ complete secondary education. These shifts took place in response to the people’s demand for quality education for their children.

Manthan’s focused attention on the Manjhi’s has begun to yield its results in terms of mainstreaming of education among this community, social awareness, economic mobility, leadership etc. Thus, from a humble beginning Manthan has become the voice of the voiceless, power of the powerless and a guiding light for thousands of Children grouping in the darkness of ignorance and illiteracy. Through Manthan’s intervention more than 756 students have passed class ten exams in the last few years. 75% of these students are continuing their education.

They have taken up courses such as nursing, MSW, and others. Few have completed their post-graduation and are gainfully employed. These achievements are encouraging for Manthan as well as the educationally backward Manjhi community.