Sure Start Sholapur’s specific model aims to provide maternal and newborn care involving pregnant women in the slums of Sholapur city through the capacity building of Self Help Groups (SHGs). This innovative idea allows women to be at the helm of their healthcare by partnering with SHGs to ‘adopt’ pregnant women and educate them concerning basic antenatal and postnatal care. The SHG members are given extensive training to equip them with the knowledge and skills required to provide adequate MNH. A large component of Sure Start Sholapur is to encourage college volunteers to support the SHG in implementing the project. Both SHG's and volunteers were supported by HMF staff, consisting of facilitators and coordinators. This democratization of health care aspires to counteract the existing one-way process of health care delivery. Health care delivery has operated as a provider-recipient model. The Sure Start model paves the way for community ownership of health care provision. Providing information and skills directly to community members empowers and allows them to act as partners in their own healthcare. By elevating the position of community members, they are held more accountable for the welfare of themselves and their community. The final element of the Sure Start Sholapur project is the inclusion of women across the spectrum of age. Adolescent girls and elderly women are targeted for MNH education programs. The Sure Start Sholapur project takes the first steps towards a health movement for and by the people. Funding for the Sure Start has been provided by the PATH, USA.