Empowerment of women Through Self-Help Groups

#SDGAction42938

Description

Intro

This self help groups were formed among landless Dalit Women who are without any regular livelihood programs and lived in extreme poverty. It aimed to inculcate a culture of saving and group formation for income generation which will lead to self reliance, restore dignity and empower women. It was also intended to prevent money lenders who came from outside to exploiting these women and keeping them perpetually indebted. This program has no time frame.

Objective of the practice

The over all objective is to end extreme poverty, hunger and restore dignity and promote gender equality. To enable for this, leadership trainings and political empowerment is an integral part of the practice. To free women and their families from debt trap. Through individual and group capacity building inculcate the value of group strength. Assist them to become self reliant and take responsibility transforming the family and society. Bring awareness on a rights-based approach to development and in their interactions with the government. Promote education of girl children and prevent child marriage. 
 
Distinguishing features are organizing the self help groups into federations for cohesion and coherence of the groups as well as for better supervision. Federation helps the individuals access to better resources and to engage in bigger income generating activities. Groups in the Federation makes regular savings contribution for lending and the profit shared among the members. 
 
Challenges were met through organizing themselves into a political wing - Mahila Mukti Sangharsh Samiti (Women's Committee for Emancipation) - to take up issues that affect their communities and environment. Some of the issues taken up are: Campaign against child marriage, child trafficking, right to equal pay, against illegal opium cultivation in the forests, sand and stone mining.

Partners

Key Stakeholders - are the married Dalit women between the ages 20 -55 and girl children and their families, Day care centers, and primary schools in the area. Implementers are the women and their families. Local banks provided loans for the women to initiate income generating activities. No donors were involved, the women themselves raised funds savings.

Implementation of the Project/Activity

Each self help group was organized with president, secretary and treasurer and they met monthly to discuss their problems, find solutions and collect the monthly savings. This collection was deposited the following day in the bank any two members of the group. Some of the collection was kept with the treasurer and another member for emergency lending among the members of the group. Nominal interest was charged for it.

The groups were given training in group organizing, especially to take up local issues that impacting their lives. They were also given training in how to conduct meetings, advocacy - how to approach government officials their rights, book keeping, banking, etc.

Members of the group could apply for loans and these were sanctioned during monthly meetings - unanimously - and distribution of loans depended on the availability of funds. They also could take loans from the bank at a lower rate to begin any income generating activity. There was 99 per cent compliance on loan repayments.

At the monthly meeting monitoring was done on participation, contribution, loan returns, etc.

Results/Outputs/Impacts

Results have been varied and lasting. Women who depended on money lenders/husbands have cash in their hands/accounts. As of today there are 6000 women these groups. Among these 4000 women continuing to be engaged in regular income generation and savings. The annual profit per person is Rupees 100,000. from small business and animal husbandry.

Impact:some of the women were able to add assets in their name - purchase of land , construction of houses, purchase of tractors, etc.These people who did not have regular vegetables in their diet are cultivating vegetables and adding them to their regular diet. It has improved their health.

They have learned approach banks confidently and transact business. They also have become literate. Their husbands and the men of the villages are proud of their women and have respect them. In fact they would prefer the women to do the bank transactions, for they are listened to get quick results.

Girl children are attending school on a regular basis, consequently child marriages have been reduced.

People's lifestyles have also changed -Women who always walked, now ride bicycles and motorcycles to move around. Impact on gender equity is evident, for example when land is purchased, it is bought in the name of the woman and her husband. Political leadership participation has increased - they participate in local government elections.

Enabling factors and constraints

Since there was unity among women, they have able to participate in community processes and bring solutions. They used the method of consensus building for decision making.
Constraints - Disputes within the groups and village - taken care of by open discussion and amicable settlement. If not resolved, it is taken by NGO - Chetana Bharati. If behavior change does not happen members removed from the group.

One of the main constraints for them the banking rules and when they found it hard to deal with they pressured the bank by sit-ins to get their work done.

Another main constraint is government take over of self help groups for supervision and loan disbursement through bigger NGOs who are not concerned about group formation and savings. Their focus is on lending and not empowerment and sustainable development. This is countered their political action wing.

Sustainability and replicability

If continued with the empowerment and trainings for skill development these groups can be sustained. They can become agents of real transformation at the grassroots. It can be replicated anywhere.

Conclusions

Self confidence of women to involve in social and political activities in their communities. Take leadership for development and change. 
 
Cohesive and peaceful families and communities resulting in less violence against women. 
 
Health issues are taken care by proper medication 
 
Gender equality is being practiced in the family. 
 
Improved literacy and education status. 
 
Illiterate women have become entrepreneurs. 
 
Ultimate power in the village resides in the group.

Other sources of information

We do not have website

SDGS & Targets

Goal 4

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Goal 2

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Goal 5

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Goal 16

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels