The number of women’s village level collectives is 405 and
the total membership stands at 12,312. A number of these
collectives have been federated into 29 Panchayat Level
Associations (PLAs). While these groups have varying levels
of activeness, and require continued support to deal with
emerging challenges, considerable progress has been seen.
Active associations have raised and dealt with issues of
domestic violence, witch accusation, NREGA, social security
schemes. They have also linked with government officials
for sharing information and securing their collaboration.
In order to enable these groups to make a real difference,
they need targeted capacity building support and networking
at the zone and block levels. This will enable these groups
to take up action on issues that are of interest to them
at different levels with greater independence and a greater
sense of solidarity.
Women’s resource centres
The idea of having an autonomous, independent space for
women to address their issues was made real in 2006 with
the establishment of 7 Women’s Resource Centres. These centres
are operated by local women leaders who provide information,
counselling and guidance to women who are victims of gender
discrimination and abuse.
Economic
empowerment - in terms of expanding women's capacity to
have control over their own economic circumstances - plays
a critical albeit complex role in securing more just and
equitable gender relations in society. Seva Mandir works
towards this primarily through the formation and strengthening
of women's savings and credit groups and supporting women
and their families in taking up alternative income generation
activities.
Self Help Groups
At present, Seva Mandir is supporting a total of 9,309
women across 546 SHGs. Systematic records are being maintained
for 472 of these SHGs in the internal MIS. The gap is
due to the fact that a number of groups have been newly
formed and also because data sheets for some existing
SHGs have not been coming in regularly and there have
been difficulties with some of the village level accountants.
89% of SHGs are holding regular meetings with an average
attendance of 76% of the women members. The total saving
held by the 472 registered SHGs stands at Rs.9,277,579,
up from Rs.7,885,475 last year.
Income generation activities
Building on the work carried out with strengthening the
women's SHGs, and also through exploring alternative groups
and possibilities, Seva Mandir supports villagers, and
particularly, women, in taking up a variety of alternative
income generation activities. Supporting these activities
entails providing trainings, securing access to loans
and government schemes, facilitating access to required
materials and providing various forms of advice and business
support.
Ellie's
Diary of Little Children
Bhurki is a small, beautiful,
quietly
child with big brown eyes and a little smile that
plays on her lips, Both her parents......
