| CAPACITATION OF PEOPLE ORGANISATION FOR EMPOWERING THE NEGLECTED ( A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH EED ) |
Introduction : This is one of the major programmes of DPG wherein, we provide planning, monitoring and capacitation support to 12 partner organisations in Tamil Nadu. Thanks to their support we have reached 53043 target families and have formed 2234 women SHGs and 181 other SHGs consisting of men, youth and children and have made a total savings of Rs.10,00,50,583/- till March 2007.
In this Annual Report, we’ve decided to highlight the activities of one of our senior partners – GRAMIYA:
GRAMIYA is a small NGO based in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu, covering an area including 45 villages. The area is drought-prone and the majority of the mainly scheduled caste population relies on low-paying farming work as the primary source of income. Educational levels are low because of a lack of teachers and difficulties in reaching schools from more remote areas. GRAMIYA was started in 1989 by Ms.Kanaga Bai. With the support of four full-time staff, GRAMIYA’s goal is the socio economic and political empowerment of rural people, especially women. As a partner NGO, GRAMIYA and its SHGs receive funding from DPG, also relying on the generosity of private funders and donations from organisations like ‘Right Sharing of World Resources’ and ‘Women’s World Day of Prayer’.
Senior partners : GRAMIYA, HFO, MVM, NEED, POETS, WORD-PM, WORD-TRT.
Junior partners : ASSCOD, GUIDE, MVKS, PAGE, SDG.
New partners : BGM, KDI, ARISE, (To be involved from April 2007).
GRAMIYA’s 225 SHGs, 200 of which are women SHGs, are made up of 14 – 20 members who contribute Rs.30 – 50 per month as savings. Members report a myriad of improvements in their lives since joining the SHGs;
- the opportunity to borrow money on very favorable repayments terms
- training on topics like Government schemes, human rights, leadership skills and health issues, as well as evening classes in reading and writing for the uneducated.
- Rise in the self-confidence level of SHG members.
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Governance - Responsible for activities like conflict resolution, decisions regarding larger loan applications and training course planning is the 25-member Apex Body known as KALASAM VATTARA SEYARKUZHU which was promoted and registered in Dec. 2005 by GRAMIYA as a strategic intervention at the instance of DPG. Some of the Apex Body’s biggest achievements relate to their linkages with local Government offices and the police.
- After approaching the police in June 2006, for example, they were able to successfully eradicate illegal alcohol brewing businesses in the area and were granted a Government loan to promote alternative income-generation activities.
- Eight SHGs in Mattanpatti, a small village made up of 282 landless scheduled caste families, built up the confidence they needed to approach Government offices for support. Since that time the village has benefited substantially, with new street lighting, new water supplies and improved roads and has received Rs.40,000/- revolving loan fund for one SHG and a subsidy loan of Rs.3 lakh from the Government for an Economic Development Programme.
- With the help of bank linkages and GRAMIYA training, other SHGs successfully encouraged the Government to establish a new school in kalanipatti village and have started and maintained a range of profitable businesses like cashew roasting, provision shops, fruit and vegetable stalls and a brick kiln.
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GRAMIYA’s Board is a major strength of the organisation with 7 members representing 7 social areas, GRAMIYA has been one of the long-standing partners of DPG and has received all planning, monitoring and financial support. Till date, GRAMIYA was given Rs.30,97,100/- out of which Rs.3,45,000/- was this year’s grant. DPG has also helped GRAMIYA to get Rs.9,35,550/- as microfinance support. Its staff members and Apex Body representatives have also attended lot of strategic meetings conducted by DPG. Thanks to GRAMIYA’S dedicated and motivated staff and the SHG members themselves, the standard of living and financial independence of many members of the Pudukottai district has improved dramatically.
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Conclusion – DPG through its partner organsiation help has established 13 Federations and through these federations, most of the governance aspects of SHGs are being managed by people themselves. DPG is in the process of withdrawing from our partners by March 2009. By then the Federations would be fully equipped to have networked with various Government development bodies.
| VIZHUTHUGAL WOMEN’S FEDERATION |
Formation of the Apex Body : VIZHUTHUGAL was founded on 31.08.2005 and was registered on 14.02.2006 at sivaganga under the TamilNadu Societies Registration Act, 1975. The NGO PAGE has been facilitationg Women Self Help Groups since the year 2000. But federating the groups in the form of cluster level federations and Block level federations were possible only after entering into partnership with DPG in the year 2005. DPG visualizes CBOs, as the ultimate charge takers of their own development process vehicles. Hence DPG always emphasizes the formation of Apex Bodies in its partnering project locations. Being motivated and guided by DPG, its partner NGO PAGE began preparing its SHGs to form a Block level federation during early 2005. As the members of Self Help Groups prepared for the Block level federation a special meeting was conducted during April 2005 to decide on modalities to be followed in the formation of the Apex Body and its way of functioning. As per the decisions taken, the entire 150 SHGs were accommodated by forming 4 cluster level federations. To form the Block level Apex Body called PAGE – VIZHUTHUGAL, each cluster level federation sent 5 representatives. In the General Body of the Apex Body, there are 19 members. It has a governing body in which 9 members take part. All the representations at all levels were decided only on the basis of participatory selection of the members concerned.
Activities undertaken by the Apex Body and their impact :
The core activity would be effective administering of DPG microcredit fund and monitoring of the activities undertaken out of the fund by the SHG members. Because of the direct involvement of the Apex body, the target community knows that it has in its custody Rs.7,56,560/- as Microcredit Fund through DPG and that the amount is meant for Income-generation Programmes and Housing Programmes. As on 31.3.2007, in total, 130 members have beeb assisted for undertaking various incomegeneration activities which include milk animal management, hiring of chairs and cooking vessels, running of petty shop, etc. Out of 130 members assisted, 70 members are earning Rs.2000/- per month and the assets created are well retained. The remaining 60 members have benefited from being involved in group activities.
The Apex body facilitated 18 women members to contest in the local body elections in 2006 and 9 members were elected as ward members in 9 panchayats.
An election manifesto was prepared and presented to the electoral candidates of Manamadurai Assembly constituency during 2005 Assembly Elections. Prompt responding to the demands put forth by women. A Public Distribution Scheme shop was allotted to a SHG that has disable members.
Production of note books and other consumable products and participation in an exhibition conducted by Mahalir Thittam at Thiruppuvanam. The general public were made aware of the products produced by women members and the members themselves motivated for continuous production in a considerable scale.
Interface programme - between Apex Body members and Government officials. This programme was effectively conducted. The relationship between the parties increased. The Apex Body members and SHG members have developed closer contact with the officials than in the past. During the year 2006-07 from District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), 48 SHGs got Revolving Fund and one group got Economic Assistance. Four Training programmes were conducted for the Apex Body members. Participation of the members in the project implementation increased. They have developed a sense of ownership on the Apex Body.
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Family Assistance through collective Effort, (FACE) a Social Benefit Scheme has been successfully administered by the Apex Body for the fourth year. By paying an additional premium of Rs.20/- p.a. (maximum) to the one time payment of Rs.100/- women enrolled in the scheme. So far 21 families benefited by receiving Rs.5,000/- each, not by compulsion but through an awareness that the scheme is successful.
Funds mobilized by Apex Body from various sources and its utilization : So far DPGs microcredit fund is the main source of funding for the Apex Body PAGE – VIZHUTHUGAL. As on 31.3.2007, Rs.7,56,560/- was mobilized from DPG. The interest income received through microcredit disbursed was Rs.41,000/- During the year 2006-07, it was unanimously decided in the Apex Body to mobilize Rs.24/- from each SHG member to the Apex Body. Now the mobilisation process has begun. Another source of funding for the Apex Body is the profit it procures from direct production and marketing of some products like phenol, soap and note books etc. The bank interest earned through DPG project grant to PAGE is also a source of income to the Apex Body. DPG microcredit amont is offered for income generation activities and housing programmes. The interest income earned is also utilised for income purposes.
Management of the Apex Body : The Apex Body PAGE – VIZHUTHUGAL is fully managed by its members alone. It has a well structured governing body with 9 members. It is guided and supported by the General Body with 19 members. The routine activities including bank transactions are managed by the prime office bearers viz, president, secretary and treasurer. The General Body meets quarterly and Management Committee meets every month. The Executive Committee has the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of DPG women development programmes in the project area and of directly administering the Microcredit Fund.
Conclusion : The sole aim of strengthening the Apex Body is to facilitate self-reliance and sustainable management of the gender and socioeconomic development process by the ultimate stake holders themselves. This has been clearly understood by the Apex Body members in the DPG assisted PAGE womens’ development project in Thiruppuvanam Block, Sivaganga District. |
WORKING PROFILE OF DPG PARTNERS
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