Urban Development Initiatives

Introduction - Urban Development Initiatives (UDI) is in the sixth year of operation and is being implemented in eight slums in Chennai covering 2283 families, out of which about 2007 are our target groups. In this project, DPG during the year collaborated with Corporation of Chennai, Metro Water Department, Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, State Resource Centre, several banks, including Indian Overseas Bank, Indian Bank, State Bank of India, Indian Micro Sate Bank, and other institutions as well as NGOs.

Community Development and Social Action by SHG's:

Within the past one year, DPG was able to initiate 25 new Self-Help Groups (SHGs) among women (13), men (2), adolescent girls (2), elderly people (4) and children (4), adding to a total of 91 groups. Some 95% of these groups held regular bi-weekly meetings in which current affairs, social issues and problems (giving petitions to Government on environmental problems, member's family problems, etc.), loans, savings, and economic activities were discussed In the target area, the common problems faced by the community during last year mainly included environmental concerns, sanitation water, sewage water, streetlights, as well as social problems particularly on family matters.

In order to cope with environmental problems (sanitation water, water tank building, etc.), the Slum Development Ccouncils (SDCs) played an active role in organizing community participation to sign petition and meet with Government officials to make demands regarding their problems. During last year, there were some 12 petitions signed and given directly to the Government officials on issues concerning garbage collection, drainage and sewage problems, dog injection and public toilet demolition, and also concerning drinking water. Complaints and petitions by SHGs were given more attention by Government officials and they immediately took necessary action to meet community's demands.

SHGs are also actively involved in finding solution to community's problems. In Annai Teresa Nagar, five SHGs initiated talks with Government officials to open a Ration Shop in the area that is to be started within a few months. In Appasamy Street, five SHGs also held a demonstration in front of the Tahsildar office demanding Government to provide flood relief materials.

Flood Relief Assistance:

In October- November 2005, the city of Chennai was hit by heavy flood. Four out of six DPG's target areas (Dr. Santhosh Nagar, Surya Nagar, Appasamy Street, and Annai Teresa Nagar), covering around 3,000 families, were affected. The affected families had to find shelter in relatives' or friends' houses, schools and railway platform, as their houses were badly flooded. Many people complained that the Government did not take immediate action to help them. DPG decided to carry out relief assistance for the affected families. DPG provided provisions and materials for 740 families of the target community (260 families in Dr. Santhosh Nagar, 260 in Surya Nagar, 120 in Appasamy Street, 100 in Annai Teresa Nagar). In addition, DPG also gave financial aid for house repairing/renovation. Fifteen families in Annai Theresa Nagar and nine families in Davidpuram each received Rs.10,000/- loan while one family in Dr.Santhosh Nagar received Rs. 5,000/- housing loan.

Economic and Business Enterprise:

The total savings mobilization of women SHGs this year was Rs. 7,64,259/-. Internal loan of Rs. 30,11,950/- was rotated among 1068 members. Members can take loan of the money and make repayment within the period of five to ten months. The interest is 18% - 20% per annum, a lesser rate compared to around 40% - 60% per annum from outside moneylenders. Apart from internal loan from SHGs, members can also get loans from the Slum Development Councils (SDCs), the representative body of SHGs. In five areas (Surya Nagar, Mandapam Salai, Dr. Santhosh Nagar, Appasamy Street, and Annai Teresa Nagar) there are also other SHGs for: children (11 groups), men (six groups), adolescent girls (seven groups), youth (one group), and old age (four groups).

The SHGs are motivated to start their own business enterprises, whether individual or group business, that comprised selling vegetables, rice, flowers, vessel rental business and phone booth business. So far there are eight trades managed by SHGs as joint-enterprises with total of 169 members on a full time basis.

Purpose of Internal Loans:

Commencement of business enterprises brings positive impacts to SHGs members. In order to start the business enterprise, SHGs get financial contribution from the members and they also get external loans from DPG and the banks. During the current year, 11 SHGs got bank loans from Indian Micro Sate Bank totalling Rs. 4,25,000/- with interest rate of 8.5% per year. The repayment period ranging from 10 to 15 months depends on the loan amount. This money is utilized for the group's internal loan and also for group / individual businesses.

Details on Banks Loans:

Education and Training:

Educational programmes such as pre-schooling and supplementary classes were conducted mainly in Surya Nagar area. In this area, 25 children were enrolled for pre-school programme, while supplementary classes were conducted for 25 st th students of 1 to 8 standards. Monthly fee is Rs. 25 per child for pre-schooling and Rs. 15 for supplementary class.

Last year, DPG organized children Summer Camp in which 55 children from four slums (Surya Nagar, Dr.Santhosh Nagar, Mandapam Salai, Appasamy Street) participated. This Summer Camp was held during the first week of May 2005 in Mahabalipuram. For five days, participants were given trainings in painting, handicrafts, etc. They were also given lectures on general knowledge and science, personality development, personal hygiene and were takento places of interests.

In addition to these educational programmes, literacy classes for women and children were conducted in certain pockets. As a result, women members of SHGs are now able to write and sign their own names. DPG also motivated SHGs members to participate in trainings, including training in accounts, business administration, entrepreneurship, and gender awareness.

Impact:

Most women members of SHGs feel that joining SHG has caused remarkable impact on their life. Now they have the courage to speak out and give their opinion. They gained self-confidence and self-esteem whereas before joining SHG they depended so much on their husbands.
SHGs are able to file complaints and give petitions to the Government. And complaints by SHGs are given more attention by the officials.

The community through SDCs and SHGs are now able to find solutions to their problems.

Members are starting their own business enterprises that will enhance their economic capabilities.

Women's Day Celebration:

On March 14, 2006, Development Promotion Group (DPG) held a women's day celebration in Valluvar Kottam, Chennai. Some 829 women belonging to variousSelf-Help Groups in the City attended the celebration. Twenty-one children were present to receive their savings bonds. There were games conducted in the morning followed by speeches in the afternoon. Mr.Sugi Sivam, a well-known motivational speaker, urged cooperation among women's groups. He said that if all women work together, they would be able to achieve their goals in life.
This year, two students from Madras School of Social Work, Mr. Inian and Ms. Nithya did their internship in DPG for three months (December 2005 - March 2006).They conducted several activities for the slum people, including street play on how to take care of the children,sports and games for children and exhorting the elderly people to cope with their age-related concerns.

Case Study A Grocery Study by SHGs:

Surya Nagar is one of the target areas of DPG. There are 450 families residing in the area out of which 425 are our target families. Due to DPG's intervention, there are 17 Women SHGs, 3 Men SHGs, 3 Adolescent Girls SHGs, 5 Children Saving Groups, and 1 Old Age SHG. Out of these, four Women SHGs (Kashturi Bai, Annai Theresa, Indira Gandhi, and Bharathi Kannamma) with a total of 80 members and one Men SHG (Bharathiar) with 16 members came together and decided to open a Provision Shop (DPG Kalanjiyam Mahalir Palporul Angadi Women's Provision Shop) in the area. In May 2004, with each SHG contributing Rs. 10,000/-, the provision store was opened in a rented house. One member of the Women SHG is running the shop on a salary of Rs. 1,500/- per month. The shop provides home needs and daily needs like rice, lentils, condiments, spices, oil, soap, and detergents worth Rs. 50,000/-.
Apart from the general provisions, the shop also sells confectionaries for children. The shop sells products like lentils and condiments in small sachets, which are preferred by the customers. DPG bought a new two-wheeler and gave it away to the shop. The shop also has a PCO for which the deposit was made by DPG. During the year, the store has grown rapidly and has shown an increase in profit. At present, the shop receives a minimum of Rs. 3,000/- from daily sales. Yearly nett income is reported to be Rs. 78,000/-, an increase from Rs. 45,000/- the previous year.

Co-ordination:

UDI-Chennai is managed by two Programme Officers, four field staff and three volunteers under the supervision of DPG CEO and one office staff is also deputed to this project. In every slum there is one SDC to coordinate all activities in the respective area. The SDC meets once a month to discuss problems and plan future activities. The membership consists of two representatives from each SHG. SDC also plays active role in managing DPG sponsored programmes.

Conclusion:

Urban Development Initiatives (UDI) is a project located in the city of Chennai, planned and programmed for DPG's direct interventions to address the development issues faced by the slum dwellers. After six years of its operation, the programmes of community organisation and issue-oriented action through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have registered a visible impact on the life of the target communities. The Slum Development Council (SDC) is a people-based, people-owned body, asthat of an information-sharing, training and guidance centre.suming responsibility for co-ordination of all development activities in the target area. The role of DPG will eventually be that of an information-sharing, training and guidance center.