Throughout history, women have collectively struggled against direct and indirect barriers to their self-development and full participation in social, economic and political processes. However, to achieve lasting sustainable development of society the economic empowerment of women is imperative. Women's self-help groups are a powerful mechanism to empower women and promote socio-economic development.
Sakhi
In partnership with Saheli Samiti and Manjari Foundation, we relaunched our flagship project Sakhi in 2016. The SHGs empower women not only in the economic sphere, but also the social sphere. Instances of the SHG women beginning to lead their communities and villages on social, and even political issues, abound. In our programme too, we have begun to witness SHG women come forward on issues of safety, cleanliness, making villages ODF, etc.
The programme aims to form 2,000 SHGs and their 6 independent federations by 2021. Collectively, we hope to impact the lives of 24,000 families through this initiative.
Reporting Period Highlights
| 839 SHGs formed Total 1,299 SHGs 16,621 women |
| Total accumulated savings over INR 3.17 crore |
| Computerised the records of 1,042 SHGs |
| 783 SHGs linked with banks |
| INR 7.9 crore loans availed by 10,580 women primarily
for household consumption, agriculture,
health & sanitation, animal husbandry and
entrepreneurship |
| 280 women used the loans to set up new
or expand existing enterprises |
| 12,400 women participated in International Women's Day celebrations
at all our locations with the theme
'Press for Progress' |
Creating Women Entrepreneurs
Seema Bhil, her husband and child lived in Shivpura Village, Rajsamand District, on a meagre amount of INR 3,000/month. That is, until Sakhi ventured in and helped her set up an SHG. A study of the village showed that the women, along with all the other duties of running a household, had to also take on the tough task of grinding flour manually as there wasn't a single flour mill in the village.
Seema, helped by her SHG and Sakhi managed to get a loan to set up a flour mill. She is now a successful entrepreneur and contributes an additional INR 4,000/month to her household.
