AMMA, Netherlands Annual Reportamma-lafalda.org/uploads/images/pdf/2011-jaarverslag-SAVE-tbv-AMMA.pdf · SAVE – AMMA : Annual Report of Women Development Cell : 2011 – 2012 2

Submitted to

AMMA, Netherlands

Annual Report April 2011 to March 2012

Submitted by

SOCIAL AWARENESS AND VOLUNTARY EDUCATION (SAVE)

SAVE – AMMA : Annual Report of Women Development Cell : 2011 – 2012 1

Executive Summary

SHGs are the community platforms from which women become active in village affairs, stand

for local election or take action to address social or community issues like the abuse of women, alcohol, the dowry system, schools, water supply etc. SAVE, had facilitated formation 75 new groups during this year and were given adequate orientation and inputs on successful running and management of groups. 197 groups (comprising of old and new) have been oriented about the role and responsibilities of members.

SAVE managed to entrap the resources available in government agencies and banks through

continuous lobby and advocacy activities. The programmes of Canara Bank and National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) were supportive in organizing skill trainings and orientation workshops to women self help group members.

All those SHGs that have completed 6 months were eligible for bank linkage, provided members

have saved regularly and maintained some minimum bookkeeping. 131 groups were graded and received a sum of Rs.16, 925,000.00 as Revolving Fund based on their savings and repayment record.

SAVE and panchayat level federations of SHGs were instrumental in facilitating 41 women

groups to initiate income generation activities. SAVE, through forward and backward linkages and continuous hand holding support by our staff, managed to establish the IGP activities in 25 trades.

There are always two issues relating to formal banking services; one was that the banking

system denies financial services to the poor people through certain rules it had set up. The second was that the banking system also was not treating women fairly. Considering these factors, SAVE had initiated a separate bank for women group members called Suyam which facilitates inter loaning among the members. Women from 89 groups have received loans from Suyam, during this year.

SHG members need support services and information about the service providers available

locally and the type of services available. This information combined with inputs about micro enterprise promotion will help them to think of economic activities. Keeping this in mind, we have oriented 1126 women from 93 groups through trainings about income generation activities.

Micro finance to women through Self help groups has been playing a significant role in

facilitating their financial inclusion of the society. Insurance coverage of these groups is a part of the financial inclusion plan as it takes care of the uncertainties due to death & disability of any member. 747 members have become policy holders of LIC schemes and families of three women who lost their life were able to get the claim amount.

Any SHG need support and facilitation for smooth functioning and to avoid defunct in future. The

Animators and Representatives of the group play a key role in the overall management of the group, in addition to the responsibilities of individual member. SAVE organized trainings to 342 Animators and Representatives from 171 groups to stock the knowledge with them about SHG management.


During our field visits, women used to mention that they have found a new individuality

through the self-help groups. Membership of SHGs aided the women to move from an inactive state to being dynamic agents and work for their own change. Not just in words, our group members had proved their strength by successfully inaugurating the departmental store, named Mukkoodal. 485 members belonging to three panchayat level federations contributed Rs.5,15,000/- as shares towards this new venture.

Suyam, a bank for women group members was further strengthened financially to enable

providing loans to members. Rs.209,000.00 was raised as Corpus of Suyam with the deposit of Rs.1000.00 each by 209 members. This will facilitate members who could not get any financial support from formal banking institutions for their domestic and IGP needs.

There are apparent synergies between SHGs and local politics since through membership of

SHGs, or SHG clusters and federations, village women can gain experience of relevant processes (regular meetings, taking decisions, allocating money). They also become more ‘visible’ in the village, which is important for campaigning. 22 women from our groups contested in the local body elections and 5 of them were elected as ward members and one as Panchayat President.

March 8 is celebrated as International Women's Day which was started in New York in 1911

and this year we are celebrating 101th International Women’s Day. SAVE in association with PLFs and BLF, celebrated the Women’s Day on 09.03.2012 and the theme was selected as “Micro finance and Women Empowerment” and more than 2000 women took part in the mega event.

Our SHGs are linked not only to banks but also to wider development programmes, SHGs are

seen to confer many benefits, both economic and social. To mention few, Mudalipalayam group members were able to get a Bus shelter in their village through continuous lobby and advocacy with transport officials and PRI leaders; The opening of liquor shop in residential area of Kulathuputhur village was stopped by agitation of women members.

SHGs represent an opportunity for social action and empowerment through women’s

involvement in considering, addressing and participating in issues that affect their members and their communities, including issues that affect children in particular. Our group members were committed in eliminating the child labour practices and they are determined not to send their children to work but to schools.

Most of our activities were carried out with the support of members of women groups /

federations and their leaders. The quantities in few activities like grading and bank linkages were scaled down due to the enforcement of election code of conduct in the state which restrained the implementation of welfare schemes.


Annual Report April 2011 – March 2012

1. Background:

One of the powerful approaches to women empowerment and rural entrepreneurship is

the formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) especially among women. This strategy had fetched

noticeable results not only in India and Bangladesh but world over. Women self-help groups

are increasingly being used as tool for various developmental interventions. Credit and its

delivery through self-help groups have also been taken as a means for empowerment of rural

women. This integrated approach, whereby, credit is only an entry point, and an instrument to

operationalise other aspects of group dynamics and management, also caters to the need for

social intermediation of these groups. A self-help group is conceived as a sustainable people's

institution that provides the poor rural women with space and support necessary for them to

take effective steps towards achieving greater control of their lives. The SHG approach has

proved successful not only in improving the economic conditions through income generation

but in creating awareness about health and hygiene, sanitation and cleanliness, environmental

protection, importance of education and better response for development schemes.

Involvement in SHGs has enabled women to have a voice in the community affairs and

they have been able to tackle problems such as a lack of drinking water and electricity, access

to health services and children’s education. Though women face handicaps to their involvement

in politics, their participation in SHGs has altered them, and these women can be prospective

leaders in the local political field. Nonetheless various constraints like discriminatory practices

in labour, a low level of skills etc. operate to contract a woman’s potential for empowerment. It

may be comparatively easier to ensure material change than to cause a change in power

structures and the ideologies and attitudes which accompany them. However, no milieu is

static, and some of the recommendations for a way forward include providing a convergence of

inputs, ensuring a proactive involvement of women in the program, changing social norms and

perceptions and anchoring with wider movements of social change.

With this background, SAVE constantly focuses on creating an enabling environment

among women folk through forming them in to self help groups and thus enable them to realise

their full potentialities through Women Development Centre. To make them more

economically independent and self reliant, the Self help groups were ensured on providing

trainings, employment and income generation activities.

The report narrates the activities of Women Development Centre carried out during the

year April 2011 – March 2012.


2. Formation and Strengthening of SHGs:

2.1 Organising New Self Help Groups:

SAVE managed to initiate self help group approach in 16 Panchayats, 1 Corporation and

2 municipalities in mobilising women to form SHGs. During the reporting period from April

2011 to March 2012, totally 75 groups consisting of 960 members were formed by SAVE team.

Out of 75 groups, 35 groups were formed by the facilitation of Block Level Federation and 40

were by staff team. It was planned to form 95 groups during the year, but due to Tamil Nadu

state elections and local body elections, we were not able to achieve the target as the election

code of conduct was in place which limits mobilising women and to open bank accounts.

S.No Panchayat No of SHGs No of Members

1. Veerapandi 8 96

2. Muthanampalayam 5 60

3. Murugampalayam 1 12

4. Andipalayam 6 72

5. Iduvai 2 24

6. Mangalam 10 120

7. Muthiliplayam 1 12

8. Velampalayam 10 120

9. Tirupur Corporation 3 36

10. Nallur 5 60

11. Ettiveerampalayam 1 12

12. Kalipalayam 1 12

13. Neriparachal 2 24

14. Kanakampalayam 2 24

15. Perumanallur 9 108

16. West Block 3 36

17. Thoravalur 1 12


18. Chettipalayam 1 12

19. Pongupalayam 4 108

75 960

2.2 Training of SHG members:

If women empowerment is to be pursued as a serious objective by SHG programmes in

particular and the larger microfinance community in general, greater emphasis needs to be

placed on training, education and creating awareness in order to achieve a larger and more

lasting empowerment. The training for SHG members 6 modules proposed by the Government

of India on dealing with Social empowerment, Economic empowerment, Skills development,

Roles and responsibilities of members and A&R personnel, Panchayat Level Federation (PLF) /

Block Level Federation (BLF) and Sustainability. The trainings to new SHG members had

positive impacts In terms of their empowerment measurement which include women’s mobility

in the public domain, their participation in public action, the reduced incidence of male violence

and decision-making. The decision-making may range from making decisions about expenditure

on food and household budget to more important decisions like children’s education, decision

of women to work, to purchase assets.

197 groups have been trained on the fundamentals of SHGs, functioning of SHGs and

also their roles and responsibilities in their own groups and society at large. 1970 women were

directly benefitted from the trainings.

Month No of trainings No of Groups No of members

APRIL 5 10 100

MAY 16 39 384

JUNE 20 47 455

JULY 13 26 260

AUG 18 36 360

SEP 4 8 89

OCT 6 12 132


NOV 7 13 130

DEC 2 4 40

JAN 1 2 20

TOTAL 92 197 1970

2.3 Animator & Representative Training:

SAVE believes that a successful intervention for empowering women necessitates

several elements – an important one is imparting of new skills, not only to the members but

also to the animators and representatives. The A & R persons play vital role in promoting the

values of self help approach and to sustain the growth. Women assuming new roles need

support through training for enabling them to perform these roles. Training modules have been

prepared by SAVE to make women recognize clearly how society structures their perceptions.

This would help in making women aware that society’s perception of women’s appropriate

roles and to shape their actions. The training programme promoted critical analysis in women

and encouraged them to think independently and challenge unequal gender relations and

exploitation.

The training for Animators and Representatives also facilitated them to understand the

role of group representatives, organisation and running of SHG meetings, attendance at PLF

and other SHG federation meetings, financial account keeping, internal group loan

management and access to micro credit loans. Trainings were conducted to 11 batches

covering 342 members from 171 groups. Due to the general elections and local body elections,

we were able to organise trainings for 171 SHGs against the planned 196 SHGs.

Month No of Batches Number of groups No of A & R persons

JULY 1 19 38

AUG 2 34 68

SEP 1 20 40

OCT 4 59 118

NOV 2 22 44


DEC 1 17 34

TOTAL 11 171 342

3. Financial sustainability of SHGs

3.1 Administrative and Financial Training:

Newly formed groups were given training on the administrative aspects on managing the

groups, records and also in the financial management. The financial stability of the groups

requires perfect maintenance of the accounts and records in the groups.

Decision making regarding purpose of loan

Control of use of credit

Management of enterprises supported by credit

Use of income generated

Increased savings: monetary (SHG savings, chit funds, other accounts, insurance, loans to

others) and in kind (livestock, gold, land)

Increased income

Access to loans

Increase in bargaining power

Ability to spend money independently

Make household purchases

The trainings are most important since based on the perfect maintenance of the records in

the self help groups of women they will be able to approach some banks or institutions for

availing loans.

3.2 Grading of groups and access to bank loans:

At present, credit flow to SHGs is based on the

Micro Credit Plans (MCPs) prepared by them. Before

going for any economic activity loans, SHGs will be

provided with Revolving Fund (RF) to analyse their

fund management pattern. The RF is provided to SHGs

after grading their previous performances. The

performance is evaluated on five principles as below: .

1. Regular meetings

2. Regular savings


3. Regular Internal lending

4. Regular repayments

5. Proper bookkeeping through trained bookkeeper.

During this year of reporting the self help groups were assessed and graded by the officials

from banks and the groups that were qualified had been able to receive the revolving fund and

access to direct linkages with banks TAMCO loans. The details are as follow;

Month / Year No of groups graded Amount Sanctioned as RF

JUNE /2011 2 600,000.00

JULY /2011 6 1,460,000.00

AUG /2011 17 3,215,000.00

SEP /2011 12 2,170,000.00

OCT /2011 7 1,050,000.00

NOV /2011 30 4,785,000.00

DEC /2011 13 2,775,000.00

FEB /2012 4 380,000.00

MAR /2012 1 100,000.00

TOTAL AMOUNT SANCTIONED 92 16,535,000.00

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY 39 390,000.00

NET TOTAL AMOUNT 131 16,925,000.00

131 groups were graded and received Revolving Fund to the tune of Rs.16,925,000.00.

We were not able to facilitate grading to few groups due to the election code of conduct which

was in place in the state during the year and one the state election and local Panchyat election.

Out of 131 groups, 39 groups received government subsidy of Rs.3,90,000.00.

3.3 Access to SUYAM loans

Concept of SUYAM, in a broader sense, ‘Saving for self and Decision by Self‘promotes

independent self initiatives and leadership among every individual women and also in groups.


SUYAM being the corporate of self help groups formed and facilitated by SAVE, the groups save

their funds together and act as a funding source for their own SHG members.

Focusing on increasing the internal savings of new groups, enabling the SHGs for

investing in small businesses and to provide an emergency fund for the members who need in

sudden demands, SUYAM functions effectively. It also aims at sidelining the money lenders who

meddle with perilous interest rates.

The details of loans availed by the groups throughout the reporting period is as below:

MONTH / YEAR RS. 25000 RS. 50000 RS. 60000 TOTAL GROUPS

APRIL /2011 - - - -

MAY /2011 5 10 - 15

JUNE /2011 7 2 - 9

JULY /2011 8 1 - 9

AUG /2011 9 9 - 18

SEP /2011 8 4 - 12

OCT /2011 - 4 - 4

NOV /2011 2 2 - 4

JAN /2012 4 5 2 11

FEB /2012 - 2 - 2

MAR /2012 3 2 - 5

TOTAL BENEFICIARIES

46 41 2 89

In terms of amount

Rs. 1,150,000.00 Rs. 2,050,000.00 Rs. 120,000.00 Rs. 3,320,000.00

3.4 Life Insurance Scheme

Life Insurance of India, a Public sector enterprise had come forward to extend insurance

cover to self help group formed by women. Women SHG members in the age group of 18 – 59


years are eligible for the scheme. The minimum number of members under group to be

covered should be 10 in each group. The benefits under the scheme include Rs 30,000 in the

event of natural death, Rs 75,000 in case of death due to accident, Rs 75,000 for permanent

partial disability due to accident and Rs 37500 for partial disability due to accident.

In addition to the above benefits, Scholarship will be provided to a maximum of two

children of the beneficiary studying between 9th to 12th standard at the rate of Rs 1200 per

annum for each child, payable half yearly.

MONTH / YEAR NO OF NEW POLICY HOLDERS

APRIL 10

JUNE 22

JULY 105

AUG 97

SEP 115

OCT 110

DEC 138

JAN 65

FEB 85

TOTAL 747

It was planned to make 1070 women as LIC policy holders and we were able to complete

747 policy holders. The LIC promotes policies for a period of 10 – 15 years and the women

members prefer to have policies for five years only which resulted in reduced number of policy

holders.

During the reporting period, family members of 3 women who lost their lives, were able to

claim the benefits and are:


S.NO Names of Beneficiaries Compensation

from the

insurance

1 Jeyalakshmi Rs.14750.00

2 Jothimani

Rs.31000.00

3 Subbammal Rs.14400.00

Meetings on LIC policies and benefits were organised during the year and 56 members

participated in the 3 trainings organised during the period.

3.5 Orientation programs on Income generation

The members of SHGs were given input about initiating any economic activity which are

viable at their village level. The Economic Activity could be started by individuals or group

members together. The orientation programmes emphasized the following:

The ownership of the activity to encourage uniform and sustained growth.

The consistent quality of the product which is a primary factor in establishing and

maintaining the market.

Transparency in operations and a nonhierarchical

structure to establish accountability among

members.

Encourages members to give to others whatever

they can, instead of expecting help from others

to enhance members' self-esteem and pride in

their own group.

Frequent meetings, open interaction, and

consensual distribution of tasks reduce the

possibility of disputes resulting from communication gaps and help work to go smoothly.

Information about forward and backward linkages, availability of hand holding services and

technical service providers.

The details of the trainings organised are as below:

S.No MONTH/YEAR NO OF GROUPS NO OF MEMBERS BENEFITED

1 JUNE 2 24


2 JULY 6 72

3 AUG 17 204

4 SEP 12 144

5 OCT 7 84

6 NOV 30 360

7 DEC 13 156

8 FEB 4 52

9 MAR 2 30

TOTAL 93 1126

3.6 New Business Under takings

Promotion of rural enterprise makes full use of

family labour, requires less capital in production and uses

locally available raw material. In addition, family ties and

kinship linkages may help in promoting rural enterprise.

Thus, enterprise development has been considered,

among other factors, a powerful tool to eradicate

poverty especially among rural women as they are at the

lowest rung of poverty ladder.

Through grading of 128 groups, during the reporting year, loans to the tune of

Rs.1,69,25000/- were received and with the receipt of these amount, the self help group

women either as individual or as a group have started economic activities in 25 trades listed

below.

1 Mess / Canteen 14 Samiyana (tent house)

2 Grocery shop 15 Cool drinks shop

3 Emu farm 16 Computer centre

4 Artificial jewel making 17 Mobile Vending


5 Coconut 18 Share auto

6 Furniture Shop 19 Mineral water - trading

7 Departmental store 20 Embroidery

8 Printing 21 Power loom

9 Health club 22 Elastic label

10 Meat shop 23 Selling used garments

11 Hollow block 24 Clothes business

12 Cement shop 25 Mobile canteen

13 Pickle making

SAVE provided hand holding services for women members to become a successful

entrepreneur, as they needed access to capital, technical and managerial know-how and

marketing skills. The essence to empower rural women lies in catalyzing appropriate economic

activities at the grass root level and SAVE is involved in this process by creating new

opportunities for them to earn higher income in order to improve their standard of living.

3.7 Strengthening Of Suyam

Suyam, a federation of SHG members, was set up to ensure financial assistance to “to-

be” micro entrepreneurs to start economic activities and to up scale the activities already

carried out by women members. The members of our self help groups have deposited

Rs.1000.00 each to strengthen the financial services to its own members. During the reporting

period Rs.209,000.00 have been raised as Suyam Corpus with the contribution of 209 members.

The corpus have made the federation members not to depend on other financial institutions for

micro financing their economic needs which include support for economic activities and

household needs. Now Suyam is able to cater to the needs of members for expenses like health

and education of children and the inter loaning of suyam funds will further strengthen the

relationship of women with federations and SAVE as well.

1. Empowering Federations

4.1 Capacitating women members


The informal interactions of field staff of SAVE, with the members of women self help

groups emphasized on the need for development of women and their active participation in the

main stream of development process. Apart from managing household, bearing children,

women need to lead the family. Our group members have proved that they can be better

entrepreneurs and development managers in any kind of human development activities. They

are empowered in taking decisions to enable them to be in the central part of human

development process. The trainings given to the women group members were considered as

an active process in enabling women to realize their full identity and power in all spheres of life.

The inter exchange program between the SHGs and also the visits to the SHGs stabilised their

actions and initiatives. Thus the social capacity of the group members was enhanced to take a

lead in all community level developments.

Against the background of the patriarchal

system of society, the women need special

attention to ensure their development and

participation in the decision making process at

home, in the community and governance. Hence

what is needed is a conducive environment to

maximize their potentials. The SHG movement

facilitated by SAVE facilitated the women

members to have a conducive environment which included basic amenities such as better

health and nutrition, education and sensitization to their rights and protection under the law

and employment opportunities.

Our field experience shows that gender inequalities are a major factor Impeding poverty

reduction. SAVE is working with women in rural areas, where women are generally very

involved in productive work but lack access to assets they need to play that role effectively. As

a result of this imbalance, women are often more vulnerable to poverty than men, and their

limited ability to secure assets independently makes them more likely to be negatively affected

by ongoing changes in rural markets and institutions.

The one-to-one contacts, visits to the groups at their own locations, phone calls by the

counsellors, group meetings, workshops and conferences organised throughout the reporting

year widened the dynamism in the groups. Adding to that the regular field staff, team leader,

counsellors and community development organisers strengthened the groups.

The regular weekly and monthly review meetings emphasised the efficiency of the SHG

women. The trainings and visits of bank personnel encouraged the women to access the bank


loans, government social schemes, LIC insurance schemes, business formation, upcoming lean

moments and training opportunities.

4.2 Panchayat Level Federation

SAVE facilitated formation of SHG federations achieving the following objectives;

Provision of maintenance and monitoring services and promotion of new SHGs:

To ensure the sustainability of SHGs through providing them need based services such as

book keeping, auditing, conflict resolution—both internal and external, linkages with banks,

etc.,

Federations play an important part in SHG capacity building.

Federation building as a critical process for empowering poor women.

The Panchayat Level Federations (PLF) facilitated by SAVE offered better scope of

empowering members beyond what can be achieved by individual SHGs. PLF provided to the

SHG members a sense of identity as part of a large organization and build solidarity and

collective strength among the members of different SHGs. PLF also created opportunities for

the federation leaders to deal with mainstream institutions, viz., banks, MFIs, government

departments, etc. on more equal terms than is possible for SHGs—though not always with

success. PLFs provided a platform for advocating the rights and entitlements of members.

Details of federation meetings are:

Month Panchayat No of SHG members participated

APRIL 21 790

MAY 21 419

JUNE 21 1534

JULY 20 308

AUG 19 836

SEP 20 457

OCT 20 451

NOV 20 424

DEC 18 294


JAN 2012 18 395

FEB 2012 18 349

TOTAL 216 6257

The federation members were involved in organising campaigns against issues concerning the

developments in their locality.

The federation members in Andipalayam village organised a demonstration against opening

of liquor shop in the residential area and the decision to open the shop was withdrawn by

the government.

Protest against frequent power cuts was organised by members in Mangalam panchayat.

The members from Samundipuram village remonstrated against the irregularities found in

government maternity centre.

PLF leaders also participated in Gram Sabha meetings organised 4 times in a year by local

body members and submitted a memorandum to address issues related to basic amenities

in their dwelling places.

4.3 Block Level Federation meeting

With the prepared strength and focussed efficiency the panchayat level federations

were formed in to further expanding and deeply uniting and strengthening their network at the

Block level where number of panchayats join together as one federation and act as one entity.

This federation helps the women to be powerful and make them to come out of their shell and

take a lead in their lives.

MONTH PANCHAYAT NO OF SHG MEMBERS PARTICIPATED

MAY 13 15

JUNE 13 15

JULY 16 42

AUG 16 42

SEP 16 42

OCT 19 39


NOV 20 40

DEC 20 40

JAN 2012 11 30

FEB 2012 21 35

FEB 2012 21 45

TOTAL 186 385

On 5th of every month, block level federation meetings were organised by the Panchayat

level federation leaders. The meetings were presided by government officials and bank

officials, thus giving more opportunities to interact with them and build rapport with officials.

Major decisions on women conferences and special meetings were taken during the meetings.

The federation leaders had field exposure visits from 15.09.2011 to 17.09.2011 and

interacted with women groups in Bangalore.

4.4 Cluster Level Conference

On 26.06.2011, a cluster level conference was organised in Velampalayam panchayat to

discuss about formation of new self help groups and strengthening of existing groups.

Strategies to strengthen the group activities and to initiate new ventures by members were

analysed. 300 women participated in the conference and shared their views about federation

activities and empowerment.

2. Building Social Capacity of groups

5.1 Gramsabha Meetings

The 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India was meant to empower the

Panchayats for strengthening grass root democracy. Every village knows its particular needs

and therefore planning and implementation of programmes to address these needs, when

undertaken at the village level become more effective. Grama Sabha is the grass root level

democratic institution in each village panchayat. A vibrant Grama Sabha is essential for the

effective functioning of village panchayats by promoting transparency and accountability in

administration, enhancing public participation in the planning and implementation of schemes


and in the choice of beneficiaries, and paving the way for social audit. In India, the government

had ordered the conduct of Grama Sabha meetings a minimum of four times a year as below:

May 1, 2010 - Workers’ day

August 15, 2010 - Independence day

October 2, 2010 - Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi

January 26, 2011 - Republic Day

During this period of reporting year, totally 1520 SHG women belonging to 22 panchayats in

Tirupur actively participated in the Gramsabha meetings. The issues in the village, Income and

Expenditure of the village and other important programs and welfare activities for the village

were discussed during these meetings.

5.2 International Women’s Day

With the theme of “Micro finance and Women Empowerment”, the world Women’s Day

was celebrated on 09.03.2012 in Town Hall, Tirupur. 2185 women participated in the event and

Honourable Mayor of Tirupur Corporation, Ms.Vishalakshi presided over the function.

Mr.A.Aloysius, during his key note address emphasized the economic growth of women and

participation of rural women in mainstream social phenomena. He expressed his concern that

more than 50% of women were living in poverty and illiteracy. Ms.Vishalakshi, Honourable

Mayor, briefed the development activities focussing women, by the state government. In the

existing10 Corporations of Tamil Nadu, 6 corporations were headed by women Mayors and this

shows the higher participation of women in local body / panchayat Raj institutions. She further

added that the schemes like Cradle scheme was first introduced in Tamil Nadu to prevent

female infanticide and to protect the right of girl children to live. Ms.Vishalakshi appreciated

the initiatives / activities of women group members and encouraged the participants to be self

reliant and to reduce dependency on male.

It was shared by other speakers that

women were more responsible in repaying the

loans and there were different micro finance

schemes both by government and private banking

agencies and participants were requested to

choose their choice of financial institutions based

on the credibility and services offered by the

agencies. Repayment capacity depends on the

effective running of their income generation activities and so the women entrepreneurs need

to focus on sustainability of their economic activities.


The other important personalities who took part in the celebrations were:

Ms. Tamilarasi, District Social Welfare Officer, Tirupur

Mr.Thyagarajan, Director, Vocational Training Centre, Canara Bank, Tirupur

Mr.Rajagopal, Manager, Lead bank (Canara Bank), Tirupur

Ms.Meenambikai, Manager, CDCC Bank, Coimbatore.

Mr.Sugunan, Manager, Life Insurance Corporation, Coimbatore

Prizes were distributed to winners of competitions held in various villages for women group

members in February and March months. Cultural performances and sharing of experiences by

women group members were also part of the event.

The other major activities of women group and federation members, during the reporting period are:

250 women members participated in the

rally from SAVE that was organised by

environmentalists in Madurai on

23.07.2011, to promote the campaigns

against environmental pollution and

warming the globe. The rally started in

Theppakulam and reached Thamukkam

grounds covering 4 kilometers. Around

3000 persons from different parts of Tamil Nadu took part in the rally and slogans were

raised against polluting nature. 23.07.2011

2000 women from SHGs participated in the campaign against corruption, organized by Anti

corruption movements across India on 25.08.2011 .

200 Women members from 36 groups participated in a campaign on Right to water and

preservation of rivers and water bodies.

A protest was organized in Mangalam panchayat to condemn the frequent power cuts in

Tirupur on 10.02.2011.

Samundipuram women group members demonstrated against the individual money lenders

who used to charge heavy interest for the loan amount.

In September month awareness meetings were conducted in all panchayats to sensitize

public on their rights and responsibilities in local body (PRI) elections.

In the month of June, election was held to elect 58 leaders in panchayat level federations.

The new elected representatives took charge in July during the meetings organized in

different panchayats.


Women group members participated in the weekly celebrations organized by Cooperative

Bank, Coimbatore on 19.11.2011 for credit linkages.

The services of Child Line (1098, a toll free number promoted by government of India to

complain and report child abuses) were briefed to 80 women members in Mangalam

panchayat on 11.08.2011

During the reporting period, knowledge about HIV / AIDS was provided to women members

during their regular meetings.

A demonstration was organized against the irresponsible attitude and behavior of staff of

government Maternity centre in Samundipuram panchayat on 15.02.2012.

The women from Thoravalur and Merkupathy villages joined hands with “National Social

Service” students in cleaning the villages on 24.01.2012

Children’s day was celebrated on 14.11.2011 in Town hall, Tirupur where 350 women

members participated.

Our women group members actively took part in the Polio Eradication campaigns organized

by Health department of Tamil Nadu.

On 13.06.2011, 250 women participated in the

campaign against child labour in Tirupur.

WDC staff training was organized on 29.10.2011 to

capacitate them to involve in the change process

and to provide input to strengthen women groups

and federation.

213 women were facilitated to open bank account

in Nationalised banks through Geosansar facility.

(Geosansar is a social enterprise established to provide access to financial services and

products to the unbanked people in remote rural pockets.)

160 members from16 SHGs attended the trainings organized by SAVE in association with

NABARD.

Members of 3 deceased women were able to get the benefits of Insurance schemes and

received claim amount of Rs.58700.00.

A balwadi center (Crèche) was established in Andipalayam panchayat with the support of

women group members.

30 women from Perumanallur panchayat received 30 days intensive training on Tailoring,

organized by SAVE in association with Canara Bank.

In addition to the amount received by way of shares from 485 members, 93 members

deposited a sum of Rs.93000.00 by contributing Rs.1000.00 each as share amount.

3. Vocational training programmes


6.1 Tailoring courses

Mother Teresa tailoring centre was promoted by SAVE and conducted “6 month training

course” on tailoring, twice a year for the SHG women. In the 33rd batch (January 2011 to June

2011), 30 women and in the 34th batch (July 2011 to December 2011), 30 women were

benefitted. Skills taught in the course are, stitching, readymade garments, embroidery, knitting

and handcrafts. The women who had completed their trainings had initiated self-employment

activities.

6.2 NABARD Orientation training

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural

Development (NABARD), a banking institution, is run by

Government of India to facilitate micro enterprise

among rural women. NABARD offers various skill

training courses, orientation courses and financial

support to become entrepreneurs. SAVE, in association

with NABARD organized 5 trainings to our group

members as below:

Sl.No Date No of participants Venue

1 19.12.2011 30 SAVE Conference hall

2 20.12.2011 30

3 22.12.2011 30

4 20.03.2012 30

5 21.03.2012 45

Total 165 women

The orientation trainings focussed on the following areas:

Concept and objective of formation of SHGs

Role of Animators and representatives.

Role of SHG members and their responsibilities

Maintenance of books and records

Grading procedures

Charts and games were used as tools during the trainings to facilitate knowledge on group

dynamics and coherence and sharing of experiences.


6.3 Canara Bank Vocational Training

Canara Bank, lead bank in Tirupur district offers free training to self help group

members on various trades to capacitate them to become micro entrepreneurs. SAVE with the

collaboration of Canara Bank organised two trainings as below:

Sl.No Date No of participants Trades

1 25.02.2012 – 31.03.2012 30 Tailoring course

2 01.04.2012 – 30.04.2012 22 Beautician course, jewel making and

embroidery

Training was conducted in two batches for 10 days each and the participants received

Course Completion certificates which they could use to avail financial assistance to start their

own economic activities.

6.4 Company Survey

As part of our economic empowerment activities, SAVE initiated a survey to link

unemployed women with garment factories which has better work environment. The

companies which are paying better salary and has social security schemes (ESI, PF) as

prescribed by the government were identified through the survey. So far 38 such companies

were identified and the information about the companies were shared in the group meetings.

This enables the women who were in need of jobs, to get employed and to sustain their

growth. The survey is an ongoing activity and more companies will be identified to generate

employment opportunities to rural women group members.

6.5 Departmental Store

“Mukkoodal Departmental Store” was

started on 15.07.2011 by the women group

members belonging to Mangalam, Andipalayam

and Iduvai panchayats. The shop was

established with the contribution of Rs.1000.00

each by 485 members and the total investment

was Rs.515000.00. The shop is managed by 5

committees as below:

1. Advisory committee

2. Administration committee


3. Monitoring committee

4. Sales committee

5. Procurement committee

The procurement committee ensures purchase of materials based on a fortnight basis and

the 485 members visit the shop and look into the accounts and administration on a daily

rotation basis. The daily income is deposited in the designated bank account. On 10th of every

month, all the five committees gather to review and plan for the effective management of the

store. The women group members in the nearby areas purchase vegetables and provisions in

Mukkoodal store. The general public opined that the quality, quantity and prices are better

compared to other shops.

The accounts are audited by professional auditors on a monthly basis and the statements

are being circulated to 485 shareholders. The successful running of Mukkoodal store for the

last 11 months had encouraged women members in other panchayats to initiate similar

ventures.

4. Community Health Services

7.1 Health Coverage among SHGs

The mobile unit moves with the mobile medical van along with a doctor and a qualified

nurse to attend to the health needs of the Self help group women. As Tirupur and its

surroundings have been affected ecologically by the effluents from clothing industries, the

impact of it has created lot health issues among the community. Hence the mobile health unit

from SAVE has been facilitating the health need of the community. The general medical camp

with the help of the mobile medical unit covers beneficiaries in different hamlets and villages in

the planned days The details of general medical camps organised is as below:

Month & Year No. of Camps No. of beneficiaries

April 2011 5 128

May 2011 7 235

June 2011 6 197

July 2011 4 155

August 2011 6 210

September 2011 5 146

October 2011 4 130

November 2011 8 305

December 2011 7 275

January 2012 4 110

February 2012 5 152


Total 61 2043

7.2 Emergency relief Services

Tirupur, the Dollar city suffered, its worst in the early hours of 07.11.2011, as the rain

started pounding the city until 4.00 am. The worst affected areas were the settlements along

the banks of the Noyyal river and its tributaries running through the heart of the city. Water

gushed into the houses and people were forced to take refuge on roof tops and await help. The

present flood in Tirupur was worst of its kind in the last two decades. The rescue work was

delayed because of the increasing water level in Noyyal. There were 12 deaths reported and

more than 6000 people had lost their houses and were temporarily accommodated in 15

marriage halls and Government schools in Tirupur.

In addition to the regular mobile camps, SAVE volunteered to provide medical services

to the flood affected victims in the city. Medical camps were organised and SAVE coordinated

with the health department in the preventive measures to avoid any outbreak.

7.3 Mobile Medical Unit visits

The mobile medical unit with a doctor and nurse has been visiting not only the

community SHGs and also the schools where their children do their schooling in Bridge schools,

ECO park a home for the children and also the Balwadis which is known to be the crèche. The

details of the services provided to these children are given below:

Mobile service at Bridge Course Schools


June 2011 7 79

August 2011 8 94

November 2011 8 97

February 2012 6 89

Total 29 359

Mobile service at ECO park – home for the children


April 2011 2 85

July 2011 2 76

September 2011 2 82

January 2012 3 89

Total 9 332


Mobile service at Balwadis (Crèche)


June 2011 6 102

August 2011 6 124

November 2011 7 145

February 2012 6 136

Total 25 507

5. Challenges and Status

During the reporting year 2011 to 2012, the scenario of Tirupur highlights the closing

down of the dyeing units , sudden migration of nearly two lakhs population from Tirupur to

their natives and due to which the slowdown in the export business have crumpled down the

entire units of garments. Naturally it reacted on the families and especially our targeted women

heading their families. Here are a few of the challenges disturbed the program implementation

team at the field.

8.1 Establishment of business trades

The interest of the SHG women on entering in to business trades has been taking much

of the time of the WDC team as well as the pessimistic scope and hope of women on the

business trades was yet another challenge which slowed down the initiating in to trades.

8.2 The scope for funding opportunities

The new initiations and developmental plans among women require financial aid and to

which SAVE has been facing a challenge and was on its wheels to mobilise funds and credibly

accomplished the initiatives.

8.3 Election as a stumbling block

The rules forbidding gatherings in public places due to ‘Tamilnadu elections - 2011’ held

on March 13, 2011, has been a stumbling block in organising any group and major gathering.

Since counting of votes were done in May month, the election code of conduct was in force till

then. In September 2011, local body elections were held and this had considerable impact in

implementing / achieving our tasks.

8.4 Intruding of unregistered micro finance investors


The creeping of humpty no. of unregistered micro finance investors in Tirupur, has been

disrupting self help groups’ investments and the regular repayment as their interest rate was

higher and unpaid.

8.5 Non-cooperation from the nationalised banks

The nationalised banks do not go in for adopting new groups and facilitating them with

loans due to the non-repayment of women. This in fact completely disturbed the formation of

groups and many of the groups have to be disposed off.

8.6 Interference of the Government

Though the Government is focusing on the Block level federations of women groups yet

the financial assistance and any other requirements are completely not addressed by the

Government.

6. Conclusion

Amidst all the challenges, SAVE has been able to work out on the various issues and take

these challenges as positive steps to overcome and face the world. Most of the activities had

proved the efficiency of the team work and also the incessant efforts of the self help group

women. Thus during the reporting year dynamic challenges have been turned in to

achievements with the continued support from the AMMA the donor agency. The smartness

of these SHG women have motivated the entire SHG units run by SAVE to have further effective

and creative plan for the year 2012 to 2013.


Annexure - 1

Abbreviations

A & R : Animator & Representative

BLF : Block Level Federation

CLC : Cluster Level Conference

EA : Economic Activity

LIC : Life Insurance Corporation

IGP ; Income Generation Programmes

NABARD : National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development

PLF : Panchayat Level Federation

PRI : Panchayat Raj Institutions

RF : Revolving Fund

SAVE : Social Awareness and Voluntary Education

SHG : Self Help Group

WDC : Women Development Cell

AMMA, Netherlands Annual Reportamma-lafalda.org/uploads/images/pdf/2011-jaarverslag-SAVE-tbv-AMMA.pdf · SAVE – AMMA : Annual Report of Women Development Cell : 2011 – 2012 2

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