CIRHEP empower the women around the area through Self Help Groups (SHG). They started year 2000 and today there are over 100 SHG with 10-20 members in every group. Every group has a president, secretary and treasure.
Objectives:
- Conserving local environment.
- Empower Women. Build confidence and self-esteem.
- Develop leadership qualities.
- Active Involvement in the decision making process within and outside the household.
- Women organized to address their needs (financial control, reduced hard work, improved living conditions, education and information opportunities).
Main activities:
- Awareness programs about health, hygiene and importance of educations – especially for girls.
- Capacity building and skill development through training programs and income generation activities. (Mushroom cultivation, honey processing, sampapowder making, pappadam making, milk animals, pigeon rearing, garland making, foot wear making, snacks preparation, organic manure preparation, keeping petty shops etc.).
- Micro credit savings (book keeping and accountancy, credit linkage with banks, savings and internal lending among the members, training & capacity building, promoting the habit of thrift and credit). Their total savings are RS 28’85‘874.
All women in SHG have a monthly meeting where they collect 20-50 rupees from each member depending on their economic situation. The income goes back to the women when they need to take a loan for income generation activities. CIRHEP staff is joining the meetings to help the women deal with problems regarding savings etc. If they manage to pay their monthly savings the women can apply for a bank loan after six months.
Impacts:
- Training on Income Generating Program (IGP) and bank loans has helped SHG women to take up entrepreneurial activities and has improved their economical status.
- Savings and internal lending among SHG has reduced the system of borrowing money from money lenders.
- Gender awareness training has promoted the ability to identify gender discrimination and inequalities.
- Enhancement of self confidence, social status and ability to take decisions.
- They are sending their children to higher education.
- Greater environmental awareness
A song about the SHGs
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