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Success Story

CASE STUDY 1 : MOTIVATION CHANGED THE SITUATION

admins 0 Comments September 2, 2021

Arati Das, 40 years age is a literate woman (class x pass) and also can communicate well. As an active borrower of SUWS she also motivates other women to have productive loan to meet up their aspirations. She is also being associated with Village health sanitation and nutrition committee as a health worker and performed duties in maintaining cleanliness. She was given training on health, nutrition, immunization and hygiene. She motivated village women to solve their problems in collective manner. All the village women not only appreciate her but also follow her guidance. Arati organized a meeting of village women and convinced them that their children are in the school and it is their responsibility to maintain its standard of attendance, cleanliness etc. The teacher provided list of absentee students for motivation to attend the school. Arati along with other women not only motivated the children and their parents but also visited door to door daily for bringing students to school.

Women Empowerment

admins 0 Comments August 10, 2021

SAHARA UTSARGA WELFARE SOCIETY completes its 27^th year of its journey since 1993 and “Women Empowerment” being the focus area of work. SUWS act as a facilitator to upgrade the socio-economic status of the poor people and help to access the socio-legal-economic justice and constitutional rights to its Self Help Group women members and their family members.

SUWS is playing a pivotal role in social development among the poorest of the poor & already placed itself in a significant position in NGO sector for availing services to women’s welfare, protection, skill development, financial services, counseling services, protection and shelter needs.

In the early nineties both financial and economic well being of women folk living in remote villages were totally poor. The only undertakings they generally performed were giving birth to children, caring youngsters and other relatives, engaged in day long family activities and some of them act as a domestic worker to support her family. They had no part in social activities and even they participate they are dominated by the men folk. Majority was unable to work in a dignified occupation but exploited through several ways.

In that circumstance SUWS stepped up getting sorted out helpless women to shape Self Help Groups. With the help of Gram Panchayat in many villages many Self Help Groups (SHGs) have been formed at the village level & strengthened through in-house training’s and hand holding measure. At the Mouza level SHG clusters had been developed been comprised with delegates of the relative multitude of gatherings and also, SHG league with group agents.

Initially the groups started with saving practices and deposited in the nearby bank as group savings. After six months the members took loan from the group savings and pay the principal along with the interest. Then they started internal lending for the small income generation venture. The clusters took part in decision making for community development interventions like selection of beneficiary, recommending deserving group member for loan etc. Members are oriented on their rights and afterwards they slowly took part in Gram Panchayat Development Plan. Within few years a significant number of women joined in the local administration as an elected member.

In many villages of South Bengal SUWS started Pond Based Integrated Farming through Self Help groups. The components include re-excavation of pond increasing water harvesting capacity, vegetable cultivation on the pond embankments also other vacant places through improved technology, fish culture in the pond, rearing of hen/duck and preparing organic manure vermin-compost with earth worm cow dung and organic substance. Produced goods primarily meet up consumption need of the family and rests were sold to local market.

The Systematic Rice Intensification (SRI) method of Paddy cultivation has gained widespread success as the method of cultivation is cost effective and high yielding. Considerable increase in production, approximately 25-30% in adopting SRI method of paddy cultivation observed among the farmers practicing even among the progressive farmers who are doing traditional method for last 20 years. Although quantity increased in paddy production through SRI method varied farmer to farmer due to reasons, but more than 95% cases were successful. The farmers are also experienced through this process and are encouraged for SRI cultivation in large scale. It is observed that, the farmers cultivating in traditional method are gradually inspired adopting this method. The women are also involved in the process of SRI preparing seed bed, weeding, applying bio-fertilized etc. with men.

Water and Sanitation

Water Sanitation

admins 0 Comments August 10, 2021

SUWS work with not only with the poor communities but also with the people living in distress condition and address barriers to Water Sanitation & Hygiene at various levels including discrimination, infrastructure, geography, education and awareness.

SUWS care about improving access to WASH for vulnerable and marginalized communities.

In each of our programme areas, we have integrated WASH into other health and livelihood activities. For instance, we designed a WASH intervention embedded into the integrated water resources management in Tsunami affected communities, worked with rural communities on water security and improved WASH facilities in schools and factories in Madhya Pradesh.

We innovate on solutions that are locally appropriate and cost-effective.

We help the community to develop emergency WASH response for disaster-affected communities, set up community water plants in partnership with local governments and community contribution and also set up systems for waste segregation and wastewater management.

Community Mobilization.

Periodical awareness campaign has ensured to provide clean and safe drinking water to more than 5000 households in 20 villages and 50 schools. WASH for all campaign motivates

Skill Development

Livelihood & Skill Development

admins 0 Comments August 10, 2021

For last 5 years Sahara Utsarga Welfare Society is giving a major thrust on skill development and here the primary target groups are women and youths.

As a livelihood Intervention, SUWS is ensuring a long-term Positive Social Impact In Communities through a holistic approach of integrating education & community development with employability and entrepreneurship. SUWS ensure sustainable livelihood for individuals from different economical backgrounds.

SUWS Conduct training and up-skilling of existing workforce at the workplace to enable career growth. SUWS is giving emphasis on handicrafts and on business skills.

It is rightly said, “Books are man’s best friend”. However, books are inaccessible to a large number people because of their low purchasing power which is sometimes perhaps not even sufficient to pay for their basic needs like food and shelter. Underprivileged people are denied their basic rights and are thus victims of the vicious circle of poverty. This vicious circle can be broken by educating these people that can be done if books are made accessible to these people. SUWS believes that today’s children are tomorrow’s leader and hence aims at reaching those children who are denied their basic right to education due to inability to afford education. Hence, SUWS organizes various book distribution campaigns throughout the year to provide free books and stationery to underprivileged children along with other educational materials like exercise books, pen, pencils, erasers and school bags.

A. Rickshaw Sangha Project

As a part of our daily life, Cycle Rickshaw is considered to be the primary form of public transport in our country. With few barriers to enter and small requirement of skill or capital, the occupation is found to be very common for the people who are in search of a better livelihood. Cycle Rickshaw is very popular as its cost of operation is minimum and can penetrate interior places. Above all it is less expensive for the passengers. It is true that many of the rickshaw pullers cannot enjoy entire part of their daily income as most of the do not have own vehicles and for which most of the daily earning is grabbed by the vehicle owner; they always prefer to have their own vehicle.

The Rickshaw Sangh is changing the industry paradigm by promoting asset ownership of rickshaws and providing access to a suite of social benefits to dignify the profession and ensure a sustainable livelihood for rickshaw drivers and their families.

Rickshaw Sangh programme ensures the identity for individual rickshaw drivers through various social benefits – including an identity card, driver’s license, permit and uniform – and in turn mobilizes drivers into collectives and links them to commercial credit facilities to access formal credit and thus entry into the formal financial sector. Rickshaw collectives take joint responsibility for a group of loans for which they can own their own vehicles through easy weekly repayments over a period of one year.

This life-changing asset creates a multiplier effect – by enabling economic freedom for drivers and by transforming their families. Joint spousal ownership of rickshaws, alongside newfound financial and social literacy skills, builds collective responsibility and entrepreneurialism that empowers spouses, drivers, and their children to create micro-enterprises of their own. The combination of asset ownership and social services not only have helped to formalize this industry as a whole, but also enhance drivers’ social standing and empower them with life skills and tools that have far-reaching impact. With their “new” identities, drivers can now access critical services such as education, healthcare, voter registration, and ration cards

Till June, 2021 total number of assistance given to 9057 Rickshaws and Vans out of which 90% loan already been recovered.

Best practices

The success of the program can be attributed to the following experiences that may be earmarked as best practice:

Regular contact with the woman client helps in binding the program and reduce unnecessary running around for repayments as it is found that they are more committed to
Formal training of the group members the concept of respective liability, before disbursement helps in owning of the program by the group members. This has helped develop larger clientele size.
The Cycle Rickshaw and three wheeled loading van rickshaw are seen as an alternative and easy source of livelihood
Decision to allow clients to purchase assets and provide them with working capital inputs has been welcomed by the community as it gives them independence of spending credit as per their requirement. This results in absence of complaints and bickering about quality of assets too.

Challenges faced

Irregular payment of few beneficiaries takes away all the energy of recovery staffs that leads to absenteeism from group meetings resulting in delayed payments by them, thus forming a vicious circle.

Failure to pay back the amount of credit in some cases has resulted in withdrawing/pulling of the vehicle and handing it over to another person in very low cost.
Value added services not welcomed by the clients as they take it as an additional burden that has no economic return.
They are being harassed in many places by the administration for not having proper identity.

Impact

The program has given hopes to many families for livelihood options as they can now avail credit for a rickshaw or cart
They will be free from a big burden to pay daily rents for hiring Cycle rickshaw/van rickshaw and they will also be the owner of his vehicle and this will help him to create an asset.
Skill training and social intervention initiatives have great impact in binding the groups resulting in better repayment schedule.

Family

Several clients who were associated in temporary and untimely scheduled jobs opted to put up a cart and be their own masters. Their parents are happy that their ward returns home in time.
Additional business opportunity with small credit support has resulted in enhanced family income.
There is sense of pride for them to own an asset and look forward to expand their work by taking an additional cart credit.
The self-confidence to own assets and capability to repay has helped increase their self-respect in the family and also amongst peers. This has resulted in enhancement of self-esteem of women folk.
Families feel a sense of pride when their ward starts earning and contribute in the family income.

Community

The community looks upon the program as hope to stand on their feet as they would not have been able to gather credit for the rickshaw from any other source. The community also look upon this opportunity as one in which their family can grow positively with regular economic benefits. The social intervention has added to this belief. Providing them opportunity/exposure to different socio –economic areas such as health and education helps bring them closer.

B. Market aligned skill progamme in Geriatric Care Aide

The objective of the training program was to mobilize, counsel and enroll 120 candidates from marginalized community including rickshaw pullers community in Noida for market aligned skill (MAST) program in Geriatric Care Aide (GCA) .

Activities done:

Mobilize 120 persons from marginalized community including rickshaw pullers in Noida for market aligned skill course in geriatric care aide.
To engage the marginalized community including rickshaw pullers community in Noida through awareness campaign & counselling sessions to ensure the enrollment.
Ensure retention of the persons during the training process.
Organize parents / guardians meetings at regular intervals and get the feedback.

A multi-pronged approach was adopted to mobilize the candidates in Noida.

Awareness Campaign
Target Community Outreach and Orientation
Focused Group Discussions
Meetings with Community Leaders

Awareness Campaign:

Firstly our team started to drive awareness campaigns in Noida sectors – 5,6,8,10, 12,22, Barola village, Hoshiyarpur, Ghizore and Khora colony of Noida which has large and significant population of rickshaw pullers, e-rickshaw drivers and maids. The campaign consisted of door-to-door orientation, community meetings, schools and colleges meetings, on-road and rickshaw parking pamphlet distribution etc. The team tried to rope in children and siblings of rickshaw community and maids first. Some of the camps were conducted in Noida sector 5,8, 10, Khora Colony and Hoshiyarpur area in the month of Nov, Dec 2019 and Jan-Feb 2020.

Meeting with Community and NGO leaders

We approached the community representatives of the pockets having high density of rickshaw pullers/drivers and maids and requested them to collaborate and outreach to the potential and aspiring candidates in their respective communities. They came out to help us in outreaching to the target beneficiaries and acknowledged the importance of program and its opportunities in the future. Some of the potential candidates were enrolled with their reference.

Challenges

Most of the rickshaw pullers, e-rickshaw drivers and maids are migrant population and most of them were found to be from three states – UP, Bihar and West Bengal. A significant number of them had their children living back home in the villages and were wither studying in government schools or engaged in agriculture or both.Others, who were living with their families here in Noida, had their children above the age of 16 years working somewhere in Noida or greater Noida and earning the livelihoods. They found it very difficult for them to leave the work and enroll for the program. However, some of them were convinced and committed to enroll for the program in the next session.

Micro Finance

Microfinance

admins 0 Comments August 10, 2021

SAHARA UTSAGA WELFARE SOCIETY (SUWS) developed a well managed microfinance company catering to a large part of West Bengal and proud owners of India 5000 Best MSME Company 2018.

Sahara Utsarga Welfare Society (SUWS) is very popular name in the state of West Bengal so far microfinance activities are concerned. Though formally established in 1993 it came into microfinance operation effectively in the year 1998. Sahara Utsarga has been working with the objective of poverty alleviation and women empowerment through the process of financial inclusion. Their main thrust is to work with women who are in socially and economically disadvantageous position, for their social up-liftment and economic emancipation.

Women from poorest of the poor and under privilege families living in distress situation in both rural and urban areas are being provided microcredit by SUWS and the whole operation runs through its branches, located in within the close proximity. Here is a snap shot of activities at branches:

Area Selection:

After the approval of the higher management the target area selection is done by the Regional Manager (BM), Divisional Manager(DM) and Community organizer (CO). They visit the place and considered three major points for area selection and those are:

Number of poor households in the area.
Primary and secondary Occupation if any of those families.
Availability/ non-availability of constant flow of income.

Group formation:

CO meets a large section of the community, and request to have a meeting. Female members to be present as the primary condition of the borrower are female.
On the meeting day CO detail on the loan procedure, why women as a borrower, loan products and the terms and condition.
Assist in forming the women groups.
CO then visits the houses of the members, collects the KYC documents and fills in the loan application forms. After verifying the loan application form and making an assessment of the repayment ability of the applicant, CO shortlists the members for the proposed group and recommends the same to the BM for loan sanction.

Loan Appraisal:

Loan Appraisal process starts with the judgment of creditworthiness of the proposed borrowers by Branch Manager after visiting the borrower’s residence personally and cross-checks the information given in the loan application form.
Branch Manager derives the final list of members who would be given loan and sends the loan proposals to Head Office for verification by the Credit Bureau.
Based on the clearance from Credit Bureau, the Branch Manager issues the sanction letters to the borrowers.

Loan Disbursement:

Loan generally disbursed on the 3^rd week of Group formation.
At the time of loan disbursement, 1% custom mentoring charges and 1.05% insurance charge (risk Fund) on actual would be collected from the borrower.
Loan is disbursed in the form of transfers to Bank accounts or in cash at the Branch office in presence of all community organizers. Loan agreements stating the terms and conditions of the disbursement are signed by the borrower. Each member is provided with individual passbook and repayment schedule for tracking of future repayments.

Collection Process:

The collections are made at the group meetings by the CO who will collect the installment amount from borrowers and update respective pass books and CO Register.
After collection from 4 to 5 groups in a day, the CO hands over the money to the Branch Manager.
Cash collected in excess after disbursement for the day is deposited to the branch bank account on the same day or next day and the collection details are updated in the EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) register maintained at the branch level and in the online software. The Head Office takes responsibility for arranging to meet the shortfall, if any, for disbursement.

Health

admins 0 Comments August 10, 2021

Community awareness programme – Understanding an unhealthy healthy community – malnutrition, unsafe drinking water, improper sanitation, problems related to pregnancy, lack of appropriate care for complications leading to maternal deaths, Common childhood illnesses, vector borne diseases, TB and non-communicable diseases like high blood pressure, high blood sugar and cancers etc. Social problems like extreme poverty, homelessness, early age of marriage, migration etc. Understanding individual rights.

Available facilities by the Government

Domestic violence.

Awareness on breastfeeding, menstrual hygiene, balanced diet and other related issues.

Organize Health Camp

Organize Free Medical Camp for the poor people residing in villages and slums with the help of Rotary and Lions clubs as well with other Private Practitioners.

Pathological screening and medicine distribution at subsidized cost

Free Eye Testing Camps and. Free cataract operations.

throughout the year to provide free books and stationery to underprivileged children along with other educational materials like exercise books, pen, pencils, erasers and school bags.

Child Protection

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) defines Child Rights as the minimum entitlements and freedoms that should be afforded to every citizen below the age of 18 regardless of race, national origin, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, origin, wealth, birth status, disability, or other characteristics. These rights encompass freedom of children and their civil rights, family environment, necessary healthcare and welfare, education, leisure and cultural activities and special protection measures. It outlines the fundamental human rights that should be afforded to children in four broad classifications that suitably cover all civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of every child:

Our interventions are designed to include

Involve in immediate and critical needs by addressing the problem.
Community mobilization linking child rights and local pre-dominant issues like school enrollment, health care, exploitation, torture etc.
Capacity building primarily among the mothers and other adults to know the child rights specially of those who are in distress condition and children with special need.
Provide support for school going children in terms of books and other educational materials and also handholding support to first generation learners through free or subsidized coaching assistance.

Education

Education Protection

admins 0 Comments August 10, 2021

Sahara Utsarga Welfare Society has been running reaching the unreached programme for last 5 years. This has been designed for slow learners in the villages where children are often unable to make to schools or them themselves dropout early. This is an instructional programme designed for students in age group of 4 to 13 years who have identified deficiencies in reading, writing, and mathematics. This programme provides individualized basic skills in the area of reading, mathematics and writing. The programme aims the all-round development and better academic performance of students in the age group of 4 to 13 years whose academic performance is hampered due to various factors such as lack of attention/concentration, memorizing difficulties, spelling errors, bad hand writing etc. Under this programme frequent interaction were made with students and their parents. Regular monthly meetings with children and their parents are organized with additional home visits. It also addresses the need of children who are studying in government schools, but need additional support at home.

There are many activities conducted under this programme such as regular coaching classes for the children, Individual coaching classes for different grade of students, Books distribution for the students etc.

Individual follow up with the students and their parents is ensured to enhance the children participation in extracurricular activities. All possible efforts are made to mainstream these children in the neighboring schools.

Distribution of Books and other Educational materials

Child Protection

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) defines Child Rights as the minimum entitlements and freedoms that should be afforded to every citizen below the age of 18 regardless of race, national origin, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, origin, wealth, birth status, disability, or other characteristics. These rights encompass freedom of children and their civil rights, family environment, necessary healthcare and welfare, education, leisure and cultural activities and special protection measures. It outlines the fundamental human rights that should be afforded to children in four broad classifications that suitably cover all civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of every child:

Our interventions are designed to include

Involve in immediate and critical needs by addressing the problem.
Community mobilization linking child rights and local pre-dominant issues like school enrollment, health care, exploitation, torture etc.
Capacity building primarily among the mothers and other adults to know the child rights specially of those who are in distress condition and children with special need.
Provide support for school going children in terms of books and other educational materials and also handholding support to first generation learners through free or subsidized coaching assistance.

Success Story

CASE STUDY-2: WOMEN POWER IS MORE IMPORTANT

admins 0 Comments August 10, 2021

Madhumita Sabui (28yrs), living in a village in Hooghly. She got married at 16 just completing her eighth standard. Her husband is a small farmer and when her son Ayushman was 6 yrs she understood that without financial upliftment, it is quite impossible for her children to grow up in a modest manner. She wants to buy a sewing machine as she knew tailoring. One time investment was hard for her. She knew from her neighbor that SUWS provide loan if she join SHG. With her first loan she bought the machine. Her repayment was on time and her business grows well. With the help of 2nd loan she purchased an E- rickshaw for her husband. Presently they have a concrete house, a 2-pit latrine and Ayushman is studying in class II. She had a dream that one day her son will be a graduate.

Future Activities

admins 0 Comments August 9, 2021

Running Skill development Centre(s) under PMKVY.
Water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities.
Integrated rural development of the backward villages.
Disaster management on relief, rehabilitation and resilience.
Organize health camps along with blood donation camps, dental camps and eye camps at periodical interval.
Running coaching centers for children living in distress situation and first-generation learners so that they can continue their higher education.
Arrange mean scholarships for the poor students. .
Library for social researchers.
Work in animal husbandry, forest, environment and climate change.
Organize training for women in poultry, high yield cultivation, handicrafts particularly cane and bamboo, Zari and Batik, wood carving, embroidery, soft toys, cloth musk, hand sanitizer, imitation jewelry etc. along with bag making, diary and bread & cake making.
Running old age home at affordable cost.
Work on human rights for the unsung heroes like Rickshaw and van pullers, migrant workers and legal assistance for domestic violence.
Volunteer programme for national and international students.
Community awareness on different burning issues like domestic violence, utility of herbal garden, disability, health and nutrition, vector borne diseases and skill development.
Extension of existing microfinance activities to other operational districts.

Success Story

CASE STUDY 3 : IMPACT OF GROUP COHESIVENESS AND LOYALTY

admins 0 Comments August 8, 2021

A group of 15 women in Birbhum were always eager to do something good for the village. With the help of Sahara Utsarga Welfare Society they access to financial services and microfinance ultimately contributes to the core values of greater gender equality and non- discrimination. 5 years ago they formed NOBI group and 8 of them applied for loan. They started their own income generation activities. They also attend different awareness camp organized by SUWS and one of them was the safe water and sanitation.

Three years ago the nearby hand pump was defunct. They complain to the local Gram Panchayat but the amount needed was not been sanctioned. They did not wait and all the members contribute a good amount and repair the same. This proves that they are well aware of the urgent requirement of clean and potable drinking water.