NGO: Chaitanya Trust

NGO: Chaitanya Trust

Chaitanya is a developmental non-profit organization established in 1993, as a pioneer of community based micro-finance institutions in Maharashtra. It has been a catalyst in facilitating the process to help the rural women out of the vicious cycle of poverty and bring about gender parity. Chaitanya has been able to provide the women a platform which can address their financial and social needs at grassroots level. Their programs are mutually reinforcing and try to address social issues in a holistic manner. Chaitanya not only develops village level people’s institutions as the core of development process, but also tries to form a sustainable partnership with local organizations.

IDRF partner since: 2005

Women-run Enterprise: Cattle Management

Women-run Enterprise: Flour Mill

Women-run Enterprise: Papad Making

Please click on the link to learn more about Chaitanya Trust’s various programs.

http://www.chaitanyaindia.org

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3iebsUDWZlfZkFGV3ZWSWZOdzQ/view

NGO: Arpana Research and Charities Trust

NGO: Arpana Research and Charities Trust

Arpana Research and Charities Trust was set up in 1962, as a non-profit organization working to improve health, provide education and enhance livelihoods through programs covering over 350,000 people in rural Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and in Delhi’s slum resettlement colonies.

Arpana is engaged in intensive health and rural development programs in over 248 villages of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, including, healthcare, maternity/ child welfare, livelihood and rights promotion, water and sanitation, farmers’ welfare and computer trainings. Arpana is also working towards education, health and development of over 50,000 people in slum resettlement colonies of Molar Bund in New Delhi.

IDRF partner since: 2000

Village level training events were organized in 2016, in order to reinforce the skills in record-keeping for 2-4 literate members from all SHGs. About 4,000 participants were made aware of the importance of new norms for repayment of loans and also improving the punctuality and discipline in their groups. Village level training events reinforce record keeping, upgrading accounting and banking skills in the members. Modern mobile technology of text messaging is used to facilitate co-ordination of meetings, networking and trouble-shooting.

A Woman Entrepreneur- Sumitra’s Success Story:

A Woman Entrepreneur- Sumitra’s Success Story:

“My husband and I could barely feed our children,” says Anita from Sardarpur village, “but he did not allow me to work or even leave our home.” Anita then came to know about a women’s self-help group program, sponsored by IDRF. Self-help groups save and lend collectively, start businesses, and learn about everything from bookkeeping to reproductive health. “I joined a group without my husband’s knowledge. Slowly I started saving money… I went to the meetings…he only found out when I took my first loan, to help him set up a barber’s kiosk!” As his kiosk prospered, he became supportive of her efforts. Anita also used loans from her group to set up a dairy. “We have a good income now. Our children are all going to school. Our eldest is in a good private school!” She even found a job as a maternal health worker, because “I learned a lot about health in our self-help group meetings.” She was once a prisoner in her own home, but now: “I am confident. I have respect and status in my village. People recognize me and listen to me – all because of my group’s support and all I learned as a member … in each meeting over 7 years!”

Please click on the link to learn more about Arpana Research and Charitable Trust’s multifaceted activities for the underprivileged section of the society.

http://www.arpanaservices.org/empowerment-of-rural-women

Trainers presenting a play at one of the training sessions

Members of Women’s Self-Help Groups at a Training Session