Bihar
Bihar, has five federations who are part of the Alliance namely, Deepmala Sanstha, Kaimur, Hamari Drishti, Gaya and Jyoti Mahila Samakhya (JMS), Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Samriddhi Sanstha, Rohtas and
Swadha Mahila Samakhya (SMS), West Champaran, Bihar.
All the federations find their root of origin in Mahila Samakhya programme, and have a two-tier robust governance system, one at the village level and other at the district level. Each group nominates two members for block level and then each block nominates seven members for district level committee know as General Assembly (Aam Sabha). In Samriddhi Sanstha, a group of 10 villages constitute a cluster and from each cluster two members are selected for district level. This federation has 33 clusters hence 66 members are selected for district level committee. One member from each cluster is nominated for the General Assembly. The other member looks after the operation of cluster. In Swadha Mahila Samakhya (SMS), the General Body is elected every five years and all the member Sanghas participate through their nominees. Each Sanghas nominates two representatives at the block level and thereafter each block nominates seven members for district level General Body.
The General Assembly of these federations nominates 11 members for the executive committee, which includes three office bearers, namely, President, Secretary and Treasurer. The General Assembly meets every three months and executive committee meets every month. It is a bottom-up democratic governance system, where the members have the right to call back or vote for the most eligible and efficient leaders, as per requirements.
All five federations, adhere to the appropriate financial practices and gets its accounts audited every year by Chartered Accountants. Their financial statements are audited regularly. Bank transactions are done through bank cheques. All decisions on expenditure is approved by the executive committee. Proper documentation of decisions, whether financial or programmatic is maintained. The federations have also applied for 80G and 12A certificates.
Stats by the State
Key Activities
The prime objective of Deepmala Sanstha and Hamari Drishti and Jyoti Mahila Samakhya (JMS), Samriddhi Sanstha and Swadha Mahila Samakhya (SMS), is to improve the status of women and girls by sensitising them to raise voice against domestic violence, providing information regarding laws, rights, and their entitlements, developing leadership skills to address the issues around gender-based violence, financial and digital literacy and hand holding support for income generation. Some of the key activities both federations have done;
Redressal of gender based domestic violence
The established mechanism of conflict redressal/ resolution through police department and court cases is a costly affair and not everyone has access and knowledge of all the processes. The presence of brokers and manipulators adds on the problem and hence it is very normal to get misled while seeking justice. Nari Adalats (women led informal arbitration platforms) comes to rescue in these situations. The Deepmala Sanstha runs three Nari Adalats i.e., one in each block. Hamari Drishti runs five Nari Adalats i.e., one in each block except Mohanpur. The Jyoti Mahila Samakhya (JMS) also runs five block level Nari Adalats. The Samriddhi Sanstha runs three Nari Adalats i.e., one in each block except Kargarh Block. The SMS runs three Block level Nari Adalats in Sikta, Majhauliya and Lauriya block for resolving cases of violence.
Each Adalat comprises of 11 members, and they meet every 15 days to hear and resolve cases. The entire functioning of Nari Adalat is recorded and maintained in six registers. The Nari Adalats lay emphasis in rehabilitative justice rather than retributive justice. The focus of the Nari Adalat is to rehabilitate the survivor rather than to ensure punishment for the perpetrators, who in most cases, are men. However, support to the survivor is decided upon the choice the survivor makes. If she wants to take the legal route, the Nari Adalat helps her in filing a complaint in the police station, reaching out to court, ensuring free legal help and following up the progress of her case in the court. If the survivor choses counselling and a safe life in her matrimonial or maternal home she is helped with the same. The strong presence of Deepmala Sanstha in 260 villages and Hamari Drishti in 160 villages makes it convenient for the victims to apply in Nari Adalat for hearing. As per the current available records nearly 160-170 cases have been dealt cumulatively by all these three Adalats of Deepmala Sanstha. JMS’s strong network through its membership across 300 villages, helps it leverage its grassroots presence. Through these block level informal systems, the federation is able to help about over 200 survivors annually. The Samriddhi Sanstha covers 210 villages and as per the current available records more than 250 cases have been dealt cumulatively in their three Adalats. Through these block level informal systems, SMS federation has been able to help about over 200 survivors annually.
Empowering Adolescent Girls
Adolescent girls are one of the most vulnerable groups of the community. The lack of information coupled with patriarchal restrictions and myths in the society sets the platform for them to fall prey. To help them realise their potential and empower them, Deepmala Sanstha, Samriddhi Sanstha, Hamari Drishti, Swadha Mahila Samakhya (SMS) and Jyoti Mahila Samakhya (JMS) facilitates two key activities namely, a) Running of Kishori Manch and b) Ummeed Kendra. Kishori Manch is a platform where adolescent girls are trained and counselled regularly on the issue of health, education, violence, abuse, child marriage, trafficking, laws etc. by the trained mobilisers.
These meetings are organised fortnightly and with 750 members at present 30 Kishori Manchs (under Deepmala Sanstha) and 1230 members at present 40 Kishori Manchs (under Hamari Drishti), 1333 members at present 40 Kishori Manchs (under Samriddhi Sanstha) and 42 groups of adolescents with membership from 1255 girls (under SMS), are operating very successfully. Ummeed Kendra is a platform (coaching centres) where adolescent girls belonging to economically weaker section of society are provided free coaching support so that they could prepare for examination of 9th, 10th, and 12th. The coaching runs for 2 hours every day and trained teachers at the local level mentor and guide the students for exam preparation. The books and reading materials are also given free of charge to these adolescent girls. Since its inception Deepmala has supported more than 245 adolescent girls as of date, while Hamari Drishti has been running three kendras and supported more than 200 adolescent girls as of date and Samriddhi has supported more than 231 adolescent girls as on date. SMS federation also operates three Ummeed learning centres in which around 25-30 adolescent girls per centre get coaching support for matriculation and intermediate. The books are given free of cost to the students who register with these learning.
Sensitisation around the gender-based violence and other issues
Deepmala Sanstha has its strong presence in 260 villages with 1760 members and Hamari Drishti has its presence in 130 villages with 1640 members, Samriddhi Sanstha works in 210 villages with 3855 members and SMS has a strong presence in 5 blocks with 3360 members. The groups in each village meet regularly and any issue pertaining to domestic violence or gender-based violence is addressed at the local level first. However, issues of a serious nature are forwarded to the district level committees or Nari Adalat. One of the sensitisation activities that was concluded recently was the 16-days campaign against gender-based violence. Series of activities like Prabhat Pheri, rallies, meetings, and wall painting were organised in public places, schools, market areas, etc.
During the campaign all the three blocks where Deepmala Sanstha is active, were covered. It is estimated that around 50,000 community members under Deepmala Sanstha and nearly 55,000-60,000 community members under Hamari Drishti, were reached directly during the campaign. All the three blocks where Samriddhi Sanstha is active, were covered and it is estimated that around 45,000 community members were reached out directly during the campaign. All federations also endeavor to organise and sensitise the women of the community on the agriculture rights of women, exploitation and crimes against women and adolescent girls, etc.
Livelihood linkages and income generation support to members
Federations does not only ensure timely credit at a reasonable rate of interest, but also helps the members with several backward and forward linkages. Disseminating information about relevant schemes launched by the government for various groups such as small and marginal farmers, self -employed women, migrant workers, MGNREGA workers etc. is a major agenda for the federation. It plays an important role in building partnership with programmes such as Agricultural Technology Management Agency, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Agriculture Extension Services), Agro-forestry department, etc.
Grass Root Partners
Deepmala Sanstha, Kaimur
Started in 2009, Deepmala Sanstha based in three blocks of Kudra, Bhagwanpur and Chainpur of the Kaimur district got registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 on June 2011.
Hamari Drishti, Gaya
Hamari Drishti started its journey in 2005 before being registered on March 2007. The prime objective of Hamari Drishti is to improve the status of women and girls.
Jyoti Mahila Samakhya (JMS), Muzaffarpur
Covering 300 villages across 52 panchayats in the 5 blocks, Mushari, Bochaha, Bandra, Orai, Gai- Ghat and Kurhani of the Muzaffarpur district, an aspirational district as per the Niti Ayog.
Samriddhi Sanstha, Rohtas
Samriddhi Sanstha was registered on 7th March 2003 under the Societies Registration Act 1860. Samriddhi has been active in four blocks of Rohtas district namely Sasaram, Sheosagar, Chenari and Kargahar.
Swadha Mahila Samakhya (SMS), West Champaran
Swadha Mahila Samakhya (SMS) is a women’s organization registered in 2003 under the Societies Registration Act 1860. It was established in the Majhauliya Panchayat of West Champaran, Bihar.