Swadha Mahila Samakhya (SMS), West Champaran, Bihar
About the Member
The SMS has an active presence in 80 villages across five blocks namely Mainatanr, Sikta, Lauriya, Chanpatiya and Majhauliya in West Champaran district. Based out in the premises of Birwa school of Majhauliya Panchayat, West Champaran, Swadha Mahila Samakhya (SMS) was registered in 2003 under the Societies Registration Act 1860. The blocks where SMS has its operations are those with high concentration of SC and Muslim population. SMS is an outcome of years long mobilisation and struggle of poor rural women hailing from socially marginalised communities specially belonging to scheduled caste (SC), schedule tribes (ST), other backward class (OBC) and minorities (Muslims). Issues around gender-based violence, lack of access to rights and entitlements and basic services such as primary health care and education as well as income generation played a catalytic role in mobilising and organising these women into village level groups (Sangha-s).
Local Contact
Address: Swadha Mahila Samakhya, Birwa Village, P.O.: Barwa, Ps- Manjhauliya, West Chamaparn, Bihar – 845454
Primary Contact:
Ms. Lakshmi, Secretary, SMS;
MobileNo.: +91-9939522179
Email: swadhango@gmail.com
Secondary Contact:
Ms. Rambha Devi, President, SMS,
Mobile No. : +91- 9939547651
Key Activities
Livelihood linkages and income generation support to members
The SMS has a very strong saving and credit programme. Each group is free to decide upon the amount of monthly saving and it normally varies from INR 20 per member per month to INR100 per member per month. However, there is a uniformity in the credit lending practices as 2% interest is charged when credit is lent to its members, but it is 5% when lent to someone other than the member. As stated by the secretary of the federation, nearly INR 50,000 – INR 1,00,000 is the saving of almost each group. The loan is given to members who want to start a small income generating activity like vegetable cultivation, shops of local snacks, bangles, pottery, goat rearing etc.
COVID-19 response and emergency preparedness
COVID-19 is a pandemic which had affected every one of us in one or other ways irrespective of age, gender, caste, religion, geographical locations, economic conditions etc. Members of SMS led the prevention and controlling mechanism by ensuring services to the community members. They facilitated the online training of 110 members with the support of doctors, distribution of mask to 1800 people, distribution of oximeter and thermometer to 53 frontline workers like ASHA and Sangha-s members, sanitizers to 423 people, ration distribution to 1240 people targeting the disabled, widows, abandoned, people living in abject poverty etc. and motivating 2286 people for COVID-19 vaccination. This Sangha-s has established an example of valuing others life by risking own and encouraging the community to be hopeful even in the worst situations.
Strengthening and supporting member Sanghas on issues of GBV and rights & entitlements
The Swadha Mahila Samakhya is an apex body of village level collectives of women from socio-economically marginalised communities, and it draws its mandate from the member Sanghas. To amplify the concerns and voices in a collective manner, member Sanghas come together on a larger platform and extend support to each other. Mandated by the member Sanghas, the role of the federation is to ensure that the issues of members are addressed and brought to the notice of the concerned stakeholders such as block and district level functionaries. Two prominent roles played by federation are i) capacity building of the sanghas through knowledge transfer on different issues so that they can solve the issues at the local level through collective representation, and ii) represent the voices of its membership at various platforms for building an enabling an eco-system for women and girls to live a life with dignity. Networking with women Help line, local police stations, DLSA, and block and district level officials is an important responsibility of the federation for facilitating a supportive eco system for its members. Besides bridging the gap of schemes/programmes related information among the members the federation also facilitate the application submission process to concerned departments for widow pension, disability benefits etc. and follow-up regularly for benefiting them.
Success Stories
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- Muzaffarpur
- Rohtas
- Champaran
“Sabse badi baath to ye hui ki jis kaam ke liye mujhe peeta jata tha aur shak kiya jata tha…