Deepmala Sanstha, Kaimur
About the Member
Deepmala Sanstha gives priority to women who belong to SC, ST, OBC, and minority categories. Though the federation was formed in 2009, it took almost two years to strengthen the federation by continuous mobilisation before it got registered under the Societies Registration Act in 2011. The impetus to organise these women into village level sanghas revolved around a sense of unity and collective say on 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. Nari Adalat and Umeed Kendra are two important platforms where the cases related to domestic violence and non-IPC nature are resolved and tuition facility is given to adolescent girls so that they can prepare for their 9th,10th, and 12th standard exams.
Operational cost: Deepmala Sanstha is a membership-based federation, and each member contributes INR 12 annually as membership fee. Members who get payments from Nirantar (the partner NGO) contributes 5% of their income to the federation. Similarly, those who receive payments while engaged in outside works, also contribute. These contributions basically help the federation to meet its operational cost like audit, planning, meetings etc.
Local Contact
Address: Deepmala Sansthan, near Panchayat Bhawan, Chilbili Village, P.O.: Kudra, Kudra Block, Kaimur District, Bihar – 821108
Primary Contact:
Urmila Devi 8709242264
Key Activities
Livelihood linkages and income generation support to members
The Deepmala Sanstha has a very strong savings and credit programme. Each group is free to decide upon the amount they save monthly, which normally varies from INR 20 per member per month to INR100 per member per month. The interest rate of internal credit lending is 2% and as of now, external lending has been discontinued because the members themselves need credit support and are actively establishing small businesses. As stated by the secretary of the federation, the saving capital per group ranges from INR 20,000 to INR 5,00,000. The loan is given to members who want to start a small income generating activity like vegetable cultivation, shops selling local snacks, bangles, pottery, goat rearing etc.
COVID-19 response and emergency preparedness
In Deepmala Sanstha members from SMS led the prevention and controlling mechanism by ensuring services to the community. Some of the remarkable tasks done by these warriors include facilitating the online training of over 2000 community members with the support of doctors, distribution of mask to 1810 people, distribution of oximeter and thermometer to 28 frontline workers like ASHA and Sangha members, sanitizers to 350 people, ration distribution to 551 people targeting the disabled, widows, abandoned, people living in abject poverty and motivating over 3000 people to get vaccinated. This Sangha-s has established an example of valuing others’ lives by risking their own and encouraging the community to be hopeful even in the worst situations.
Success Stories
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- Kaimur
- Gaya
- Muzaffarpur
- Rohtas
- Champaran
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