Role of VANI in development of Self Help Groups ( SHGs ) :

Though much efforts and talks are made for women developments still much emphasis is to be laid to streamline women into modern developmental process especially rural women. Still women are the most suffered in the villages and are ignorant of their rights. The majority of women are anemic, their food lacks sufficient calories intake and are inherently forced to do a lot of work at home and on the farm. About 61% women are malnourished in the area. The health and education levels of the girl child and adolescent girls are under question and needs attention. The gender discrimination begins at the very birth of the child. The underlying reason for the gender discrimination is the social psyche that the girl child is a liability while a boy is an asset and is heir to the family name and honor.

VANI (Various Actions & Natural Improvement) is an voluntary organization start its work in Jaipur district is promoting Women Self Help Groups in rural area of Sanganer, Jhotwara and Kotputli Blocks of Jaipur District since last 10 years. These groups ensure women’s participation in village planning and implementation of the various development activities. They are instrumental in creating awareness about education, health and their rights and duties, and motivate women to get involved in the income generating activities. Till now it had formed 224 SHGs in  project villages.

Self Employment through Group Based Activities :

Up to end of current year, new Self Help Groups have been formed and old groups have been strengthened by the organization, which are engaged in income generation activities. Each group has a membership of 10-15 persons. They are undertaking saving & thrift activities on the regular basis. We had linked them with Banks and the revolving fund received to the SHGs is revolved in the members. The repayment rate is cent percent. The women SHGs are engaged in embroidery, aari-tari, readymade garments, dairy, vegetable farming, honey been collection, collection of medicinal items, rope making and wormy-compost preparation.

Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) with the Support of Jila Parishad, Jaipur :

Objectives of the Program:

• To establish small scale industries in rural areas based on the local resources and work capacity of poor.
• To provide income increasing through SHGs and grants to BPL families.
• To ensure continuity of income for the maximum period to bring aid receiving families above poverty line which can be helpful in eradicating rural poverty with the perspective of self help groups.

Activities undertaken:

• Formation of Self Help groups (SHGs)
• First & Second grading
• Linkages with Banks for credit needs
• Saving & thrift activities and revolving fund management
• Support for establishing small scale industries and skill up-gradation
• Monthly meeting
• Awareness camps
• Backward and forward linkages

VANI is working on SHG Promotion, saving & thrift, skill up-gradation and establishing financial linkages for starting viable economic enterprises by the SHGs.
Formation of SHG & Orientation :

Self Help Groups were formed at village level to develop the practice of saving and develop thrift and credit activities among group members. One orientation was also carried out at village level to train women on thrift and credit activities. Under SGSY Project we had formed 136 Groups in 61 GPs. In Sanganer Panchayat Samiti we had formed 54 SHGs, in Jhotwara Panchayat Samiti we had formed 10 SHGs and in Kotputli Block we had formed 72 SHGs.The project area and villages / GPs under SGSY are as under.

Information of SHG & Orientation:

Self Help Groups were formed at village level to develop the practice of saving and develop thrift and credit activities among group members. One orientation was also carried out at village level to train women on thrift and credit activities. Under SGSY Project we had formed 136 Groups in 61 GPs. In Sanganer Panchayat Samiti we had formed 54 SHGs, in Jhotwara Panchayat Samiti we had formed 10 SHGs and in Kotputli Block we had formed 72 SHGs.

Regular SHG Meetings and Saving :

SHGs were formed at village level are regularly organizing one meeting per month and undertaking monthly saving regularly every month. These meetings are useful for women to come at one platform and orient themselves about latest development issues. SHG meeting is a very strategic action required at village level to inform women on development issues and to bring them at common understanding.

Saving Bank Account Linkages and Inter-loaning :

Out of the 136 SHGs 93 have saving bank account linkages. SHGs have started inter-loaning within the Groups and managing their own accounts under the facilitation of VANI Sanstha. The interest rates among different groups vary as per their own decisions. The interest rate is 18 percent and 24 percent in inter-loaning. The repayment rate is 100 percent. The loans are mostly for domestic purposes like purchasing grains, school fees for children, medical treatment and festival purchasing. Some of the loans are for economic activities like purchase of inputs for agriculture, purchase of concentrates for animals etc.

1st Grading of SHGs:

We had started 1st grading of SHGs in our project villages. Till now we 42 SHGs gone through 1st grading and received financial assistance from the Banks. The repayment is smooth and installments are in time.

2nd Grading of SHGs :

We had also undertaken 2nd grading of 9 SHGs. After grading they are eligible for financial assistance for starting their own economically viable income generation activities. These 9 SHGs had chosen Tailoring & Stitching, Dairy, Pottery, Jhadu-Pankhi and Beauty Parlor as economic activities. The trades selected by them are approved by the Jila Parishad and Banks. Now we are in the process of organizing skill up-gradation training of the SHG members very shortly.

SHG Promotion and Bank Linkages Program with the Support of NABARD :

Objectives of the Program :

• To promote Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their linkages with banks and Other financial institutions to meet their credit requirements in starting economic activities of their own.
• To promote 50 SHGs in 26 villages of Sanganer Block of Jaipur District.
• To establish linkages with Banks and other financial Institutions for meeting their credit requirements to start their own economic activities.

Activities undertaken:

A) Formation of Self Help groups (SHGs), Monthly Meeting & Saving B) SHG grading C) Linkages with Banks for credit needs D) Saving & thrift activities E) Awareness camps. F) Backward and forward linkages

VANI is working on SHG Promotion, saving & thrift, skill up-gradation and establishing financial linkages for starting viable economic enterprises by the SHGs. VANI has facilitated to form 38 SHGs and saving bank account linkages are 27. SHGs had started inter-loaning and interest rates are 18 percent and 24 percent. Repayment rate is 100 percent

Promotion of Mahila Chetna Groups with the Support of Manav Kendra Trust, Delhi:

Objectives of the Program:To promote Mahila Chetna Groups and empower women through various social, economic, political and spiritual development programs that they take part in main stream development process.To promote 50 Mahila Chetna Groups in 50 villages of Kotputli Block of Jaipur District.To empower women through various social, economic, political and spiritual development programs that they take part in main stream development process.

Activities undertaken:

• Formation of Self Help groups (SHGs), Monthly Meeting & Saving.
• Awareness camps.
• Saving & thrift activities and revolving fund management
• Facilitating in vocational training, starting economic activities and actively take part in main stream development process.
• Backward and forward linkages.

Basic Training on SHG Concept:

VANI Sanstha was selected as a training agency for SGSY in Sanganer and Kotputli Blocks of Jaipur District by the Jila Parishad, Jaipur. We organized training of 118 SHGs in Kotputli Block and 33 SHGs in Sanganer Block. We organized one day basic training programs of SHG members on SHG concept, norms of saving & thrift activities and record keeping. The main topics are conceptualization of SHG concept, objectives of SHG program, roles & responsibilities of leaders, importance of regular meeting and saving by the members, rules of saving & thrift activities, writing minutes and record keeping. The resource persons and experts provided the training. The trainings were very useful in effective management of the groups and self initiatives by the members in managing their respective groups.