Prepare Women Leaders in Financial Management

While we wait for optimum funding for the Training and Apprenticeship of Women leaders in Financial Management, we are trying to provide support to strengthen the existing financial status of the Women’s Federations. We have submitted 1 proposal for business development in the sector of retailing low cost sanitary napkins targeting the unserved rural female populations, who are relegated to use unsanitary, unhygienic and detrimental products for managing their menstrual cycles. This will provide employment to the retailers and open the scope for more to join.

Below is a brief on how these Federations emerged and the kind of work they are doing and wish to do. Financial management skills will be crucial to stregthen these institutions and support their activities.

Women’s Federations supported by Utthan: These emerged from the institutionalization of the work on gender equality and women’s rights, which began with the coming together of women to form village level self-help groups; savings and credit being the medium to collectively discuss issues and take action. With this as a base; Sangathans were supported to identify issues related to basic rights, entitlements and justice. The critical questions posed, capacity building on rights issues, gender equality, empowerment and leadership amongst many helped women understand their lives better and identify the issues they are facing. Utthan’s handholding in strategy building and its implementation was instrumental in supporting women leaders and over time collectivize their efforts as Women’s Federations at the area level. The Federations further built decentralized structures to broaden the canvas of issues they could address whilst building sustenance and depth through decentralized structure. These are in the form of issue based committees – like Justice Committees, Land Rights Committees, Fodder, Seed and Forest committees. Over time, these Federations have therefore grown as social institutions in the region working to secure rights of women and other marginalized people. Work on Savings and Credit has also played an important role in supporting women’s livelihood, health, education, sanitation needs.

Samarthan Mahila Sangathan (abbreviated as SMS and also referred to as Community Based Institution) was registered as a trust in 2008 to take forward work on women’s rights. It has a base in 35 villages of Bhavnagar district of Gujarat. The operations are managed from Central office in Bhavnagar.

Mahila Vikas Sangathan (abbreviated as MVS and also referred to as Community Based Institution) was registered as a Trust in 2006 to take forward work on women’s rights. It has a base in 30 villages of Mahuva Taluka of Bhavnagar district of Gujarat. MVS has also registered itself as a Cooperative to step up its microfinance work. The operations are managed from office in Mahuva town

Links:

• http://www.utthangujarat.org/gender.htm