Arpana has facilitated the formation of two SHG Federations: ‘Jan Shakti Mahila Vikas Sangthan’ and ‘Jan Shakti Mahila Unnati Sangthan’, which has built a platform where women’s voices are heard and from which they are empowered through collective action. These two Federations of 180 women’s self help groups are also the legal umbrella organisation for all the groups. To train the 34 women nominated to look after the member groups of the Federation, a series of workshops on leadership, functioning and management of the Federation has been conducted by ASK (Association for Stimulating Knowhow), a development consultancy.
The Jan Shakti Mahila Vikas Sangathan, a Federation registered in 2006, held its two general body meetings in September 2009 and March 2010. In September, 340 women participated and over one hundred women from new groups came as observers, as they were to begin their own Federation.
 |
 |
At the second general body meeting in March, 2010, 37 new groups registered as members, bringing the total number of groups in the Federation to 135. Two representatives, or 270 members from all 135 groups participated. They also took keen interest in the training session on the Government’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NAREGA) for the rural poor.
 |
“Sisters! Together, we have planted seeds. Now opportunities flower. Gather fruit, pluck the hour.” Woman dance at a gathering of SHGs in March 2010 |
The Jan Shakti Mahila Unnati Sangathan – the Genesis of a new Federation The representatives of recently formed groups from the 35 new target villages taken up in 2010 met twice in 2010. In March 2010, the first general body meeting was held, in which 120 women representatives participated. 29 groups registered as members and deposited their first savings. Since then, 16 more groups have registered making a total of 45 of the 63 new groups joining in the Federation.
The name of the new Federation is ‘Jan Shakti Mahila Unnati Sangathan’. It has now been registered, and its executive committee members are meeting regularly. The executive committee members have begun monitoring the groups assigned to them. It is the beginning of a long, difficult path for the building of a vibrant grassroots organisation of the disadvantaged, working for the development and wellbeing of its member groups.