‘Das Sutras ‘: Ten

Commandments for Self

Help Groups and their
Members

Odisha Livelihoods Mission

Panchayati Raj & Drinking
Water Dept., Govt. of Odisha
 Context
To address poverty, where poverty in its
broader term:
– is Hunger
– is Lack of Shelter
– is Being sick and not able to see a doctor
– is not having access to school and not knowing
how to read
– is not having a job
– is powerlessness
– is lack of representation and freedom
 What is Poverty
• Poverty is the inability of having choices and opportunities, a
violation of human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to
participate effectively in society. It means not having enough to
feed and clothe a family, not having a school or clinic to go to, not
having the land on which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s
living, not having access to credit. It means insecurity,
powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and
communities. It means susceptibility to violence, and it often
implies living in marginal or fragile environments, without access
to clean water or sanitation……… United Nations

• Poverty is pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises

many dimensions. It includes low incomes and the inability to
acquire the basic goods and services necessary for survival with
dignity. Poverty also encompasses low levels of health and
education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate
physical security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and
opportunity to better one’s life……. World Bank
 Approach to Livelihood Promotion
Access to services, safety nets
and entitlements
Nurturing self-
employed and Need based food &health
financing
entrepreneurs Vulnerability
(for micro-
enterprises) Reduction Debt restructuring

Small grants and soft loans to

poorest

Livelihoods
Enterprises
Enhancement Collectives in Sustainable
Livelihoods

Farm-based value chains &

Non-farm Clusters

Public – Private –
Building skills Employment Community Partnerships
for job market
outside Infrastructure and Marketing

Innovation
 Sustainable Regular
Livelihoods Meeting
Access to Regular
Entitlements Savings

Coordination Regular Loan

with PRIs Disbursement

Regular Loan
Education Repayment

Health Regular Book

Keeping
Community Institution Structure

6 Functional
Committees

2 Sub
committees

CLF CLF

SHGs
 ‘Das Sutras’
1. Regular Meeting 6. Health
• Weekly • Food & Nutrition
• Pre-decided time • Health
• All members to attend • WASH
2. Regular Savings 7. Educating
• Weekly • Enrollment
• Fix amount • Retention
• In cash/kind • MDM and other facilities

3. Regular Internal Lending 8. Coordination with PRIs

• On rotation to members • Pallisabha/ Gram Sabha
• Prioritization of needs • Claim entitlements
• Consumption / Production

4. Regular Loan Repayment 9. Access to Entitlements

• Repaid every month • Beneficiary selection
• In installments( (Principle + • Convergence
Interest) • Linkage

5. Regular Book Keeping 10. Sustainable Livelihoods

• Immediately after every • At least 2 livelihoods/HH
transaction • Skill development &
• By book keeper Placement
Nutrition Specific Interventions
•Preparation of Poshan Micro
Plans at CLF level

 Developed ‘Mo-Badi’ : nutri-

farm demonstration sites

Promotion of ‘Mo Badi’ in each

target household adopting
organic methods of cultivation
Nutrition Specific Interventions
•Preparation of Poshan Micro
Plans at CLF level

 Developed ‘Mo-Badi’ : nutri-

farm demonstration sites

Promotion of ‘Mo Badi’ in each

target household adopting
organic methods of cultivation
Livelihoods promotion :
Nutrition sensitive agriculture,
animal husbandry (poultry) etc.

Identification of seasonal food

habits and sources of food
availability

Demonstration & counseling

sessions organized with local
available foods for dietary
diversity
• Sensitize women and adolescents to
participation in Village Health,
Sanitation & Nutrition Day (VHSND)

• Formation of Adolescent Groups.

• Convergence with ICDS, Health and

Water & Sanitation Dept.
• Organizing health camps in
collaboration with local PHC.
• Facilitate construction of toilets and its
usage
 Implementation Strategy
• All SHGs / Households to follow ‘Das Sutras’

• CLF to be the focal point for implementation

with GPLF having a monitoring and
supervision role.

• Dedicated CRPs at the CLF/GPLF level and one

dedicated staff at the block level to roll out
‘Das Sutras’
 Role of Stakeholders

Role of Different Stakeholders to

operationalize ‘Das Sutras’