Proposal to Empower Self-Help Groups through Micro Credit Program,

Income Generation Activity & Literacy Campaign

Proposal submitted by
Samuel D Jairaj
II MSW Student
Department of Social Work (Aided)
Madras Christian College

Proposal submitted to
Sukarya
&
Tambaram Corporation

Greetings,
About Madras Christian College
Madras Christian College is located on a 365-acre campus at Tambaram which has
about 7000 students and 300 faculty members in 33 departments. The NAAC has
accredited the college with an “A” status. As a response to escalating COVID-19
casualties in Chennai, the college has risen to initiate a COVID TASK FORCE on the
campus. The college has been catering to the needs of the community since the first
wave of the pandemic in 2020.
About Department of Social Work (Aided)
The Department of Social Work rooted in human rights offers a Masters’ degree in
Social Work to students who wish to make a change and the curriculum followed is
focused on this aspect. The Department has been conducting National and International
conferences from its inception in the year 1989. We offer two specializations for our
students, namely Community Development and Medical & Psychiatry. The Department
also has a Field Action Programme which mainly targets on linking theories with
practice where the students work in rural communities, especially with Particularly
Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).
INTRODUCTION
Self Help Group (SHG) is a small group of people ranging from 10 to
20, who come together with the intention of solving their common socioeconomic
problem through regular savings and having access to credit, which in turn leads to the
generation of livelihood and assurance of certain degree of self-sufficiency among the
members (Panda, 2009). The SHG method is used by the government, NGOs and
Banks worldwide. Thousands of the poor and the marginalized population in India are
building their lives, their families and their society through Self-help groups. The 9th
five-year plan of the government of India had given due recognition on the importance
and the relevance of the Self-help group method to implement developmental schemes
at the grassroots level. Microfinance, training and capacity building are important
component of SHGs. Constant inputs of training and capacity building are required to
sustain SHG. There are basically two types of training and capacity building categories:

• The first type is general training to all SHG members which covers group formation
and introduction to linkage methods. This training includes basic literacy, book –
keeping, group formation and group dynamics. Though this type of training is
geared towards group management, it impacts the economic variables as well.

• The second type relates to skill formation and Self-Help Promoting Institution
(SHPI) primarily administered to more mature groups. The skill formation training
aims at improving income generating activities for women self-help groups.
Members can also demand the required skill training for their group members.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROPOSAL

• To promote and strengthen SHGs by inculcating the habit of saving and

enforcing credit discipline.
• To organize urban women into groups to build their own capital through
regular savings and get access to loans and to secure their social security.
• Economically empowering women and making them self-reliant through
provisioning of credit and livelihood enhancement initiatives to ensure the well
– being of women and their families.
• To make women socially aware through social development activities such as
functional literacy and awareness on social issues for SHG members
• To impart functional literacy to women of the community.
RATIONALE
What started as a move to promote social inclusion and empower women
economically, the self-help group movement in the state is now left high and dry.
Several thousands of groups are slowly disintegrating, and the authorities are doing
very little to help them survive.
According to official sources from Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of
Women (TNCDW), out of the 3.2 lakh self-help groups (SHG) in Tamil Nadu, about
85,000 have either disintegrated or become defunct. The main reasons being a delay
in availing loans, lack of coordination and irregularity in functioning.

PROCESS
Preparatory Phase (2 months): The preparatory stage will be the preliminary stage
in which the focus will be on team building, commencement of the program,
developing the formats of record keeping and identification of the venues for
running the program. The stage will be focused on building rapport in the
community to ensure maximum community participation for proper execution of the
program. During the preparatory stage the situational analysis study will be done in
each block to assess the status of women.
Execution Stage (5 months): The execution phase will be focusing on
implementation of the program which includes formation of SHGs, setting up
women empowerment centres and conducting adult literacy classes.
Impact Assessment Stage (1 month): This stage will be focused on assessment of
the activities done and the impact reflected in the community. The findings will be
shared with the funders and related agencies.

Implementation: Implementing partner - Sukarya

Sl. Activity Modus Operandi Output/Deliverable

Preparatory Stage :- The preparatory stage will be the preliminary stage in which the focus
will be on team building, commencement of the program, developing the formats of record
keeping and identification of the venues for running the centers. The stage will be focused
on building rapport in the community to ensure community participation for proper
execution of the center. During the preparatory stage the situational analysis study will be
done in each village to access the status of women.
 1. Team Building • Program Manager will Quantitative:
▪ Identification and be responsible for ▪ A project team
recruitment of overall management comprises of 21
following team of the project. members will be
members:- • The coordinator will formed.
Sukarya Team:- be responsible for ▪ 5 capacity building
Program implementation, programs will be
Manager(1), SHG supervision and conducted for the
Coordinator (2), coordination. project Management
Field Assistants • Field Assistant will do staff and 10 will be
(9), regular follow-up with organized for field staff
and Literacy the SHGs to help them .
teacher (9) internalize the concepts .
and practices. Qualitative:
▪ Capacity • Literacy teacher will be ▪ A team with required
building and responsible for running professional skills will
orientation of adult literacy classes be formed to support
the team. and identification of and run the activities.
trainees. ▪ The team will be cleared
• The capacity building of about the activities and
the team members on deliverables of the
the goals and project.
objectives of the
project by Program
Manager
2. Commencement • The wall paintings Quantitative:-
of the program highlighting the • In all the villages wall
• Awareness about project and its paintings will be done
the project and activities will be by identifying the
rapport building done places with maximum
in the community • The program will also visibility.
with the help be highlighted • 5 community
project team. through awareness meetings in each
• The activity will camps, community village will be
provide visibility meetings, community conducted
to the program events and IEC • IEC material will
and be distributed in
material
• Community meetings will each
be village.
Sl. Activity Modus Operandi Output/Deliverable
 help in gaining done for mobilizing the Qualitative:-
community community and gain • The community
acceptance of the community will become aware
program. participation about the activities
of the project and
its goals.
• This will build
rapport in the
community
• It will help in gaining
community
participation.
3. Formats of record • The book will help in Quantitative:-
Keeping keeping all the • 72 books and 1200
• A book comprises proceedings and individual pass books
of all set of record of all the will be printed.
formats for activities. Qualitative:-
keeping SHG • The individual pass • The standardized
records book will contain the formats of record will
and details of respective be in place.
individual pass member and will be • The record keeping
books will be with the member. of the SHGs will be
developed. streamlined and
transparent.

4. Pre-group • These meetings will Quantitative:-

formation be focused on • 45 pre-group
meetings identifying members formation meetings
• The pre-group who want to join will be done, five in
formation SHG. each village
meetings will be • They women will be • 600 members will
done with the motivated during the be identified as
women folk to meetings to become SHG members.
make them aware members of the groups Qualitative:-
about the concept and also been • The members will be
and functioning. enlighten about the aware about the
• The meetings benefits they can avail group functioning
will be focused from the group. and procedures.
on motivating
the women to
become
SHG members.
 5 Setting up • The venue will be Quantitative:-
Operational identified in the middle • 9 centers will be
Infrastructure of the village and will identified, one in
• Identification of be each
used for multipurpose village.

Sl. Activity Modus Operandi Output/Deliverable

center means and executing • 1 Vehicle will

The venues will be various activities from
identified at the same center
village level for • As the project area is
running the ALP being spread in two
classes, blocks, therefore it
conducting SHG requires continuous
meetings and field visits for
Income monitoring. In this
generation context as the
activities proposal is being for a
• Purchasing longer period it will be
of Vehicle cost effective to
purchase a vehicle.
Situational • The formats for data
Analysis collection will be
• Developing developed and
formats of data orientation on same
collection will be done with
• Survey by Field Assistance for
Field ensuring collecting
Assistant right information.
• Compilation of • A random survey will be
data done by Field
• Preparing report Assistance in the
respective project
village.
• The data collected from
the field will be
compiled and report
will be generated
accordingly.
Execution Stage :- The execution phase will be focusing on implementation of the
program which includes formation of SHGs, setting up women empowerment centers.
Conducting adult literacy classes. Setting up women empowerment centers.
be purchased
Qualitative:-
• The center will
provide a place to
execute all the
activities and provide
a space for the
members.
• The monitoring and
supervision be
quality oriented.
Quantitative:-
• The situational
analysis will be done
in 9 villages.
• A report based on
the data collected
and compiled will l
be generated.
Qualitative:-
• A situational analysis of
all villages will be
done and a general
health status report
will be prepared.
 6 Formation of • The self-help groups Quantitative:-
self-Help comprise of 10-20 • 40 self-help groups
Groups members in each will be formed
group will be formed. covering 9 villages.
• The groups will
• 3 members in each
be formed • From each group three
group will be identified
• The three signatories/representat
as signatories.
signatories in ive e – president, • All the groups will
each group will secretary have
be
Sl. Activity Modus Operandi Output/Deliverable

identified. and treasurer will be their respective bye-laws.

• The bye-laws will identified with the
Qualitative:-
consent of the
be constituted. • The self-groups will
members of
be formed.
respective groups.
• The members will
• The group bye-laws be aware about the
and name of group rules and
will be constituted and regulations of the
finalized with the groups.
consent of the • The signatories will
members of respective be clear about them
groups. responsibilities.
7 Record – • The formats Quantitative:-
keeping developed for record • All the groups will
keeping (registers and have their respective
• The formats
individual pass books) registers.
developed for
the groups will will be handed over to
each group. The • All the members will
be handed have their individual
over. register will contain
meeting proceedings, pass books.
• All the cash book, individual Qualitative:-
proceedings of loan and saving • All SHGs will
the groups will be ledger. maintain their
recorded.
• All the members will records.
have their respective
pass book in which • The record keeping
their individual system is uniform and
transactions will be maintained regularly
recorded. across all SHGs.
 8 Monthly • The monthly meeting Quantitative:-
meetings will be conducted in • Meetings in all the
The monthly each group on the groups will be
meetings will be fixed day as decided started.
started in each by the group.
Qualitative:-
group. • The monthly meetings
• The meetings will
will not only focus on
provide a platform to
collection of monthly
the women to meet and
saving and disbursing
discuss various issues
loan, but will also
related to the village
focus on social issues
and themselves.
and
the issues need
immediate concern in
the village.
Sl. Activity Modus Operandi Output/Deliverable

9. Linking of ▪ The contacts will be Quantitative:

SHGs with established with ▪ All SHGs have
Bank by banks and convince savings bank account
opening their them by making in nearby bank
savings account them visit the SHGs. ▪ At least five SHGs are
and provide linked with banks for
▪ The project team will
loans: loans
also help SHGs in Qualitative:
▪ Meeting with completing ▪ All SHGs
bankers to applications but they regularly transact
introduce the will be encouraged to with banks.
SHGs and be at forefront in ▪ All SHGs repay the
convince them while dealing with bank loan installments in
▪ Help SHGs in bank authorities. time
completing the
forms/documents
for a/c opening
and
taking loans
from banks
10. Capacity ▪ In addition to Quantitative:
building of conceptualization and • 9 trainings (one in
SHGs: initial orientation each village) will be
meetings, classroom conducted with
▪ Making all
trainings will also be collaboration of
necessary
provided to each SHG external agency
arrangement to
on record-keeping and based on concept
conduct trainings
other key functions of clearance,
for each SHG
an SHG. functioning and
▪ Identify and
 establish contact ▪ The trainings will be record keeping of
with NGOs who conducted by project SHGs. All SHGs
work with SHGs management team undergo at least two
living in similar (internal resources) classroom trainings
environment and and by external (of two days) by
engaged in some agency external agency,
income generating ▪ Project Manager will • Two in-house
activities explore and shortlists trainings will be
▪ Take the SHGs agencies who promote done in each SHG
for an exposure SHGs involved in (3 trainings x 40
to the SHGs income generation SHGs – 120
promoted by activities and request trainings)
others to them to host exposure • Three exposure
facilitate cross visits for SHGs. Two visits will be
learning members from each planned for the
SHG will be taken as signatories/
delegate for the representatives of
exposure visits. the group.
Qualitative:
▪ The record
keeping system is
uniform and
maintained
regularly across all
SHGs
▪ SHGs discuss and
apply the learning from
the exposure visit within
them
groups
Sl. Activity Modus Operandi Output/Deliverable

11 Providing skill ▪ A technical team will Quantitative:

trainings to provide on-the-job ▪ Minimum 15 days of
women training through on- the-job training
entrepreneurs demonstrations on (including follow-up)
production related provided to each
▪ Skill trainings
aspects to all women women group enterprise
entrepreneurs at each on production related
▪ Conduct trainings
of the processing skills
on how to
units. ▪ Two training delivery
run/manage
(of two days) on
enterprise, like ▪ Training on record-
management related
calculation of keeping and financial
aspects of enterprise,
break- even, aspects of an
one for each batch of
product margin, enterprise will be
women entrepreneurs
profit etc. conducted by inviting ▪ One delivery of
 office bearers of each refresher training (of
▪ Regular follow-up unit. The training will only one day) on
of vocational be delivered by the management related
training project management aspects
team and by external Qualitative:
agency . ▪ The record
keeping system is
▪ There will also be
maintained
regular follow-up regularly and
on the training by properly across all
technical team and
units
project
management team
to ensure good
quality of products
and
proper management
12 Setting up ▪ The interested women Quantitative:-
Women groups in each village • Nine centers will
Empowering will be asked to find a be established in
Centers suitable place to set-up each village
▪ Venue for
the center.
SHG
meetings
Sl. Activity Modus Operandi Output/Deliverable

▪ Adult ▪ Once the place is

Literacy finalized an
Classes. agreement is signed
▪ Crèche
with the owner,
procurement of all
▪ Vocational items to be installed
Training Center at the processing
units and make
arrangement for
installation.
▪ The installation will
be done in
supervision of
technical team from
Sukarya, Project
Executive and
women groups.
▪ These centers will be
used as Income
 generation activity
center where the units
will be set up for
working of women, at
same place crèche will
be set up so that the
children of the women
who are working in
the center can play
and women can work
without any
disturbance, the same
center will be used for
SHG meetings and
Adult Literacy Classes
13 Non formal ▪ A literacy teacher will Quantitative:
Education be appointed in each ▪ One literacy teacher
women village under the appointed in each
project. The teacher village
▪ Hiring literacy
teacher at will be appointed from ▪ All illiterate SHG
the same village or members attending
village level
▪ Training of adjacent literacy classes
teacher
Sl. Activity Modus Operandi Output/Deliverable

▪ Conducting village. ▪ Two trainings will

literacy classes ▪ The training of the
be conducted of three
for illiterate and teachers will be days each
semi-literate Qualitative:
conducted from ▪ By end of the project,
women Jamia Milia Islamia
all SHG members can
read Hindi and sign
▪ All the children of
school going age of
SHG members go to
school
▪ Increased self-
respect among women
members
Monitoring • The monthly Quantitative:- Quantitative:-
and meetings will be • The MIS will be All the groups will avail
the funds.
Evaluation conducted by developed for Qualitative:-
Implementing compilation of data. It brings quality to the
• Monthl • Monitoring will also be groups and even the group
and monitoring
y done through regular can meet its
meeting agency to check needs/requirements if they
field visits
s are short of funds.
 • MIS the progress of the • The periodic reports will
• Reporting project. be generated and
& • The MIS will be forwarded.
Documenta developed
tion on for Qualitative:-
• Audit • The
compilation of
regular monitoring
the data recorded
will help to check gaps,
from the field and
if any and to ensure
generating efficient
periodic reports. implementation.
• The reporting will
be done on • The MIS will help
quarterly basis to in
Power Grid maintaining the data base
of the data collected.
Impact Assessment Stage: The stage will be focused on assessment of the activities done
and the impact seen in the community. The findings will be shared with the funders
and related agencies
Sl. Activity Modus Operandi Output/Deliverable
End line study will be Quantitative:-
Conducting end line conducted Sharing and
dissemination of
study
learnings through report,
Dissemination and
meeting, documentary
Sharing findings and
etc. Qualitative:-
learning with multiple Results of the
stakeholders intervention shared and
broad future plans
drawn out

Target Group – SHGs - Tambaram Corporation

Direct Beneficiaries: 200 urban women through 20 SHGs

Indirect Beneficiaries: 200 families comprising 800 individuals in these 4 villages

Sustainability Plan

• The groups will become sustainable in terms of group processes like

meetings, savings, inter-loaning and bank linkages. In these areas they only
 will need minimal supervision for further strengthening and consolidation
and will not need any further assistance.
• In the last year the focus will be focused on all the gaps in terms of record
maintenance to be fill-in and members will be equipped in handling and
maintaining all types of records related to SHG.

Outcomes

• Improve their quality of life

• Improve their standard of living
• Provide them with a sustainable method to support their family
• Women Empowerment
• Will provide a stable income.

Conclusion
This capacity building programme will not only focus on upskilling them but
will also focus on getting them together into functional groups and enabling them to
be a better version of themselves in the near future and hence this programme will be
instrumental in building them as a whole individual and as responsible citizen of the
nation.