Swayamshree

SWAYAMSHREE MAHILA SAMABAYA SAMITI LTD.

“SAVING IS STRENGTH”

INTRODUCTION
SWAYAMSHREE “a net working of women groups” is an endeavor of making an arrangement by themselves for provision of sustainable financial services which is a terrible necessity for urban ultra poor, who are exploited by the money lender in the informal sector for their financial need and get no attention of formal financial institution for their predicament and survival. More over the disguised contribution of women folk in strengthening household and national economy is not recognized. This can be more acknowledged and tangible through their active economic and social participation with life affirming skill and confidence in a self participatory way. Self Help group model is chosen as an instrument for mobilizing financial and social capital and stretching out their ability for handling bigger issues affecting their life in gender blind and close society both in financial and non financial sector. This institution, operating on the basic principles of self stimulating, caring, sharing and mutual help, build up women solidarity in a democratic manner right from the grass root level. Economic development is always prelude to embarking upon any kind of development in the community. Micro finance being an important tool for poverty reduction, the client owned, women SHG federation-SWAYAMSHREE is poverty focused Micro Finance Institution designed to address the financial service needs of urban poor vulnerable women in the informal sector economy who have limited or no control over the income.

Origin

• Started extending alternative Banking services to urban poor under the aegis of DFID aided CUSIP project under Cuttack Municipal Corporation in 1994 as a measure to providing financial services on a sustainable basis through formation of Women Self Help Groups in Urban Slums.
• The need for networking of SHGs was felt in 1996 for cross lending and Informal Federation was formed for strengthening SHGs through mutual interaction, learning & help.
• Problems perceived /experiences learnt and learning gathered from exposure trip to Gamin/ASA/BURO (T) in Bangladesh sponsored by H&UD in Govt. of Orissa, organized by DFID in the month of August, 98 led to the establishment of present SWAYAMSHREE in October 1998 under DFID project of Cuttack Municipal Corporation and registered under society registration Act 1860.
• Considering the significant growth of federation and its importance in delivering microfinance service, CARE CASHE extended technical support to SWAYANSHREE from 19th Jan.2002 to Sep.-2006 for strengthening its Governance, internal management, operational efficiencies and expansion of programme out reach to major un-reached in other communities in the city after DFID project is phased out in March-02.

EMERGENCE OF FEDERATION
Federation emerged out of expressed need at the bottom along with right facilitation from the top. It is an outcome of joint effort of members and promoting institution Cuttack Urban service Improvement project (CUSIP) under Cuttack Municipal Corporation. Hence the process is both evolution and application. Support of the stakeholders like District Administration and other like-minded individuals/ institutions make easier for growth of the institution. The federation has already established it own office in a rented building and engaged skilled workers for effective delivery of its service package.

Need & RelEvance

• Provide C.B support for developing self- sustaining primary group.
• Create forum for mutual learning & growth through sharing experience and responsibility.
• Best performing group teaches low performing group in same situation.
• Establish external linkage for accessing GO/NGO credit plus services beneficial to primary group / SHG.
• Share and disseminate information timely.
• Promote Women Solidarity and Strength.
• Lobby with govt. and other institution in support of poor.
• Address livelihood issues through need based vocational training & market linkage.
• Diversify Micro Finance Service products, monitor and ensure quality in programme.
• Facilitate programme expansion and extension of outreach services.

SWAYANSHREE PHILOSOPY
Vision:
Build up society, where poor / vulnerable will be able to pull on a healthy life with respect and dignity on a self sustained way along with resource rich.
Mission:
Economic and social empowerment of poor through establishment of client owned sustainable institution, dedicated to the cause of poor and vulnerable in the community.
Goal:
By the end of 2014-15 SWAYANSHREE would reach to 29473 Women clients through 2826 self sustained SHGs with need based financial services to a volume of 18.72 crores loan outstanding in Cuttack City and its adjoining areas / Districts.
Purpose:
Provide adequate, appropriate, simple financial & livelihood support services through establishment of client owned MFI on a sustainable basis.
Financial Intermediation
Create a socio-economic momentum in the community through SHGs, build up self confidence by women solidarity, and provide non financial services through its net work.
Social Intermediation
NEED FOR REGISTRATION UNDER SHG COOPERATIVE ACT-2001.
Due to enactment of SHG Co-operative Act in 2001 by Govt. of Orissa, Microfinance programme got separated being registered under the said legal entity in the name of Swayanshree Mahila Samabaya Limited, a sister organization under Swayanshree. Govt. repealed the SHG Co-operative Act 2001 and again registered under Orissa Co-operative Societies Act 1962 and name has been modify to Swyamshree Mahila Samabaya Samiti Ltd.
Relevant points for conversion to cooperative are as under:-

• Address future legal complicacies of federation in rendering financial services to its member clients in the state under SRA-1860.
• Ensure & strengthen primary stakeholders’ ownership by both participation in capital formation through share contribution and Governance.
• Provide access to profit through dividend in addition to saving interest
• Extend opportunity for income generation through business development service.
• Create opportunities for profitable investment in potential business venture besides microfinance.
• Offer adequate scope for formation of cooperatives as self-help, self Reliant, Mutual aid, Autonomous, Voluntary, Democratic, Business enterprises which are to be owned, managed and controlled by members for their economic and social betterment

Legal status

Registered under SRA 1860.  Regd. No-   15645-20

• Registered under FCRA. Regd. No. 104860121
• Registered under Orissa Self Help Co-operative Act 2001 at state level Regd. No. – 25/ RCS/2006
• Govt. repealed Orissa Self Help Co-operative Act 2001 in the month of Nov 2014 then Registered under Orissa Co-operative Act 1962 Regd. No. – 10/ RCS/2014

Target Group – Poor & vulnerable women in both urban and rural community.

CO-OPERATIVE STRUCTURE

Coverage

Operational Area - State of Orissa under SHG cooperative Act-2001
Slums / Villages covered	205/134
SHG formed	2976
Clients covered	33316
SC	4006
ST	1637
GEN	27673

Office (HR)

CEO	One
Branch Manager	Two
MIS Accountant	Three
Computer Asst.	Four
SSA	One
Internal Auditor	Two
HR/Admin Manager	One
Field Officer	Thirty Eight
Cashier	One
Credit Manager	Five
Gpw	One
Support Staff	Three

Unique Features

• First Federation of SHG in Urban set-up of Orissa.
• Client owned, controlled but professionally managed.
• Rotation of leadership through democratic process.
• Clientele has enhanced to 26210 despite presence of various MF players, govt. and other financial institutions.
• Effective Co-ordination of Stakeholders like CMC, Dist. administration and other like department in the city.
• Comparatively low cost so far urban area is concerned.
• Most of the Client credit demand is absolutely met out of members saving without any bank linkage.
• More frequent need based credit disbursement.
• Loan turn around period is 7 days.

Federation Management

•    The Board of Directors are the real owners and responsible for the Governance and management of the federation. The Chairperson/President attends the office in most of the time and involves herself in day to day management.
•    There is a team of committed and experienced staff members .They are actively involved in the programme management and operation,
•    HR in the form of Co-ordinator is extended by the CMC.
•    CARE CASHE provides the financial and technical support required for the federation.
•    BASIX extends ID support input on strengthening computerized MIS and operational strategy.

Project Area

• All wards of Cuttack Municipal Corporation. Cuttack City (Urban)
• Kendrapara Dist.
• Bhubaneswar City (Urban)
• Biridi, Jagatsinghpur and Balikuda Blocks of Jagatsinghpur Dist.
• Extended to rural periphery
  • Mundali ,    Cuttack District.
  • Choudwar, Cuttack District.
  • Cuttack Sadar, Cuttack District.
  • Kishore Nagar, Cuttack District.
  • Salepur, Cuttack District.
  • Kasarda, Cuttack District.
  • Baramba, Cuttack District.

Service package

Microfinance	Saving
	Credit
	Insurance
	Pension
	Social welfare financial assistance – ( Mangalpanthi )
Health	Health awareness
	Health camp
Legal service	Counseling and legal service support to Oppressed/agonized women & destitute in the society.
Micro enterprise Training	Need based vocational training for enhancing income earning opportunity and family income.
Social Service	Antiliquor movement
	Sunstroke awareness
	Flood relief to its members
	Awareness on registration of birth and death.
Micro enterprise / Business financed (Both in group and Individual)	Garment making / trading / tailoring
	Running petty shops (Grocery, battle, stationary, sweet, fruits.)
	Fruit and Vegetable vending
	Rickshaw pulling / repairing, Auto rickshaw, stove repairing.
	ICE cream making.
	Fast food / restaurant / hotel / tea stall
	Carpentry / Leaf plate making.
	Badi / papad / agarbati / mask making.
	Plaster of paris / Idol making / soft toy making.
	Bleaching / phenyl / refill making.
	Dairy / poultry
	Glass power making.
	Betel nut cutting
	Spices/kitchen items and fast food packaging and marketing.

Awards/ Prizes/Recognition

• One SHG member of Patitapaban SHG , Kumbhar Sahi, Renubala Behera of zone no- 5 bagged city group award for her entrepreneurship spirit and recognized as best entrepreneur in the eastern region of India.
• SWAYANSHREE was honored by Cuttack Municipal Corporation as best NGO in the Cuttack
• Awarded 2nd prize in the micro finance convention /exhibition organized by CARE CASHE at BBSR.
• Chairperson SWAYANSHREE is nominated as member in the town level advisory committee for monitoring and evaluation of PDS work in the city.

Microfinance service
Profile of Financial service

Saving service

Total value of loans disbursed:	Rs.156,00,45,000/-
Total number of loans disbursed:	103,614/-
Number of loans outstanding (end of period):	20,158/-
Value of loans outstanding (end of period):	Rs.29,91,34,422/-
Average outstanding balance of loans:	Rs.29,91,34,422/-
Value of outstanding balance of loans:	Rs.29,91,34,422/-
Value of loans written off during period:	Nil
Average loan size:	Rs.15,056/-
Average loan term (months):	18 months
Average number of credit officers:	39

Micro - Enterprise and Linkage Service

SWAYANSHREE encourages its members to take up various enterprise activities with credit and skill support. It also organizes IGP trg. for potential members under SJSRY and in collaboration with other resource agencies.

Vocational/Business skill trainings imparted

Mushroom planting nos. trained	66
SHG covered	9
Jhuna Agarbati	10
Khalipatra stiching	61
Sewing machines provided	23
Food processing and preservation	30
Business entrepreneurship	10
Jhute article making	60
Flori culture	20
Book binding, Fly leaf/Register/Envelope making	40
Screen printing	15
Artificial Jewellery making	15
Beauty Culture	20
MS Office	15

Mangal Panthi (Social Security Scheme product)

"A social Security Scheme designed to provide assistance of Rs. 1000/- to the kith and Kin of the poorest member at her untimely demise in a group "

PERCEIVED IMPACT

• Dependency on moneylenders reduced.
• Saving practice established, individual saving deposit increased and future financial insecurity removed
• Payment of high credit cost in informal market reduced and family income increased.
• Investment in existing & new micro enterprise, income enhanced.
• No. of women entrepreneurs increased.
• Necessary house hold articles procured.
• Protected against bad days - illness, death, natural calamities, lean days through easy access to small credit and insurance.
• Life cycle expenses- wedding, birthday celebration, Festival, child education, old loan repayment, land purchase managed being freed  money lenders.
• Provide higher education to children
• Women being crisis manager, their position in the family enhanced.
• Self-confidence of women increased and vulnerability is being gradually decreased.
• Social capital generated enable women members to initiate collective efforts at the time of crisis and need.
• Sense of institutional ownership of members is slowly built up.
• Poor women are recognized as bankable by bankers.
• Women leadership built up and takes active role in various Govt. and Non-Govt. forum.

Future Plan and challenges of SWAYANSHREE

• Explore business opportunities for livelihood promotion and profitable investment in business venture for economic gain.
• Continuous research and documentation of the working environment for innovation and adoption of best practices.
• Build up capacity of members & representatives to own and manage the project on a sustainable basis.
• Effective social intermediation through the federation for addressing social & legal issues of women members.
• Branch out for effective and smooth management of micro finance service and extending benefit to larger women section in the State.
• Provide non financial services of area of concern like education, Health, sanitation etc. under one Umbrella of Federation. .
• Leveraging micro-credit fund to mitigate growing credit need of poor