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CHAPTER 3
MAHILA ARTHIK VIKAS MAHAMANDAL (MAVIM)
3.1. INTRODUCTION
-Employed Women
mediating body between the self-employed poor women and the financial
institutions. This calls for the setting up of organisations like MAVIM as their
focus is on working at the grass root level for poor women. They are in a better
position than banks to understand the characteristics of local markets and clients
due to their intimate functioning with poor women. Such organisations can serve
an important influence on the access of financial services to low income group
exposure to external shocks and can also help to ease out their cash flows.
MAVIM, The Women Economic Development Corporation was founded on 25th
February 1975 with the aim of encouraging women to be financially independent
and self-reliant. Initially, it functioned through seven regional offices in Pune,
Aurangabad, Nashik, Amravati, Nagpur, Thane and Mumbai. During that period
its activities were mainly confined to introducing a few commercial schemes for
women. During the period from 1994 to 2002 an important programme, the
Maharashtra Rural Credit Programme (MRCP) was implemented. The
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Maharashtra Rural Credit Programme is a poverty alleviation programme
supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development
After careful study of the programme, its usefulness and success, the Board of
Directors of MAVIM took a bold decision in September 2001 that MAVIM
empowerment programmes based on self-help groups. Considering the expertise
acquired by MAVIM in the area of SHG formation, MAVIM was given
recognition as the apex b
Maharashtra by its Resolution No: MAVIM -20m/lalka-la, dated January 20,
2003. MAVIM established its offices in all the districts of the State and expanded
y starting self-help groups through various
national and state level programmes in all districts of the State. MAVIM has been
declared as a Nodal agency by Government of Maharashtra on 20th January 2003
to implement various Women Empowerment Programmes through Self Help
Groups (SHGs). The head quarter of MAVIM is based in Mumbai. MAVIM has
offices in every district of Maharashtra to implement developmental schemes for
women in rural areas.
From 1975 to 1994 MAVIM was implementing programmes directed towards
promotion of self-employment among women with a view to ensuring their
economic development.
From 1993 to 2002, the Corporation implemented the Maharashtra Rural Credit
Programme (MRCP) through the medium of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). This
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proved to be a significant milestone in the Corporation s experience, which led to
the need for expanding a movement for women's empowerment through the
effective medium of Self Help Groups. The reorganisation of MAVIM emerged
from this process.
3.2 SALIENT FEATURES OF THE REORGANISATION OF MAVIM
The Corporation was re-organised according to GR No: MAVIM -2001/1O/ka-10
WCD Dept., dated 20.01.2003. This decision has historical significance as it has
brought an intrinsic difference in the functioning of MAVIM. Following decisions
were taken after the reorganisation of MAVIM
1. It was decided that MAVIM should close down all trading activities and take
up only those connected with women's development.
2. MAVIM was declared as the 'apex body' for undertaking varied activities for
women's development like initiating self-help groups, diverse training
programmes for women, forging market linkages and other related support
services for women's products etc.
3. It was decided that all departments of Government would design their
programmes to benefit self-help groups and hand over the programmes to
MAVIM for implementation. These Departments would make available
funds to the tune of `10,000/- per self help group for three years for the
development of SHGs. The Social Justice Department had made a provision
of ` 20.25 crores for three years and entrusted MAVIM with the task of
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building 20,250 savings groups.
4. The district-wise expansion of MAVIM was approved and 246 posts were
sanctioned for the head office and the district offices together.
5. It was also decided that from 2002-2003 MAVIM would be given an
administrative grant of up to one crore of rupees per year according to its
needs.
6. A decision was also taken to make available to MAVIM share capital
according to its needs.
The Board of Directors of MAVIM was expanded to include the secretaries or the
representatives of the Secretaries of the Planning, Rural Development, Social
Justice and Tribal Development Departments, as ex-officio Directors (MAVIM
Performance Report 2000-2003).
3.3 OBJECTIVES OF MAVIM
The present section discusses objectives of MAVIM which are as follows:
1. Building confidence in women
2. To build up capacities of women
3. Strengthening entrepreneurship among women
4. Building linkages between employment opportunities and market
possibilities
5. Increasing participation of women in education and in governance
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As can be seen from above, the objectives of MAVIM are self
explanatory. The focus of the programmes of the MAVIM is to build up
confidence in the poor women by developing supportive systems through
collective strengths. One of such mechanisms is formation of SHGs.
MAVIM undertakes SHG Concept Trainings. The second objective aims
at building capacities of the women through programmes in accountancy
training. It has been found that the women workers are forced to accept
exploitative conditions. Further, there is no livelihood security for them. In
view of this, MAVIM aims to develop entrepreneurship among such
women. This can be a step further towards women empowerment.
for livelihood opportunities available in the market. MAVIM also aims to
impart education to women in sanitation, hygiene and nutrition. And
finally, MAVIM also attempts to develop governance skills in women
through leadership training programmes and Panchayat Raj Institutions
(PRI) progrmmes giving information about the functioning of Panchayats.
3.4 FUNCTIONING
The present section throws light on the broad perspective of functioning of
MAVIM. The main functions of MAVIM are as follows:-
1. MAVIM functions as an apex body for various development schemes
promoted by the Central govt. and State govt. The major progrmmes initiated
by the Central govt. are Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY),
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Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (RSY), Swayamsiddha Programme and the state
govt. has launched the Special Component Plan (SCP), Tejaswini Maharashtra
Rural Women Empowerment Programme and Maharashtra Rural Credit
Programme.
2. MAVIM organises training programmes on issues of wome s development
along the following lines:
a. Training in capacity building
b. Skills training and vocational training (based on agricultural and non-
agricultural activities)
3. It functions as a coordinating agency between the self-help groups, financial
institutions, voluntary organisations and the concerned government
departments.
3.5 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND OUTREACH OF MAVIM
This section discusses the organisational structure of MAVIM. The Mahila Arthik
Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM) has been registered under the Companies Act of
1956, and it has 34 district o
head office is situated in Mumbai and is headed by an officer from the Indian
Administrative Services (IAS) who is appointed as the Managing Director. The
Board of Directors of MAVIM comprises of members from government
departments as well as non-officials. The Chairperson of MAVIM is a non-
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3.5.1 STRUCTURE OF MAVIM
The present section discusses the structure of MAVIM
3.5.1.1 APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNMENT MEMBERS TO THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The present section discusses the appointment of government members to the
board of directors of MAVIM. In accordance with GR No: MAVIM-1099/102/Ka-
2, Women and Child Development Department, dated 6th
Feb, 1999, the following
TABLE 3.1 APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNMENT MEMBERS TO
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
No. Name Post
1 Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra State Khadi &
Village Industries Board, Mumbai
Director
2 Industries Commissioner, Mumbai Director
3 Secretary, Women & Child Development Deptt. Director
4 Managing Director, MAVIM Director
5 Secretary of Planning Department Director
6 Secretary of Rural Development Deptt. Director
7 Secretary of Social Justice Deptt. Director
8 Secretary of Tribal Development Deptt. Director
Source MAVIM Performance Report 2000-2003
Considering the expanding work of MAVIM, officials of various departments were
appointed as directors of MAVIM, vide GR No: MAVIM/2001/1O/ka-l0, WCD,
Department, Mantralaya. By 2003, MAVIM had eight Directors from government
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departments and six Directors who are non officials (including the Chairperson who is
non-official). This structure has continued till date.
3.5.1.2 HEAD OFFICE STRUCTURE
The head office of MAVIM is situated in Mumbai. The structure of head office is
attached as Appendix - 1.
3.5.1.3 ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE
The present section examines the administrative structure of the district office of
MAVIM.
TABLE 3.2 ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF THE
DISTRICT OFFICE
Posts Number of persons
District Coordinating Officer 1
Assistant District Coordinating and
Monitoring Officer
1
Assistant Monitoring Officer 1
Accounts Assistant 1
Accounts Assistant 1
Driver 1
Peon 1
Total 6
Source : MAVIM Performance Report 2000-2003
The above table clearly depicts the administrative structure of MAVIM. Each
district office has six employees. As MAVIM has its district offices in 34 districts
in Maharashtra, it has a total staff of 204 and head office which is located in
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Mumbai has a staff of 42 which makes a total staff strength of 246 for MAVIM
(MAVIM Performance Report 2000-2003).
3.5.2 OUTREACH OF MAVIM
The map of Maharashtra given in the present section shows the spread of MAVIM in
34 districts.
FIGURE 3.1 OUTREACH OF MAVIM
Source: MAVIM Website 2012
Initially MAVIM functioned through seven regional offices in Pune, Aurangabad,
Nashik, Amravati, Nagpur, Thane and Mumbai. During the period from 1994 to
2002 an important programme, the Maharashtra Rural Credit Programme
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(MRCP) was implemented by MAVIM in 12 districts of Maharashtra, namely
Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Nanded, Pune, Amravati, Bhandara, Gadchiroli, Beed,
Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, and Thane. Since 2003, after the reorganisation,
MAVIM established its offices in all the districts of the State, namely
Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Nanded, Pune, Amravati, Bhandara, Gadchiroli, Beed,
Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Thane, Nagpur, Sindhudurga, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri,
Satara, Raigad, Latur, Ahmednagar, Osmanabad, Washim, Akola, Parbhani,
Jalna, Gondia, Buldhana, Aurangabad, Hingoli, Nashik, Raigad, Ratnagiri,
Solapur and Mumbai. MAVIM has launched Tejaswini Project in 2007 to
establish SHGs in 12,000 villages in Maharashtra.
3.6 MAVIM AND SHGS
ed in 1994. Since then MAVIM
has been highly proactive in the formation and promotion of SHG based progrmmes
in Maharashtra. The present section examines the main programmes of SHG
promotion adopted by MAVIM.
3.6.1 MAHARASHTRA RURAL CREDIT PROGRAMME
The Maharashtra Rural Credit Programme (MRCP) is a poverty alleviation
programme supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development. In the
first phase, from 1994 onwards, the programme was implemented in the four districts
of Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Nanded and Pune. Thereafter, from 1998 onwards eight
districts namely Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Amravati, Jalgaon, Dhule, Thane, Seed and
Nandurbar were added while organising rural women into SHGs. MAVIM ensured
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that along with their economic development, the political and social developmental
needs of the women were also addressed and a strong sense of 'self' was inculcated in
the women. Up to March 2007, 4516 SHGs had been formed and 64,423 women
were organised together under this scheme. In this project at the end of March 2007
the women had savings of `10.51 crores and ` 39.56 crores of internal lending. The
groups had accessed bank loans to the tune of `25.82 crores and 36,549 women
started their own business. After the women were organised through the SHGs, it was
essential to make them self-reliant, impart vocational skill training, and make
available to them backward/forward linkages for markets. Various organisations like
M.C.E.D (Maharashtra Centre for Entrepreneurship Development), MITCON
(Maharashtra Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation) Commercial and
Rural banks, DRDA (District Rural Development Agency), the Animal Husbandry
department, NABARD, and the Rural Development Department were implementing
organisations in the programme. M.C.E.D has been a pioneer in espousing social and
economic entrepreneurship since 1988. It is a training institute in the core area of
entrepreneurship development. It works as a facilitator and guide for the creation and
cultivation of the entrepren - The
District Rural Development Agency is visualised as a specialised and a professional
agency capable of managing the anti-poverty programmes of the Ministry of Rural
Development on the one hand and to effectively relate these to the overall effort of
poverty eradication in the District. The DRDA is the principal organ at the district
level to manage and oversee the implementation of different anti-poverty programmes
of the Ministry of Rural Development. There were 10 agencies from varied fields that
came together as expert organisations. These were the MCED, MITCON, Banks, the
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DRDA, the animal husbandry, NABARD etc. which worked as a team to implement
the project.
3.6.1.1 FEDERATION OF SELF-HELP GROUPS
The idea of promoting SHG federations was suggested to the groups as a way of
ensuring the sustainability and continuity of the SHGs. Federations promoted by
MAVIM are designed as a two tier model. Even after the time-bound programme like
the MRCP came to a close in 2002, the groups constantly felt the need of guidance
from the Sahayoginis.
Though the savings groups had strengthened the economic aspect of their lives, the
women felt that the dynamic support of the Sahayoginis was necessary to meet their
other SHG developmental needs. Hence they were ready to contribute towards part
payment of the Sahayoginis honorarium in return for having their services. In the
initial stages, the members did not easily accept that all groups could not come
together at the village level nor did they agree to nominate an executive committee
and have a federation at the cluster level. A series of meetings of all group members
from the villages were consistently held at every district where the importance of
each level of the federation was explained to the women.
To create a viable alternative to the role played by the Sahayoginis at the village
level, it was decided to strengthen the groups and form a combined committee of all
such groups at the village level so as to undertake the tasks of village development
and other social activities. This in turn led to the efforts of creating a comprehensive,
stronger unit at the cluster level in the form of a 'Federation'. Following are the
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1. The structure of the federation should arise from the needs and motivation of the
women and the emergence of such a structure is a step towards empowerment of
the women.
2. Such structures should primarily address training needs and of establishing
forward linkages for the SHGs.
3. Federation of such self-help groups should function as informal, financial
institutions. It is essential that their progress up to this stage be carefully
monitored.
4. In Maharashtra, SHG federations can be established through the old groups
formed under the MRCP.
5. The motivating agency should not be a part of the management especially, the
financial management- of the SHG federation, so as to reduce the dependency on
the motivating agency.
MAVIM followed a two tier model of SHG Federation.
i) Village Level Committee (VLC)
All savings groups established in the village together formed one committee, with
two representatives from each group. This committee had to facilitate the
establishment and guidance of new savings groups in the village, take up village
development activities, recommend deserving proposals of the group to the cluster
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federation, etc.
ii) Cluster Level Federation (CLF)
It was decided that such a federation will be formed from a maximum of 30 groups
from 5 to 6 villages in a radius of 12 to 16 kms. area. A maximum of 500 SHG
members could make up one federation. Each savings group member paid ̀ 30/- per
year towards registration fees. These federations opened accounts in the bank and the
registration process of the federation was carried out. MAVIM is committed to and is
making efforts to extend financial support to the savings groups through the
federations. Such financial support could be from various government and semi-
government financial institutions. Village Development Committees and Federations
were established in the 12 districts where the MRCP was implemented.
TABLE 3.3 DISTRICT WISE DISTRIBUTION OF VLCS AND CLFS
Sr.
No.
District No. of
Established
VLC
No. of Groups
included in
VLC
No. of
Federations at
cluster level
1 Chandarpur 67 292 12
2 Yavatmal 97 218 17
3 Gadchiroli 49 363 12
4 Bhandara 70 575 11
5 Dhule 44 201 03
6 Nandurbar 37 176 06
7 Thane 21 1181 01
8 Beed 43 219 07
9 Nanded 71 423 11
10 Pune 61 322 09
11 Amravati 68 617 22
12 Jalgaon 64 340 07
TOTAL 692 4927 118
Source MAVIM Performance Report 2000-2003
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By March 2003, Village Development Committees were established in 692 villages,
comprising of 4,927 groups and 118 federations had been formed at the cluster level.
MAVIM believes that federation is the most important step in the developmental
process of the self-help groups. Irrespective of which scheme an SHG may have
originated under if it has to sustain on its own strength after a limited period of
external support, then the formation of a federation is ideal.
Over the period it was realised by MAVIM that women members in the federations
were unable to cope up with growing volume of financial work and needed
professional help for these transactions. On the lines of DHAN Foundation and
MYRADA, MAVIM also started working on the concept of Community Managed
Resource Center (CMRC) i.e. to promote peoples institutions as a step further in the
0).
3.6.2 TEJASWINI MAHARASHTRA RURAL WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
PROGRAMME
MAVIM implemented Tejaswini Maharashtra Rural Women Empowerment
Programme is implemented in 2007 in 33 rural districts of Maharashtra covering over
12,000 villages supporting over 65,000 SHGs. Tejaswini programme is assisted by the
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The target group for
Tejaswini is poor rural women especially from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes, woman headed households, widows, deserted women, divorcees, landless
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laborers, HIV affected women etc. Tejaswini Programme focuses on the following
thrust areas:
Institution building at the grass root level
Microfinance Services
Livelihood and Micro Enterprise development
Women Empowerment
The project began from July 2007 onwards and the duration of the programme is up to
the year 2015. The overall goal of the Programme is to enable poor women to make
use of choices, spaces and opportunities in the economic, social and political spheres
for their improved well-being. The goal is sought to be achieved by: (a) creating
access to microfinance services; (c) creating new and improved livelihood
opportunities; and (d) providing access to functional education, labor-saving
infrastructure, and participation in local governance.
During the year of 2008-2009 implementation focused on the following areas:-
Strengthening the grass root institutions
Making the CMRCs (Block level federations of SHGs) functional
Skill enhancement amongst women
More credit flow for the eligible SHGs
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Strategic convergence with line departments
Gender integration across all the work components
Tejaswini programme has conducted the Annual Monitoring Survey for sample
households for the period of 2008-2009.
The Tajaswini programme is operating through the concept of CMRC. The concept of
CMRC (Community Managed Resource Center) consists of people owned institutions
formed and managed by people on their own to agenda. One CMRC covers 200 SHGs
of 25 to 30 villages covering 15 to 20 km diametrical area. The people owned
institution is envisaged as a three tier structure; the first and the founding tier is SHG,
the second tier is Village Level Committee (VLCs) and the third tier is CMRC.
VLC is a forum having representation of all SHGs in a village. One member from
each group is identified as a representative. VLC works to achieve coordination
among different groups to develop them as a collective.
CMRC has to organise progrmmes for creating awareness among SHGs about
livelihood issues and the need for livelihood development (Sangati 2010).
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TABLE 3.4 GROWTH OF COMMUNITY MANAGED
RESOURCE CENTERS (CMRCS)
Sr.No. Name of the District Total CMRC promoted
by MAVIM up to July-2011
1 Thane 7
2 Raigad 3
3 Ratnagiri 5
4 Sindhudurg 5
5 Pune 6
6 Solapur 7
7 Sangli 6
8 Kolhapur 6
9 Aurangabad 7
10 Nanded 6
11 Labur 7
12 Osmanabad 6
13 Beed 6
14 Parbhani 7
15 Jalna 7
16 Amravati 10
17 Yavatmal 10
18 Akola 6
19 Washim 11
20 Buldhana 8
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Sr.No. Name of the District Total CMRC promoted
by MAVIM up to July-2011
21 Nagpur 7
22 Wardha 6
23 Chandrapur 11
24 Gadchiroli 11
25 Bhandara 8
26 Gondia 7
27 Nashik 8
28 Ahmednagar 8
29 Dhule 6
30 Jalgaon 5
31 Nandurbar 12
32 Satara 7
33 Hingoli 4
Total 236
Source: MAVIM Head office-2013
The above table provides information about CMRCs promoted by MAVIM up to
July, 2011. It can be seen that CMRCs are promoted by MAVIM in 33 districts of
Maharashtra under the Tejaswini Maharashtra Rural Women Empowerment
Programme. Highest number of CMRCs i.e. 12 is established in Nadurbar. This is
followed by 11 CMRCs in Chandrapur and Gadchiroli and 10 each in Amravati and
Yavatmal. There were eight CMRCs each in Buldhana, Nashik and Ahmednagar.
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Thane, Aurangabad, Parbhani, Jalna, Nagpur, Gadchiroli, Solapur, Gondia and Satara
had seven CMRC each, followed by six each in Pune, Sangli, Kolhapur, Nanded,
Osmanabad, Beed, Akola, Wardha and Dhule. There were four CMRCs in Hingoli
and five each in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Jalgaon. The least number of CMRCs i.e
three were established in Raigad. It can be seen that there were 236 CMRCs
promoted by MAVIM. In addition to them there were 79 SHGs which were promoted
by MAVIM through Resource NGOs. Tejaswini programme is providing the room to
associate with Resource NGOs which can help MAVIM as a trainer, facilitator in the
area of institution building and microfinance. Presently MAVIM has selected three
RNGOs i.e DHAN Foundation, Chaitanya, National Institute for Women's, Child and
Youth Development (NIWCYD) all over the state who will demonstrate in the
process of CMRC building and help MAVIM to build the capacities of their staff in
specialised way.
In all there were 315 CMRCs promoted by July 2011 out of which 191 were already
registered.
3.6.3 SWARNA JAYANTI GRAM SWAROZGAR YOJANA (SGSY)
The Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) is a Central Government
Scheme implemented through the District Rural Development Agency under the
Rural Development Department with the aim of alleviating poverty was initiated in
1999 but MAVIM has implemented the scheme in 2001.
The scheme was being implemented in 31 rural districts of Maharashtra. At the end of
March 2007, 10413 SHG groups were formed and 1,15,8284 women were organised.
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By the end of March 2007 the women saved `13.64 crores and generated internal
lending of ` 35.15 crores under this project. The women also obtained `35.15 crores
of bank loans and 45405 women started their own business.
3.6.4 SPECIAL COMPONENT PLAN (SCP) RAMAI MAHILA
SHAKSHAMIKARAN YOJANA
Under the Special Component Plan, the Department of Social Justice of the State
Government assigned MAVIM with the programme of formation of 20,250 self-help
groups of Scheduled Castes i.e. 3, 03,750 women throughout Maharashtra to cover
5920 villages within four years. Through this programme, training programmes were
arranged on gender equality, gender sensitisation, women's empowerment, social
awareness, functional literacy, entrepreneurship and other related capacity-building
aspects. MAVIM has been appointed as an implementing agency of the scheme and
`20.25 crores were sanctioned for the project as per GR No. MAVIM 2001/4/ KA/10
WCD Department, dated 15.2.2003. The scheme is implemented in 33 districts
directly by MAVIM Sahayoginis and through NGOs appointed by MAVIM. At the
end of March 2007, 20950 SHG groups were formed and 2, 53,092 women were
organised. Under this programme `22.10 crores were saved by the women and `34.33
crores were generated as internal lending. SHG members obtained bank loans of
`16.89 crores. Under this project 56,190 women started their own business. This is an
ongoing programme of MAVIM.
3.6.5 RASHTRIYA SAM VIKAS YOJANA (RSY)
The Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana of the Planning Commission was implemented in
the six districts viz. Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Nandurbar, Gondia, Dhule and
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Chandrapur. MAVIM had been entrusted the task of setting up 1000 SHGs in three
years (2003-2005) in each district. Components such as vocational training, revolving
fund, Management Information System (MIS) had been included in this programme.
It was also proposed that "MAVIM GHAR" should be built from this fund. At the
end of March 2007, 2213 SHG groups were formed and 27159 women were
organised in six districts. ` 1.99 crores were saved by SHGs and ` 3.29 crores were
given as internal lending. Under this project, 6479 women started their own business.
3.6.6 SWAYAMSIDDHA PROGRAME (2002-2007)
The Indira Mahila Yojana was implemented by the Central Government from 1994.
The Mahila Samruddhi Programme was merged with it and a revised Swayamsiddha
Programme was declared for implementation for five years from 2001 2002 onwards.
To implement the Swayamsiddha Programme
MAVIM was declared as the
Programme Implementation Agency (PIA) .The Women & Child Development
Department, Mantralaya, has declared MAVIM as the Apex Body for the same.
MAVIM implements the Swayamsiddha Programme in 19 districts and 36 Blocks in
Maharashtra. Out of 36 blocks, 21 blocks (old) of Indira Mahila Yojana and 15 new
blocks were selected. A target of forming 3,500 self-help groups by the end of 2006
was given in 19 districts where the programme operated.
Under this programme at the end of March 2007, 3943 SHG groups were formed and
50,066 women were organised. The SHG members saved ` 5.70 crores and generated
an internal lending of ` 10.31 crores. They obtained bank loans of `12.65 crores and
17,734 women started their own business.
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3.6.7 NABARD ADD-ON PROJECT (2003-2005)
Under this project, MAVIM was to form 1000 SHGs in 10 districts and 15,000
women were to be organised. MAVIM was to be given a promotion grant of `1,880/-
per SHG amounting to a total of `1, 88,000/- by NABARD.
The period of this project was of two years during which it was expected that the
emphasis will be primarily on establishing SHGs and making credit available to them.
As suggested by NABARD the 10 districts selected were Parbhani, Jalna, Washim
Latur, Beed, Hingoli, Nanded, Aurangabad Gondia and Kolhapur where the scheme
was implemented. At the end of March 2007, 1773 SHG groups were formed and
21263 women were organised. `2.85 crores were saved by the SHG members and
`5.39 crores were given as internal loans to members of the group. The women
obtained loans of `2.43 crores from banks. Under this project 4141 women started
their own business.
3.6.8 KRUSHI SAPTAK YOJANA (2003-2005)
The Krushi Saptak Yojana of the Agricultural Department was implemented by
MAVIM in 4 districts i.e. Washim, Nanded Parbhani and Sangli. Under this project
25 SHGs were to be formed in each of the above mentioned districts and 250 women
were to be organised. The training imparted was on Agricultural skills, Animal
husbandry, Dairy Development etc. The women trained in this field had to start
activities related to agriculture which would help them to earn their own income.
Qualified Sahayoginis have been appointed by MAVIM in order to train the SHG
women in agriculture related self employment activities. This scheme started in the
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year 2004-05. At the end of March 2007, 501 SHG groups were formed & 9441
women were organised. `49 Lakhs were saved and `1.02 crores were given as
internal lending. Bank loans of ` 44 Lakhs were obtained by women. Under this
project, 2628 women started their own business.
3.6.9 TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (TDP)
The Tribal Department sanctioned a Project to MAVIM to develop SHGs in eight
districts viz. Nasik, Nandurbar, Thane, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Amrawati
and Yavatmal for the empowerment of Tribal Women. In this project 4600 SHGs are
to be formed within three years. The village survey and selection had been started in
eight rural districts. By March 2007, 2832 SHGs were formed and 33663 women
were organised. ` 41.58 crores were saved by women and ` 2.01crores was the
internal lending and ` 1.58 crores Bank Loan obtained by women. This is an ongoing
programme of MAVIM.
3.6.10 MINORITY WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME
In order to cater towards the problems of women from minority community and give
them proper handholding support, organize them together, train and motivate them to
become independent and self sufficient MAVIM had submitted a proposal to
Maharashtra State Minorities Commission, Mumbai and it is sanctioned by them.
Th
districts of Maharashtra i.e. Malegaon, Karanja, Bhiwandi, Nanded, Parbhani,
Aurangabad etc.
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MAVIM implements this programme through NGOs. One NGO is required to form
200 SHGs in Muslim pockets and these women are provided with basic trainings
input, functional literacy training programme, gender sensitisation awareness,
Entrepreneurship awareness programme, Entrepreneurship Development Programme
and village level committee etc. These activities lead to the empowerment of poor
women and they become self sufficient. The programme focuses on Grass root level
Institution Building, Women Empowerment and Social Equity, Women
Empowerment and Social Equity and Livelihood and Micro Enterprise Development.
3.6.11 OTHER INITIATIVES TAKEN BY MAVIM IN SHG MOVEMENT
SHG movement has spread to a wider scale in the state of Maharashtra from last
decade. However, the linkages of SHGs with banks, amount of bank loan by banks
and heavy interest charges on SHG loan are the key challenges before the movement.
Taking this into account, Government of Maharashtra has launched a scheme of
providing subsidised loan to women SHGs in the State (vide G.R. Number
NAVIM/2008/PK 130 /Desk 10 dated 8.10.2000). MAVIM has been declared as a
Nodal Agency to implement this scheme in the State. The scheme is applicable to the
non subsidised women SHGs formed by MAVIM and NABARD (under the schemes
sponsored by NABARD). The scheme is to promote the timely repayment habits
amongst the SHGs hence it does not provide upfront subsidy to SHGs. The SHGs
once linked to bank under this scheme needs to pay the bank loan (principal +
interest) every month and the interest subsidy up to 7% is debited in the SHG
accounts at interval of every six months. As per the design of the scheme the SHGs
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need to pay the interest at the rate of minimum 4% at least. Thus the interest subsidy
benefit is ultimately linked to the repayment performance by the SHGs which is a key
factor.
MAVIM has taken up steps to sensitise bankers over the issues such as increasing the
loan volume per SHG and as a result of this, State Bank of India has increased the
first dose of SHG linkage up to ` 50,000 second up to ` 1.00 lakh and third up to
`5.00 lakh which is a positive change at policy level. (Vide circular No. FRU/FM-
27/NGO MEETS/304 dated 19.03.2010).
3.6.12 GROWTH OF SHGs
Tables 3.5 and 3.6 give an account of the growth of SHGs promoted by MAVIM
TABLE 3.5 GROWTH OF SHGs UP TO OCTOBER 2012
Description Number
Total SHGs formed 65,901
Total SHG Members 8,63,076
Total SC Members 3,06,734 (36%)
Total ST Members 1,43,758 (17%)
Total No. of women who took internal Loan 6,90,577 (80%)
Total No. of women who could start IGA 38,572 (6%)
Source: MAVIM Head office, Mumbai 2013
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Table 3.5 depicts the growth of SHGs by October 2012. The total number of SHGs
formed by MAVIM were 65,901 with a total of 8, 63,076 membership. From the total
SHG members 3,06,734 (36%) were from schedule caste and 1,43,758 (17%) were
schedule tribe members. Total number of women who availed internal loan were 6,
90,577 i.e. (80%). Total number of women who started IGA was 38,572 i.e. (6%) of
the total SHG members.
TABLE 3.6 FINANCIAL GROWTH OF SHGs UP TO OCTOBER 2012
Description Amount in `
Per Head Saving (`) 2,235
Per Head internal Loan (`) 6,148
Total Saving of SHGs in (`) 192,88,11,512
Total internal Lending of SHGs in (`) 530,59,19,407
Total internal Lending Repayment in (`) 376,99,48,457
Source: MAVIM Head office, Mumbai 2013
The above table analyses the financial growth of SHGs promoted by MAVIM. The
total savings by October 2012 were `192,88,11,512. The per head savings was `2,235
and per head internal loan was `6,148. Total internal lendings of SHGs was
`530,59,19,407 and total internal lending repayment was `376,99,48,457.
3.7 MAVIM AND NON-SHG PROGRAMMES
The Mahila Swavalamban Nidhi and Mavim Mahila Prangan (MAVIM Ghar)
progrmmes are some of the initiatives taken by MAVIM as non-SHG based
programmes.
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3.7.1 MAHILA SWAVALAMBAN NIDHI (MSN)
The Mahila Swavalamban Nidhi - Fund was established under the Societies
Registration Act 1860 and the Co-operative & Trust Act vide No. F/19565 dated
11.6.1997. The financial institutions by and large do not extend loans to meet the
minor but essential credit needs of rural women. This situation is further compounded
by the fact that women cannot offer any appropriate guarantors for their loans. They
lack technical knowledge, and hence lack mobility, are overwhelmed by the perceived
burden of the loan and have to face a general apathy and lack of sensitivity on the part
of the bank officials. All these reasons converge to make it extremely difficult for
women to acquire loans from the established financial institutions.
The MSN is basically aimed at providing financial assistance easily and without too
many formalities to needy women. The rehabilitation of the women in the earthquake
area i.e. Latur and Osmanabad was done through the MSN scheme. A loan amount of
`1.40 crores were allotted through 280 SHG groups. `.0.86 crores was saved by
women and they generated ` 1.26 crores as internal lending through 6521 women.
3.7.2 MAVIM MAHILA PRANGAN (MAVIM GHAR)
MAVIM proposes to set up training-cum-production centers at the district level across
the state. These centers or MAVIM Ghar will work as residential training centers for
SHG members and also act as sales outlet for the items produced by them. MAVIM
Ghar thus will be an important step to provide backward and forward linkages for the
SHGs. The main target groups for this project are the economically weak, poor and
needy rural tribal and women laborers.
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3.8 FORMATION OF SHGs BY MAVIM IN MUMBAI
MAVIM started the formation of SHGs in Mumbai in the year 2003. The District
Coordinator supervises the overall functioning of SHG programme in Mumbai. His
office is located in Ghatkopar. Other than the office staff there are 12 social workers
Sahayoginis
of SHGs in Mumbai. The other staff includes one Assistant District Coordinating
Officer, one Monitoring Officer, two Accounts Assistants, one driver and one
peon.
The success of the entire programme mainly depends on the involvement of the
Sahayoginis who work at the grass root level with the women from the slums. They
act as liaisons between the Head Office and the SHG members. After their
appointment the Sahayoginis have to undergo rigorous training programmes. The
responsibilities of the Sahayoginis are given below:
Approaching the women in the slum areas to form SHGs
Conducting meetings with the women on regular basis
Informing the women about the benefits of SHGs
Informing the women about MAVIM
Helping the women in various documentation work in forming SHGs
Arranging various training programmes for the women after the formation of
SHGs
Helping the SHG members to open accounts with the banks
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Taking the bank officials to meet the members when the bank loan for the
group needs to be arranged
Arranging loans from NGOs like Rotary Club etc. for the SHGs
The social workers are allotted slum areas by the MAVIM office. They visit the
homes of women in slums and explain to them and their family members the
relevance of SHG formation. After initial few meetings, the groups comprising of 10
to 20 members are formed. Amongst the women the President, the Secretary and the
Treasurer are selected by consensus. Meetings in the locality are held at Bouddha
Vihars in the case of SHGs formed under the Ramai Mahila Sakshamikaran Rozgar
Yojana as it is a Special Component Programme catering especially to scheduled caste
the Minority Women Empowerment Programme (MWEP) started by MAVIM in 2006
to provide support to the women from minority community.
3.8.1 PROGRAMMES UNDERTAKEN BY MAVIM IN MUMBAI
SHG formation activity by MAVIM in Mumbai started in the year 2003 under the
following schemes:
1. Ramai Mahila Sakshamikaran Yojana (RMSY)
2. Swarna Jayanti Shahiri Rojgar Yojana (SJSRY)
3. Minority Women Empowerment Programme (MWEP)
By January 2007, around 300 SHGs were formed in Mumbai. By 2010 this number
increased to 450 in May, 2010. MAVIM has started the work of SHG formation to
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help poor and under privileged women in 52 slum localities spread over 14 wards in
Mumbai, From time to time these women members are given training on income
generating activities, social awareness, gender sensitization and functional literacy.
MAVIM also organises exhibitions for marketing the products of women members at
different places in Mumbai. In 2006, MAVIM started the formation of SHGs under
the Minority Women Empowerment Programme to provide economic support to the
women from minority community. The areas selected under the scheme are Govandi
(Chembur), Behrampada (Bandra) and Behrambaug (Jogeshwari).
MAVIM aims to build around 200 SHGs in these areas. Other than SHG formations,
various kinds of courses are also conducted by MAVIM for example, courses on
making of phenyl, washing powder, liquid Soap, chocolates, cakes, snacks, flowers
and jams. It also organises beautician
interested SHG members from time to time. Health Camps are also organised to
provide free checkups and make women aware about the vaccinations etc. (MAVIM
Sangati 2007).
3.9 SUMMARY
The present chapter discussed the establishment of MAVIM and its reorganisation as
a government body to promote SHG movement in Maharashtra. It functions through
the formation of SHGs, VLCs and the CMRC. MAVIM has made its presence felt in
34 districts of Maharashtra as a major government organisation to carry forward the
micro finance progarmme in the state. With the efforts of MAVIM, the awareness
levels of poor rural women in Maharashtra have increased and they are now
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considered as bankable clients.
Since 2003, MAVIM has also made an impact in the scenario of urban microfinance
by initiating its activities of SHG formation in the city of Mumbai. Though MAVIM
has been able to realise its goals, there are several challenges ahead. Maintaining
sustainability of SHG programme in Maharshtra is one of them. Convincing banks to
meet micro-credit is also a crucial task to be fulfilled by MAVIM. Building strong
network of partner NGO is also a complex task. Nevertheless, the challenges do not
undermine the achievements made by MAVIM in the poverty alleviation programme
which is not the ultimate goal of it but only a means to attain social mobilisation and
women empowerment.