Self-Help Group / SanghaSelf-Help Group / Sangha

G. Venkatesa Reddy,G. Venkatesa Reddy,Senior Officer Senior Officer CBR ForumCBR Forum, , 14, CK Garden, Wheeler Road Extn, Bangalore – 560 08414, CK Garden, Wheeler Road Extn, Bangalore – 560 084Tel. 080-25497387 or 25497388, Tel. 080-25497387 or 25497388, cbrforum@blr.vsnl.net.in

Project Partners Meet 2007

What is a Self Help Group/ What is a Self Help Group/ Sangha?Sangha?

A Self-Help group (SHG) or ‘sangha’ is

a voluntary association of people,

which functions democratically and

accountably, to achieve the collective

goals of the group.

Why do we need to form Why do we need to form SHGs (Sanghas) of PWDs?SHGs (Sanghas) of PWDs?

Organising disabled persons into ‘sanghas’ unites and makes them visible in the larger community. It contributes to changing peoples’ attitude.

Members can support one another by sharing information on the availability of services and resources. They can access/ mobilize resources.

They come together for the purpose of solving their common problems through self-help/ mutual help/ collective actions.

They can understand disability, discrimination and human rights.

A means for PWDs to be part of the decision making process.

A means to improve the quality of life.

Overall Purpose of the SHGsOverall Purpose of the SHGs

To empower disabled people, To empower disabled people, through collective action. through collective action.

To take responsibility for To take responsibility for their development. their development.

To improve the quality of life To improve the quality of life in personal, social, economic in personal, social, economic and political aspects.and political aspects.

Specific Objectives of SHGSpecific Objectives of SHG To build / enhance the self-To build / enhance the self-

confidence and self-esteem of PWDs.confidence and self-esteem of PWDs. To support solidarity amongst To support solidarity amongst

disabled people in inclusion, disabled people in inclusion, mainstreaming.mainstreaming.

To enhance access of PWDs to To enhance access of PWDs to health, education, livelihood health, education, livelihood services/ opportunities.services/ opportunities.

To create a disabled friendly To create a disabled friendly environment. environment.

To initiate and sustain advocacy and To initiate and sustain advocacy and lobbying in promoting the rights of lobbying in promoting the rights of disabled people.disabled people.

What are the processes involved What are the processes involved in initiating SHGs?in initiating SHGs?

Study the situation of people, especially PWDs, : (needs, issues, concerns etc.,).

Establish rapport with the local self government, teachers, PHC staff, key leaders in the village.

Begin with creating awareness on disability among PWDs, their families and community with a focus on the social model of disability.

Discuss with PWDs the concept / need of SHGs.

Components of an effective Components of an effective group processgroup process

Understanding relevance and commitment to goals.

Communication of ideas and feelings. Active participation and distribution of

leadership. Flexible use of decision-making procedures. Encouragement and constructive

management of conflicts. Equality of power and influence. High group cohesion. High problem solving strategies. High interpersonal effectiveness.

Features of an ideal SHGFeatures of an ideal SHG Regular attendance.

Share information.

Acts as a collective to overcome their problems.

Utilization of SHG funds for productive purposes.

Members get opportunity to build capacities at periodic intervals.

SHGs should have developed systems for planning, reviewing and evaluation.

Task - oriented functionTask - oriented functions (s (leading others)leading others)

How clear are the group’s goals? How strongly involved do the members

feel in what the group is doing? How well do the members diagnose

group problems? How appropriate are the group norms

and procedures for achieving the goals? How well are the contributions from

various members integrated? How are group decisions made? How fully mobilized and utilized are the

potential resources and creativity of the members for accomplishing group goals?

Process – oriented functionsProcess – oriented functions How much do members enjoy working with the How much do members enjoy working with the

others in the groups?others in the groups? How much encouragement, support and How much encouragement, support and

appreciation do the the members give to one appreciation do the the members give to one another as they work?another as they work?

How freely are the personal and group How freely are the personal and group feelings expressed?feelings expressed?

How constructively are the members able to How constructively are the members able to use disagreements and conflicts in this group?use disagreements and conflicts in this group?

How sensitive and responsible are the How sensitive and responsible are the members to the feelings of the others which members to the feelings of the others which are not being overly expressed?are not being overly expressed?

Key tasks to Sustain Key tasks to Sustain SanghasSanghas

Form & Strengthen the Sanghas (SHGs), Form & Strengthen the Sanghas (SHGs), improve the solidarity among the improve the solidarity among the members.members.

Encourage Sangha members to have a Encourage Sangha members to have a vision for the sangha.vision for the sangha.

Enable the members of the Sanghas to Enable the members of the Sanghas to determine their goals and objectives and determine their goals and objectives and to constitute rules and regulations for to constitute rules and regulations for better functioning of Sanghas.better functioning of Sanghas.

Sanghas should ensure that its members Sanghas should ensure that its members are respected. They should take assertive are respected. They should take assertive action to ensure that their rights are action to ensure that their rights are respected.respected.

Key tasks to Sustain Key tasks to Sustain SanghasSanghas

Enable Sangha members to elect their Enable Sangha members to elect their leader and other functionaries of the leader and other functionaries of the group.group.

Leaders and other functionaries should Leaders and other functionaries should assume responsibilities and discharge assume responsibilities and discharge their functions democratically.their functions democratically.

Encourage members to learn the Encourage members to learn the decision making process and decision making process and participate in this process.participate in this process.

An additional activity can be to initiate An additional activity can be to initiate and strengthen savings and thrift and strengthen savings and thrift activities.activities.

Key tasks to Sustain Key tasks to Sustain SanghasSanghas

Sanghas should acquire knowledge of Sanghas should acquire knowledge of programmes of the Government and programmes of the Government and other service providers, and develop other service providers, and develop action plans to access these services. action plans to access these services.

SHGs should develop contacts and SHGs should develop contacts and cordial relations with Government cordial relations with Government officials and other key opinion leaders.officials and other key opinion leaders.

The SHG should identify all disabled The SHG should identify all disabled children, and ensure that they are children, and ensure that they are enrolled in regular schools.enrolled in regular schools.

Key tasks to Sustain Key tasks to Sustain SanghasSanghas

Follow-up on the progress of disabled Follow-up on the progress of disabled children admitted to schools.children admitted to schools.

Follow up upon assessment, medical Follow up upon assessment, medical intervention and rehabilitation aspects intervention and rehabilitation aspects among the members.among the members.

Assist members to get aids & appliances.Assist members to get aids & appliances. Sangha members should learn & maintain Sangha members should learn & maintain

books of accounts in the sangha. books of accounts in the sangha. Promote livelihood activities in the Promote livelihood activities in the

Sangha.Sangha.

Sample of the Roles and Responsibilities of SHG LeadersSample of the Roles and Responsibilities of SHG Leaders

President President Secretary Secretary Treasurer Treasurer Role: Role:

Organise, plan, Organise, plan, facilitate, guide, facilitate, guide,

monitor, evaluatemonitor, evaluate

Role:Role:

Plan, Act, maintain recordsPlan, Act, maintain records

Role:Role:

Plan, maintain and monitor Plan, maintain and monitor accountsaccounts

Responsibilities: Responsibilities:

1.1. Prepare an agenda Prepare an agenda

2.2. Involve all in Involve all in discussion and discussion and decision-making decision-making

3.3. Take decisions Take decisions and execute them and execute them

4.4. Resolve conflicts Resolve conflicts

5.5. Develop strategy Develop strategy to promote new to promote new groupsgroups

6.6. Develop second Develop second level leadershiplevel leadership

Responsibilities: Responsibilities:

1.1. Update records Update records

2.2. Book-keepingBook-keeping

3.3. Maintain transparency of Maintain transparency of transactions transactions

4.4. Assist in preparing Assist in preparing agenda agenda

5.5. Conduct meeting in the Conduct meeting in the absence of president absence of president

6.6. Liaison with bank and Liaison with bank and Govt. officials Govt. officials

Responsibilities: Responsibilities:

1.1. Should handle the Should handle the group money properly group money properly

2.2. Should provide a Should provide a budget budget

3.3. Develop transparency Develop transparency about financial about financial transactionstransactions

4.4. Should develop rapport Should develop rapport with other financial with other financial institutionsinstitutions

5.5. Maintain accounts of Maintain accounts of the group in absence of the group in absence of Secretary Secretary

President President Secretary Secretary Treasurer Treasurer Role: Role:

Organise, plan, Organise, plan, facilitate, guide, facilitate, guide,

monitor, evaluatemonitor, evaluate

Role:Role:

Plan, Act, maintain recordsPlan, Act, maintain records

Role:Role:

Plan, maintain and monitor Plan, maintain and monitor accountsaccounts

Responsibilities: Responsibilities:

1.1. Prepare an agenda Prepare an agenda

2.2. Involve all in Involve all in discussion and discussion and decision-making decision-making

3.3. Take decisions Take decisions and execute them and execute them

4.4. Resolve conflicts Resolve conflicts

5.5. Develop strategy Develop strategy to promote new to promote new groupsgroups

6.6. Develop second Develop second level leadershiplevel leadership

Responsibilities: Responsibilities:

1.1. Update records Update records

2.2. Book-keepingBook-keeping

3.3. Maintain transparency of Maintain transparency of transactions transactions

4.4. Assist in preparing Assist in preparing agenda agenda

5.5. Conduct meeting in the Conduct meeting in the absence of president absence of president

6.6. Liaison with bank and Liaison with bank and Govt. officials Govt. officials

Responsibilities: Responsibilities:

1.1. Should handle the Should handle the group money properly group money properly

2.2. Should provide a Should provide a budget budget

3.3. Develop transparency Develop transparency about financial about financial transactionstransactions

4.4. Should develop rapport Should develop rapport with other financial with other financial institutionsinstitutions

5.5. Maintain accounts of Maintain accounts of the group in absence of the group in absence of Secretary Secretary

President President Secretary Secretary Treasurer Treasurer Role: Role:

Organise, plan, Organise, plan, facilitate, guide, facilitate, guide,

monitor, evaluatemonitor, evaluate

Role:Role:

Plan, Act, maintain recordsPlan, Act, maintain records

Role:Role:

Plan, maintain and monitor Plan, maintain and monitor accountsaccounts

Responsibilities: Responsibilities:

1.1. Prepare an agenda Prepare an agenda

2.2. Involve all in Involve all in discussion and discussion and decision-making decision-making

3.3. Take decisions Take decisions and execute them and execute them

4.4. Resolve conflicts Resolve conflicts

5.5. Develop strategy Develop strategy to promote new to promote new groupsgroups

6.6. Develop second Develop second level leadershiplevel leadership

Responsibilities: Responsibilities:

1.1. Update records Update records

2.2. Book-keepingBook-keeping

3.3. Maintain transparency of Maintain transparency of transactions transactions

4.4. Assist in preparing Assist in preparing agenda agenda

5.5. Conduct meeting in the Conduct meeting in the absence of president absence of president

6.6. Liaison with bank and Liaison with bank and Govt. officials Govt. officials

Responsibilities: Responsibilities:

1.1. Should handle the Should handle the group money properly group money properly

2.2. Should provide a Should provide a budget budget

3.3. Develop transparency Develop transparency about financial about financial transactionstransactions

4.4. Should develop rapport Should develop rapport with other financial with other financial institutionsinstitutions

5.5. Maintain accounts of Maintain accounts of the group in absence of the group in absence of Secretary Secretary

Guidelines for Role of Guidelines for Role of Community WorkersCommunity Workers

Work with the poor and oppressed, not Work with the poor and oppressed, not for them. for them.

Development is an awakening process.Development is an awakening process.

Let the people grow.Let the people grow.

Build up the people’s solidarity.Build up the people’s solidarity.

Build up the people’s organization.Build up the people’s organization.

Criteria for Grading Self-help groups*Criteria for Grading Self-help groups*

1.1. Vision, mission and goalsVision, mission and goals2.2. Size of SHGsSize of SHGs3.3. Economic status of Economic status of

members, newer SHGs, members, newer SHGs, older SHGsolder SHGs

4.4. Meeting – frequency, time Meeting – frequency, time and placeand place

5.5. Attendance of members at Attendance of members at meetingmeeting

6.6. Participation of members in Participation of members in decision makingdecision making

7.7. Participation of members in Participation of members in responsibility sharingresponsibility sharing

8.8. Rules and regulationsRules and regulations9.9. Savings Savings 10.10. Sanctioning of loansSanctioning of loans11.11. Loan repaymentsLoan repayments

12.12. Rotation of common fundRotation of common fund 13.13. Idle capitalIdle capital14.14. Cash handlingCash handling15.15. Resource mobilization Resource mobilization 16.16. Book keeping and Book keeping and

documentation documentation 17.17. AuditsAudits18.18. Training programmesTraining programmes

19.19. Level of PWDsLevel of PWDs involvement in PMEinvolvement in PME of of programmes of PWDsprogrammes of PWDs

20.20. Social and community Social and community action programmesaction programmes

21.21. Education and literacyEducation and literacy

*Source - UNDP Guidelines

Activities of SHGActivities of SHG Liaison between local Government and the Liaison between local Government and the

community facilitator for multi sectoral linkages. community facilitator for multi sectoral linkages. Eg. NREGA, SSA, DRDA, AAY, IAY.Eg. NREGA, SSA, DRDA, AAY, IAY.

Assist in accessing appropriate services.Assist in accessing appropriate services.

Mobilization of resources within the community.Mobilization of resources within the community.

Awareness creation and attitudinal changes in Awareness creation and attitudinal changes in the community.the community.

Creating a disabled friendly environment. Creating a disabled friendly environment.

Assist in formation of self help groups in Assist in formation of self help groups in neighboring villages/ community.neighboring villages/ community.

The need to organise peopleThe need to organise people

The need to organise peopleThe need to organise people

The need to organise peopleThe need to organise people

The need to organise / include The need to organise / include PWDs into SHGs?PWDs into SHGs?

The need to organise / include The need to organise / include PWDs into SHGs?PWDs into SHGs?

It is futile to go it aloneIt is futile to go it alone

Group involvement in reaching the GoalGroup involvement in reaching the Goal

Giving a fish? (Charity)Giving a fish? (Charity)

Or teaching to fish? Or teaching to fish? (Empowerment)(Empowerment)

Planning together at workPlanning together at work

Initiatives to access resourcesInitiatives to access resources

Full participation at workFull participation at work

Equal Distribution of resourcesEqual Distribution of resources

Unable to reach Goal Unable to reach Goal

Collective actionCollective action

Unable to reach the GoalUnable to reach the Goal

Equal participation in Sangha activitiesEqual participation in Sangha activities

Authoritative leadershipAuthoritative leadership

Democratic LeadershipDemocratic Leadership

Domination of leadersDomination of leaders

Leaders sharing all responsibilitiesLeaders sharing all responsibilities

Full participation in SHG activitiesFull participation in SHG activities

SHG and AdvocacySHG and Advocacy

Inclusion of SHG members in Inclusion of SHG members in existing movementsexisting movements

Women’s MovementWomen’s Movement Health MovementHealth Movement Child Rights MovementChild Rights Movement Education MovementEducation Movement Human Rights MovementHuman Rights Movement

Thank youThank youG. Venkatesa Reddy,G. Venkatesa Reddy,

Senior Officer Senior Officer CBR ForumCBR Forum, ,

14, CK Garden, Wheeler Road Extn, Bangalore – 560 08414, CK Garden, Wheeler Road Extn, Bangalore – 560 084

Tel. 080-25497387 or 25497388, Tel. 080-25497387 or 25497388, cbrforum@blr.vsnl.net.incbrforum@blr.vsnl.net.in