Self-Help Group / Sangha

1. Self-Help Group / Sangha Project Partners Meet 2007 G. Venkatesa Reddy, Senior Officer CBR Forum, 14, CK Garden, Wheeler Road Extn, Bangalore – 560 084 Tel. 080-25497387 or 25497388, cbrforum@blr.vsnl.net.in

2. What is a Self Help Group/ 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.

3. Why do we need to form 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.

4. Overall Purpose of the SHGs • To empower disabled people, through collective action. • To take responsibility for their development. • To improve the quality of life in personal, social, economic and political aspects.

5. Specific Objectives of SHG • To build / enhance the self-confidence and self-esteem of PWDs. • To support solidarity amongst disabled people in inclusion, mainstreaming. • To enhance access of PWDs to health, education, livelihood services/ opportunities. • To create a disabled friendly environment. • To initiate and sustain advocacy and lobbying in promoting the rights of disabled people.

6. What are the processes involved 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.

7. Components of an effective group 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.

8. Features 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.

9. Task - oriented functions (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?

10. Process – oriented functions • How much do members enjoy working with the others in the groups? • How much encouragement, support and appreciation do the the members give to one another as they work? • How freely are the personal and group feelings expressed? • How constructively are the members able to use disagreements and conflicts in this group? • How sensitive and responsible are the members to the feelings of the others which are not being overly expressed?

11. Key tasks to Sustain Sanghas • Form & Strengthen the Sanghas (SHGs), improve the solidarity among the members. • Encourage Sangha members to have a vision for the sangha. • Enable the members of the Sanghas to determine their goals and objectives and to constitute rules and regulations for better functioning of Sanghas. • Sanghas should ensure that its members are respected. They should take assertive action to ensure that their rights are respected.

12. Key tasks to Sustain Sanghas • Enable Sangha members to elect their leader and other functionaries of the group. • Leaders and other functionaries should assume responsibilities and discharge their functions democratically. • Encourage members to learn the decision making process and participate in this process. • An additional activity can be to initiate and strengthen savings and thrift activities.

13. Key tasks to Sustain Sanghas • Sanghas should acquire knowledge of programmes of the Government and other service providers, and develop action plans to access these services. • SHGs should develop contacts and cordial relations with Government officials and other key opinion leaders. • The SHG should identify all disabled children, and ensure that they are enrolled in regular schools.

14. Key tasks to Sustain Sanghas • Follow-up on the progress of disabled children admitted to schools. • Follow up upon assessment, medical intervention and rehabilitation aspects among the members. • Assist members to get aids & appliances. • Sangha members should learn & maintain books of accounts in the sangha. • Promote livelihood activities in the Sangha.

15. Sample of the Roles and Responsibilities of SHG Leaders

16. Guidelines for Role of Community Workers • Work with the poor and oppressed, not for them. • Development is an awakening process. • Let the people grow. • Build up the people’s solidarity. • Build up the people’s organization.

17. Vision, mission and goals Size of SHGs Economic status of members, newer SHGs, older SHGs Meeting – frequency, time and place Attendance of members at meeting Participation of members in decision making Participation of members in responsibility sharing Rules and regulations Savings Sanctioning of loans Loan repayments Rotation of common fund Idle capital Cash handling Resource mobilization Book keeping and documentation Audits Training programmes Level of PWDsinvolvement in PMEof programmes of PWDs Social and community action programmes Education and literacy Criteria for Grading Self-help groups* *Source - UNDP Guidelines

18. Activities of SHG • Liaison between local Government and the community facilitator for multi sectoral linkages. Eg. NREGA, SSA, DRDA, AAY, IAY. • Assist in accessing appropriate services. • Mobilization of resources within the community. • Awareness creation and attitudinal changes in the community. • Creating a disabled friendly environment. • Assist in formation of self help groups in neighboring villages/ community.

19. The need to organise people

20. The need to organise people

21. The need to organise people

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

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

24. It is futile to go it alone

25. Group involvement in reaching the Goal

26. Giving a fish? (Charity)

27. Or teaching to fish? (Empowerment)

28. Planning together at work

29. Initiatives to access resources

30. Full participation at work

31. Equal Distribution of resources

32. Unable to reach Goal

33. Collective action

34. Unable to reach the Goal

35. Equal participation in Sangha activities

36. Authoritative leadership

37. Democratic Leadership

38. Domination of leaders

39. Leaders sharing all responsibilities

40. Full participation in SHG activities

41. SHG and Advocacy

42. Inclusion of SHG members in existing movements • Women’s Movement • Health Movement • Child Rights Movement • Education Movement • Human Rights Movement

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