Year 2001 - Year for Reformation of SHGs
The year 2001 remain as an important year of KIDS, in which the SHG Concept was formulated. KIDS has recognized women as the primary agents in its community development initiatives. In view of this, the society has formed community Based Organizations (CBOs) in the form of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Mahila Mandals
Since the inception, the women in the community were grouped under the Swasraya Sangams as a unit and Mahila Mandals as a larger groups. Understanding the fact that major development interventions should reach the grass root level, these mahila mandals were recognized to from Self Help by the year 2000-2001, comprising of 20 women in each group. At the same time, each mahilamandal was recognized to act as the apex body for every five Self Help Group on neighborhood basis.
Self Help Groups as well as Mahila Mandals are frequently capacitated with Entrepreureship Development Programmes, Assistance to Livelihood Security Initiatives and other aspects of Individual and Social development. For convenience, the Mahila Mandals have been classified on a Zonal basis.
The Mahila Mandals performs as the link agents at the village level for implementing projects and programmes of the society. The members of the Mahila Mandals do meet once in every month in their locality and discuss various matters of developmental importance , discussion follows to the action, let it be employment generation, social issues, response to natural calamity, health care and management and as such . Accordingly the average membership in a Mahila Mandal would be 100. Mahila Mandals of KIDS often act as a pressure group towards the social, economic, political and environmental problems faced by the society.
Later in the year 2002, the concept of self help groups for men was materialized, especially focusing on construction workers and fishermen. The joint initiatives of men and women Self Help Groups are expected to become a stepping stone in the integrated development of the community.
Self Help Groups
Self Help Groups(SHGs) is the nucleous of the village development system formed as a fraternity on neighborhood families of homogenious character sharing common bondage make an SHG . The fundament al value and thrust of tbge SHG is sharing and cooperation. It has a proverbial understanding “drops of water makes a mighty ocen” in the angle of development. Sharing and coopereation are expected to transcended all sphers of life and behavior of the community and more particularly concentrate in endeavors that provide a progressive existence Micro credit and micro entrepreneurs become very important in this context and women are the centre of activity in the given frame work. So far the society has organized 4,128 Self Help Groups on a neighborhood basis with membership not exceeding 20 in each unit. The SHG system provides for equal and effective involvement of all in terms of attaining knowledge, planning, resource mobilization, economic activity, personal growth, leadership development, sharing social responsibilities etc. The loan advance will start soon after an evaluation of the functioning of SHGs and the performance assessment of the SHG members.
Self Help Groups for Men
The operational area of KIDS has a lot of construction workers, who were completely un organized. The major problem faced by the people working in this sector was that, after attaining the age of 50’s, their health status was alarmingly declined in to a pathetic condition that their family members could not help themselves for finding money for treatment and so on. These men were trying to stand united since ten years under under Kettida Nirmana Pravarthaka Swasraya Sangham (KNPS). Considering the life of these people, and other male workers in the unskilled job sector, KIDS put forward the thught of Self Help Groups for men with diversified programmes. The idea of SHGs for construction workers in particular have been enrolled in to a special health insurance scheme in collaboration with United India Insurance Company. The insurance scheme has proved very useful for these workers. The construction workers SHG conducted weekly and monthly meetings as any other community based organizations and t o boost up their activities. They have leaders, organizers and core team in the local zonal and central level respectively. These SHGs are mainly engaged in promoting savings among its members, conducting leadership, capacity building and empowerment trainiig , creating awareness on modern developmental aspects and environment related activities. Encouragement is also given for the enhancement of education for their children . the members of Men SHGs are highly involved in almost all the developmental activities within their area.
Self Help Group for Fishermen
There are three categories of Fishermen community residing within the coastal area of KIDS. They are Marine fishermen, and fishermen and Fishermen laborers working in boats. These fishermen are grouped in to SHGs as they can collectively and effectively bargain for their rights. They are given training on awareness about coastal management, solid waste disposal, need for regeneration of fisheries resources, value added fish products, sustainable fishing etc. KIDS is also facilitating for empowering them receive to various welfare schemes meant for this community.
Kerala Labour Movement
Apart from fishermen and construction workers, there are unorganized men who are engaged in various fields of work. These men are organized and facilitated under Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Conference in order to form SHGs so that they can collectively stand together through sharing and cooperation. As part of this, the SHG members are provided with training on leadership, entrepreneurship development, awareness on health, environment and networking
