Community Development
Self Help Savings Groups
Another effective tool for economic empowerment of Women is through formation of women’s self-help savings groups. Our workers mobilize and motivate women to form savings self help groups for micro savings and inter loaning among the members in times of need. Opening of Bank accounts are then facilitated for the Groups and also zero balance accounts are opened for the members and other vulnerable groups. The Group’s members are also provided training and exposure visits for possible income generation activities and market linkages.Till date 32 such groups have been formed so far with a total membership base of 425 women.
Women’s safety
The issue of women’s safety is of utmost importance for which government, community and civil society needs to join hands to find lasting solutions. ‘One such program is the ‘Aawaz Uthao’ initiative of the Delhi Government. Amba Foundation has been an active partner in this initiative since 2012. Under this program initiatives are made at the community level to tackle the problem of women’s’ safety and ensure their safety in public spaces. Collectives are formed comprising of men. women, youth and community leaders at the mohalla/ basti level to find local and lasting solutions for making the area safe for women. A stakeholder group comprising of district/area level government functionaries is also formed for advocacy and linkages. The area Police Station and SHO are also made members of the stakeholder group. Regular meetings are held and rallies and public meetings are organized to ensure community involvement in this program.
Legal assistance and Counseling
Advocacy and awareness is the key to empowerment of women. The Organization under its Samajik Suvidha Kendra program provides free legal aid, awareness and counselling to women in distress & dispute resolution. Thousands of women have benefitted under the legal awareness program with a large number of women being provided with legal counselling and dispute resolution. Talks are conducted by trained lawyers & counselors at regular intervals on various laws & Acts concerning women such as the Hindu Marriage Act, Muslim Personal Law, Domestic Violence Act 2005 & the Minimum Wage Act., child labor, sexual harassment & rape. Persons suffering from marital disputes are counseled and where necessary are referred for free legal aid for filing of cases in Court.
Facilitating access to government welfare schemes
Social welfare schemes of the government such as “Old age pension”, “Widow Pension scheme”, “handicap welfare schemes” & “labor registration & welfare schemes” are accessed under this program of the Samajik Suvidha Kendra. Identification of beneficiaries, facilitation of form filling process and submission of these forms to the relevant departments helps the vulnerable get the benefit of these welfare schemes. Camps are also held for issuing of Aadhar cards, and assessing the PMJDY and other schemes. In addition people are also assisted and guided for making of Voter I Cards, Certificates, Ration Cards and various other documents. Over 5000 persons have been assisted under this program in the last one year.
