Developing a network of Mahila Sawrojgaris from existing Women Thrift Cooperatives of Malwa Region of MP
CARD-NDDB Women Thrift and Credit Project (WTCP) was implemented in 73 villages of the Malwa Region, 41 villages in Tarana and Ghattiya Blocks of Ujjain District and 32 villages in Shajapur Block of Shajapur district. 73 village level women groups (one group at each village level) have been formed here. The WTCP was initiated in 2000 in Tirupathi district of Andhra Pradesh and Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh. One of the driving factors behind the choice of the two states was the prevalent self-reliant co-operative legislation. The main objective of the project was to establish viable, vibrant, replicable thrift co-operatives of women, and their association, in areas covered by dairy co-operatives. Eight WTCs out of total 73 WTCs were registered under M.P. Self Reliant Co-operatives Act, 1999. NDDB had decided to withdraw and hand over the task to another agency in the region with a vision to carry forward with innovation for sustenance. The groups were, therefore handed over to CARD- an organisation with strong livelihood experience. CARD decided to strengthen these groups first by initiating Capacity-building inputs and later on to initiate the Micro Enterprise and Micro Finance activities among these groups. CARD has formalized some of these groups, in developing linkages with various developmental agencies and also facilitating long term and short term capacity building interventions.