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About the Organization / Genesis

Shramajivi Mahila Samity is a civil society organization was started in 1995 and itself registered as a non- government organization under Society Registration Act. Gradually Shramajivi Mahila Samity tried and made attempts to find its foothold as a body of like-minded people striving for human causes especially for women and thus made a beginning towards women development. This has led to discover its own identity. SMS took pledge to initiate some beginning towards the development of these women, improve the status of women and bridge the gap between the gender i.e. man and woman. With strong resolution, SMS started its journey from East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand state. Shramajivi Mahila Samity had earned footage in the area of forming women based organizations and capacitating them since 1987 to 1994. Since its inception the organization is the field of development and acceptance after it was registered as a voluntary organization in the year 1995.

SMS has taken the community participation approach to work on its theme of social exclusion. The key theme on which we are working is combat poverty through food right and livelihood development. Farming and resource right of women, skill development on NTFP and FRA, local governance and PESA, enhanced participation of women in democracy, Digital literacy and digital livelihood and child & Girls right etc. The organization is on its continuous strive to work for the development of single women, schedule caste and scheduled tribe, and backward class of marginalized and downtrodden women.

Besides the role of SMS is to organize excluded community (especially women) for capacity building, massive skill development, land and & livelihood right, SHG’s & economic development, Artisan Panchyats, rights for single women & humanity.

During the long phase of journey Shramajivi Mahila Samity has a deep learn and grown from root to stem gradually and is able to stand distinctly with more stability, updated vision and line of thinking. The frequent change in the environmental situation has constantly made us to reorient ourselves and make relevant intervention towards improving the quality of lives of the focused group. SMS in the present phase plans to concentrate on creating a conducive environment for the grassroots women headed NGOs, livelihood promotion, women empowerment and poverty alleviation and thereby ensure an equitable social set-up.

The prime aim of the organisation is to enable tribal and other women to become self-dependent in the socio – economic spheres, motivating women groups to be part of the decision making process and ensure participation in natural resource management and sustainable development.

Vision

Shramajivi Mahila Samity is working with a vision to empower women by education, economic independence and leadership skills so as to develop a balanced and just society which may provide equal opportunities for both its men and women.  

Mission

The mission of Shramajivi Mahila Samity is to enable tribal and other women to become self-dependent in the Socio-economic spheres, motivating women groups to be part of the decision making process and local self governance and by promoting their education, ensuring women’s participation in eco-friendly land, water, forest management of the area and own up the responsibility of sustainable development.  

Objectives

Shramajivi Mahila Samity envisages some of the main objectives since its beginning and constantly strives to concentrate its effort towards these issues mentioned below:- Provide a friendly and congenial platform for the women folk especially the downtrodden, underprivileged, oppressed, grassroots level & the lowest strata of the society. Ensure acceptance, recognition and human dignity to the aforesaid women class. To build awareness, confidence and motivate the women especially tribal to improve their socio-economic condition. To make the women self- reliant and self-dependent so that all sound upliftment and their development can take place. To enable them to participate and get involved in the process of governance and decision making. Empower the women so as to safeguard their rights, liberty and freedom of expression, and  thoughts. Enable the women and the society to realize that women is a materialistic entity, she has to be given the Opportunity to work and live and also to dream, and feel free to express her dream in her own way.

Key Thematic Areas of Intervention so far

SMS has taken the right based approach to work on its theme of social excexclusion. The key theme on which we are working is poverty, food right and security, health and education right, capacity development for the excluded class, livelihood and resource right, adolescent health and right, skill development on NTFP and access by forest dwellers, women and maternal health, local governance and PRI, enhanced participation of women in democracy etc.

The organization promotes women empowerment by establishing women rights & group formation, gender based economic & social upgrading, check on women violence, women & adolescent girls education & health, emphasis of self governance and marginalized group participation, Food Security & Livelihood development of women, children & single women empowerment.

The key issues that we have addressed are i.e. gender inequality and discrimination is our prime issue in all spheres be it food, education and health right, reproductive health right, adolescent girls right, access and control over natural resources and community resources. Our next issue was the severe hunger problem in the excluded community. We also observed that their food right was also deprived of. So, we address on hunger check, food security, aiming for poverty alleviation in the long run.

The next issue we took up was migration and trafficking due to utmost poverty. This has considerable impact on the adolescent girls and young women. And hence we addressed it in 6 blocks in East and West Singhbhum. Other issues we addressed are domestic violence, witchcrafts, gender violence and molestation. These problems were seen more in single women, tribal women, dalit women and women of the minority community etc.

Simultaneously SMS has also formed 281 SHGs in East & West Singhbhum Districts under the 5 blocks. Presently Two federation of such women has been formed which comprises of 3615 members. Which has amassed total savings amount of Rs.28,62,080.00 (Rupees Twenty eight Lacks Sixty two Thousand eighty ) only. The credit linkage has been done up to Rs.77,60,000 (Rupees Seventy seven Lacks sixty Thousand only).

Our Focus Areas

The key issues that we have addressed are i.e. combat gender inequality and discrimination is our prime issue in all spheres be it food, education and health right, reproductive health right, adolescent girls right, access and control over natural resources and community resources. Our next issue is the severe hunger problem in the excluded community. We also observed that their food right was also deprived of. So, we address on hunger check, food security, aiming for poverty alleviation in the long run.

 

We work empowering the community to eliminate Sex Selection and Sex Determination to guarantee a life of dignity for the girl child ,enhance the value of the girl child in society by changing mindsets and ensuring ownership of the issue by the community and the government. The Focus areas are Child Rights particularly focusing Girl Children – in the field of education, Health & Gender discrimination.

 

The next issue we took up was migration and trafficking due to utmost poverty. This has considerable impact on the adolescent girls and young women. Other issues we addressed are domestic violence, witchcrafts, gender violence and molestation. These problems were seen more in single women, tribal women, dalit women and women of the minority community etc.

 

SMS work with the single women in the 8 dist covering 27 blocks. SMS as a CSO has the role of strengthening the single women association (ENSS) and their block level federations towards the access to rev. land and health promotion Land rights & livelihood promotion through right based approach and empowerment is a new issue for the single women.

 

SMS working effectively functioning Gram Sabha in adherence to PESA & FRA. Increased involvement of women in decision making process in Gram Sabhas •The poverty stricken ST family and women headed families, to a large proportion, are getting rid of the vicious cycle of poverty as they endowed with all govt. entitlement and benefits including durable assets creation.

 

Internet Saathi programme sponsored by Google was launched in association with Tata Trust and PHIA Foundation. Its main objective is to help in closing down the digital literacy gaps. SMS work on Digital literacy and digital livelihood program in 5 Districts and 36 blocks with partnership of PHIA Foundation.Upon the completion of the targets by the Saathis, such active and interested saathis are to be linked to the digital livelihood programme where the saathi’s themselves will carry out the survey work in the concerned villages. Active Saathis have been engaged in periodic surveys based on certain indicators as desired by Niti Aayog. Such thematic areas are Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development and Basic Infrastructure. As of now, only two themes have been focused- Health and Education.

Core constituency

SMS work with the single women (Widows, destitute, abandoned, single mothers etc), Girls, tribal women, minority, landless, forest dwellers, artisans, daily wages women labours ect.

Geographical area of work

State of Jharkhand, 10 Districts (Saraikela, E.Singhbhum, W.Singhbhum, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Simdega, Gumla, Giridih, Ramgarh and Palamu).

Gram Panchyat- 1144, Villages – 5720

Governing Board Members

of the Shramajivi Mahila Samity

  • Ms. Anjali BosePresidentSenior and very much experienced woman social activist in Jharkhand, engaged in Women revolution work since 1970. She is the founder member of Free Legal Aid Committee and got award from many Govt and non Govt agencies.
  • Ms. Purabi PaulSecretaryShe is a pioneer woman who has started building leadership of single women especially ST/SC/Marginalized community.
  • Ms. S.M.Batsala –Ph.D.TreasurerShe is an active member of community development through Capacity building. She has vast experience on tribal community and local governance system.
  • Dr Nirmala Sukla Ph.D.Member
  • Mrs Marsa KachhapMember
  • Mrs. E Suman ToppoMember
  • Mrs Shabana WasimMember
  • Mrs Rinki TiwariMember
  • Ms Supriti MurmuMember