APMAS – Sadhikaratha FoundationPromoting Urban SHG federations under SPUR, Government of Bihar |
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Backdrop
The Urban Development and Housing Department (UD & HD), Government of Bihar was supported by the Department for International Development (DFID) to implement the Support Programme for Urban Reforms (SPUR) in Bihar. The broad contours of the SPUR intervention include empowering the poor and socially excluded community to access increased urban resources and livelihood opportunities through community mobilization and participation. This includes organizing neighborhood Groups, formation and nurturing of Self Help Groups and their Federations at the slum, town and state levels. The consortium of APMAS and Sadhikaratha Foundation was awarded a contract through bidding and the agreement was signed on 4 March 2014. The project duration was for three years from 20 May 2014 to 19 May 2017. The overall objective and specific objectives were:
Project Info
| Location | 28 SPUR and 17 non SPUR towns in Bihar |
| Outreach | 9000 SHGs, 45 town level federations and one state level federation |
| Period | 3 years, 20 May 2014 to 19 May 2017 |
| Donor | UDHD, Government of Bihar |
| Partnership | APMAS and Sadhikaratha Foundation |
| Team | Project Director, Project Officers (45), Social Mobilisers (17) andCommunity Organisers (120) |
This project contributes to achieve the SDG 5 – gender equality
Project Achievements Vs Deliverables
Overall progress of the project was satisfactory in terms of formation of SHGs and their federations and capacity building of SHG members and office bearers of federations. The SHG formation and bank account opening against the target was around 100%, in certain areas the achievement was more than 90%. Two activities were not taken up due to targets assigned which were not part of the contract. The overview of deliverables and achievements is below:
| # | Targets | Achieved | |
| 1 | Inception report | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Number of SPUR ULBs to initiate SHG/federation | 28 | 28 |
| 3 | Number of NULM ULBs to initiate SHG/Federation | 17 | 17 |
| 4 | Recruitment of Project Officers | 45 | 36 |
| 5 | Recruitment of Social Mobilisers | 17 | 8 |
| 6 | Selection of Community Organizers | 120 | 100 |
| 7 | Staff induction & technical trainings | 12 | 12 |
| 8 | Profile collection and data entry into NULM website | 30000 | 76516 |
| 9 | Conduct slum level meetings to introduce SHG concept | 17 | 17 |
| 10 | Training on SHG concept and book keeping to SPUR NGO partners’ staff (SPUR to provide additional fund) | 11 | 22 |
| 11a | SHG formation in SPUR (6000) towns | 6000 | 6558 |
| 11b | SHG formation in non SPUR (3000) towns | 3000 | 2931 |
| 12 | Training on grading, micro credit plan and bank linkage of SHGs | 5 | 5 |
| 13 | Grading of existing/new SHGs | 6000 | 5904 |
| 14a | SHG savings bank linkage in SPUR towns | 6000 | 5189 |
| 14b | SHG savings bank linkage in non SPUR towns | 3000 | 2302 |
| 15 | Orientation of Bankers on SHG bank linkage | 6 | 20 |
| 16 | SHG members training in non SPUR | 30000 | 30029 |
| 17 | Micro credit planning of SHGs | 1800 | 594 |
| 18a | Introduce SHG federation concept (in towns) | 45 | 44 |
| 18b | Introduce SHG federation concept (in SHGs) | 9000 | 6629 |
| 19 a | Formation of ALF | 450 | 425 |
| 19b | Formation of CLF | 45 | 39 |
| 20 | Training of OB & EC on management of CLF | 45 | 22 |
| 21 | Operational Manual for Slum/town level federation | 1 | 1 |
| 22 | Preparation of bye laws of CLF for registration | 45 | 5 |
| 23 | Study on value chain of selected livelihood activities | 3 | 4 |
| 24 | Formation of producer groups/ Organizations | 20 | 0 |
| 25 | Institutionalize bankers meetings at Town & District to link SHGs with Banks | 45 | 79 |
| 26 | Submission of documents for Registration of CLFs | 45 | 5 |
| 27 | Identification of livelihood intervention and linkages | 900 | 382 |
| 28 | Ensuring Skill development of SHG members | 10500 | 2744 |
| 29 | Linkage to government schemes | 10500 | 5718 |
| 30 | Formation of state level federation | 1 | 0 |
Constraints & Challenges
In spite of the constraints APMAS-SF consortium was keen to accomplish the targets and requested for no-cost extension for another six months. However, we could not get the required extension and the project was winded up on 19 May 2017.
The payment for the quarters 7th to 12th is still pending with the department and the necessary follow up is going on with the concerned authorities. We hope to receive the dues though the receipt of pending dues seems to be the herculean task, but we never give up hopes….
We hope and wish that the strong base created in urban SHG movement in Bihar would go in a long way in socio-economic empowerment of urban poor women in a sustainable manner.