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Context
Before establishment of Mahiti Sanstha, UTTHAN team
conducted extensive survey of Bhal region. In this
survey they comprehended complete picture of Bhal
region its political, social and economic scenario. It
was realized that lower caste communities are
thoroughly exploited by moneylenders and landlords for
generations. The relation of ‘master & slave’ still
existed as gray area even in post independence period.
As a small initiative to bring change in this
situation, MAHITI promoted two SHGs Bhangadh and
Mahadevpura way back in 1980s. Gradually the process
expanded to other villages and regions.
In 1990 saving and credit activity covers 12
villages of Dhandhuka Taluka of
Ahmedabad district.
In 1995 saving and credit activity covers 12
villages of Ahmedabad District and 3
villages of Bhavnagar district.
In 2000 saving and credit activities covered
40 villages of Ahmedabad and
Bhavnagar districts.
In 2001 Bhal Mahila Saving & Credit
Cooperative of Ahmedabad district was
established.
In 2003 Bhal Mahila Jagruti Saving & Credit
Cooperative of Bhavnagar district was
established.
In 2004 Seventy-Five villages of Ahmedabad
and Bhavnagar district covered by
both the cooperatives.
Apex Cooperatives
To overcome hurdles and organize rural people
especially women MAHITI studied entire situation in
depth. For three year MAHITI concentrated on
trainings, exposure visits and analyzing the
situation. It has examined the political, social and
economic power structures and mindset of men in Dalit
communities. Meanwhile its teams continuously worked
on community mobilization. In 2001 MAHITI has decided
to promote district level cooperatives. Bhal Mahila
Bachat ane Dhiran Sahkari Mandli-Ahmedabad registered
in 2001. Successively Bhal Mahila Jagruti Saving and
Credit Cooperative- Bhavnagar was registered in 2003.
Reason for selection of cooperative setup:
There are couple of reasons for adopting cooperative
mode of institutional arrangement to federate saving
and credit groups. By and large women have some
exposure to its structure and functioning. Other
reasons are as follows.
Even common women of Bhal can get access by becoming
member of cooperative
through nominal fee.
Cooperative setup can be run through democratic ways
and means. It will enable
more and more women to participate in decision-making.
Women’s participation will increase their abilities
in governance, administration
and finance.
The profit of cooperative can be equitably
distributed among its members.
Cooperative can work as a profit-making organisation
and thus become self-reliant
organisation.
Registration:
Cooperatives are registered under section 9 of
Cooperatives Act of Gujarat state, 1962.
Registration Number:
Bhal women saving and credit cooperative-Ahmedabad:
331 60
Bhal women jagruti saving and credit cooperative-Bhavnagar:
35239
Registration date:
Bhal mahila saving and credit cooperative-Ahmedabad:
11-09-2001
Bhal mahila jagruti saving and credit cooperative-Bhavnagar:
25-08-2003
Objectives:
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•To promote saving and credit activities in
a way to empower women through Self-
employment, need base credit and to help women in crisis.
• Saving and Credit activities strictly according to
Government rules and regulations.
• To cater daily needs of members of both the
Cooperatives.
• To develop women of Bhal region through economic,
social, educational and cultural
activities.
• To help members of cooperatives to carry
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various income generation activities leading to
economic self-reliance.
• To increase assets of women.
• To abolish exploitation of moneylenders.
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Work Area of cooperatives:
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Activities of Cooperatives:
1. Saving 3.
Insurance Schemes
5. Self - Employment
2. Credit 4.
Training
6. Marketing
Credit in terms of Cash
Credit in terms of Seeds
Credit for domestic expenses
Experience:
• As a result of Cooperatives womens’ association has
further increased with MAHITI.
• Women now understand nitty-gritty of cooperative
management.
• These Cooperatives are the biggest women’s
organisations in Bhal region.
• Cooperative system retained people’s participation
and transparency in accounts
and administration.
Main problems faced by Cooperatives:
• Due to frequent calamities and disasters needs of
members are higher.
Cooperatives are unable to meet the demand due to limited funds. This at
times
lead to frustration among members.
• Limited office automation led to manual accounting
and record keeping thus
reducing the efficiency of administration and timely delivery of
services.
• Local political powers try to disrupt cooperatives
and their activities.
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