Jyoti Thakare, Chairperson, MAVIM: A Step Ahead than Yesterday

EMPOWERING WOMEN

MAVIM has mobilized 99,670 SHGs in rural and 49,290 in urban under different schemes under CMRCs, (Community Managed Resource Centers). Till date, MAVIM has promoted 361 CMRCs under Tejaswini programme focusing on Agro Service Centers, Goatary related activities. Emphasis is on strategies promoting livelihood promotion. MAVIM has also trained around 29,890 of women elected as Sarpanch (head of the Village), member of Village Panchayat Jilla Parishad etc. to make them effective as PRI members for a greater role in decision making.

Health is another focus area for which MAVIM has implemented reproductive health programmes with the support of UNFPA. Under gender sensitization awareness program five key issues such as female feticide, women & child malnutrition, dowry and child marriage, assets creation, joint property ownership are being addressed. Proactive role of male members, are also elicited through the “MAVIM Mitra Mandal”, who are trained and sensitized to help women against all kinds of discrimination and atrocities. Establishing drudgery reduction models at village level is another inititative.

FINANCE MATTERS

MAVIM has signed MOU’s with several banks for strengthening micro financing. Due to the intervention of MAVIM, SHGs have saved around Rs. 744.46 Crore and ensure timely repayment of all loans. So far, SHGs have received a total amount of Rs.5076.84 Crore from the lending banks. Meanwhile, CMRCs is creating awareness among the members about the government sponsored insurance products for rural poor and helping easy settlement of claims. Annual outcome Survey (AOS) to identify the area of concern and qualitative progress of operations are conducted periodically by MAVIM.

LEVERAGING SHG

During 1994-2002, MAVIM successfully implemented IFAD-assisted Maharashtra Rural Credit Program (MRCP) for providing access to credit, information, and knowledge to poor rural women. Followed by MRCP, MAVIM had implemented various developmental schemes assisted by central 7 states Govt. through medium of SHG’s.MAVIM has partnered with various organization and has also forged ties with number of partners including business partners, technical organizations, CSR partners, banks/financial institutions etc. And out of all the banks ICICI Bank is the one which has helped MAVIM at a very initial stage when there was no support from any other bank. Now it is a 10 year trusted relationship between MAVIM & ICICI Bank.

SOME LANDMARK INITIATIVES

MAVIM has planned a COE at MAVIM Ghar, Nagpur which will be developed as State Training center and part of Centre of Excellence process to work on areas like SHG approach for community development. Looking at the ground strength of SHG women who are also marginal farmers, at least 35 women lead FPC/FPOs will be made functional as aggregators at district level under Nav Tejaswini program. Programs like SMART by Agriculture Dept & MAGNET by Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) along with Nav Tejaswini would be the first step towards formation of women led FPCs.

Leveraging technology, MAVIM has digitized SHG member details and created an “E-biz” platform where CMRC would the single point of contact for buyers. So far 92,000 farmers data have been uploaded into the system.

Since the Covid pandemic, 60% of SHGs are making digital payment. MAVIM has tied up with “Oxigen” company to enable SHG members to operate small ATM machines (Swipe machines) for digital payments and earn some income. Taking its objective forward, MAVIM would soon launch its digital platform similar to Amazon & FlipKart, which will give digital access to the poor to publish their product on the website on nominal charges.

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