SRI PADMAVATHY MAHILA ABYUDAYA SANGAM (SPMS)
SPMS is a legally recognized federation of women SHGs registered in 1992. It has created an easily accessible alternative banking system - managed by its community members. SPMS was formed due to a demand for access to credit from the urban poor which was earlier unavailable despite the existence of commercial banks in the area. The SHGs so created by SPMS generated financial resources from their own savings and revolved these in the form of loans to their members to meet various needs. However, the credit activity expanded when demand for fixed and working capital grew among the women. The increased demand has been met through loans accessed from mainstream financial institutions.
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The main philosophy guiding SPMS is that poor women should be organised and helped in capacity building, so that they can solve their own economic problems.
JOURNEY FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY
1989
INITIATION OF SANGAMS
1992
REGISTRATION AS A LEGAL ENTITY
1993
INITIATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM
1995
INITIATION OF HOUSING PROGRAM WITH HUDCO
1998
ESTABLISHING FINANCIAL LINKAGES WITH HDFC, SIDBI & NHB
2001
EXPANSION OF HEALTH CENTERS, INITIATION OF SCHOOLS & SLUM IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
2005
CONSTRUCTION OF OWN OFFICE BUILDING
2009
INITIATION OF WEALTH OUT OF WASTE PROGRAM
2012
OWN OFFICE BUILDINGS FOR CLUSTER ASSOCIATIONS
2016
ESTABLISHED 'SABARI' OLD AGE HOME ALONG WITH A TRAINING & RESOURCE CENTER
2018
INITIATION OF SP-MACÂ SOCIETY FOR ENTERPRISE LENDING
THE MODEL
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SPMS has a three tier structure, commonly known as a sangam, cluster level association and federation. All the three levels are independent institutions with distinct identities, working together for growth and sustainability of the members of the organization. Sangam is the basic unit of the organization and consists of 10-15 members, of which 2 members are elected as leaders. The cluster, with 25-30 groups, monitors the working of the self-help groups and acts as bridge between the federation and the groups. Lastly, the federation is an authorized registered entity formed to meet the overall needs of the members both financially and socially. The sangams constitute the general body of the federation, which is in turn managed by the Board of Directors.
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THE INITIATIVE
SPMS believes that saving is an effective tool for poverty alleviation. Each sangam has savings of 50,000 – 3 lakhs contributing to a total savings of INR 16 crores. This money is used for internal lending purposes to meet personal, business and housing needs of the members. Over the years, the Federation, Cluster level association and the Sangam lent a total amount of INR 300 crores. In addition, further linkages were made with the commercial banks.
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ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Board of directors meets once in a month to review and analyse the working of the groups and oversee the work of the staff and management. A similar system works at the sangam and the cluster level, where committee meetings are held every month with a leadership rotation every 3 years at all levels. The Managing Director- appointed by the board of the federation leads and co-ordinates the activities of the federation with support of the dedicated field staff.
IMPACT AND KEY MILESTONES
OUTREACH
20 Cluster Associations
533 Self Help Groups
6800 women members
Savings of members: INR 16 crores
Number of staff: 30
Number of slums covered: 50
Number of villages covered: 18
LIVELIHOODS FOR URBAN POOR
Credit availed: INR 320 crores
Average loan per member: INR 4.8 lakhs
Amount of average credit availed from banks per SHG: INR 8 lakhs
No.of enterprises created: 4261
No.of members trained in skills: 1241
No.of loans for enterprise promotion: 15221
HOUSING FOR URBAN POOR
NABARD has given INR 99 lakhs as a Revolving fund for Housing under Rural Habitat scheme.
625 homes constructed with INR 4.39 crores
1080 members availed loan for house improvement with a loan amount of INR 2.69 crores.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Number of lives covered: 10440
Amount of claim per life covered: INR 20000 - INR 40000
Number of claims settled per year: 90-120
Amount of claims settled per year: INR 40-45 lakhs
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Practice of "Rotation of leadership" established and institutionalised over the last 25 years
Number of members in leadership positions: 1257
134 members served as directors of the institution
SOCIAL INITIATIVES
Number of tuition centers: 15
Number of children covered: 259
Women supported under health programs: 2500
Number of yoga camps conducted: 5
Number of Annadanam events conducted last year: 12