Beyond Microfinance

The programme has promoted 47 federations which are different levels of growth process in terms of addressing financial and social development needs of poor women. Federations existing for more than three years have initiated many social development programmes which include housing, infrastructure, health, education, sanitation, drinking water, skill building, insurance and business promotion. As part of this process these federations have established linkages and entered Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with local, district administration, municipalities, apex banks, CAPART, HDFC SIDBI, NABARD and industrial houses. The notable initiatives include comprehensive health programmemes offered by federation with health insurance, group housing programme for evicted urban poor Madurai city, remedial education centres and decentralised libraries, collaboration with business houses for providing employment and income for members and facilitating rural-urban linkages. Six federations have initiated special programmes a health and education and propose to upscale over next three years. Many federations actively participate in promoting philanthropy in each location by way of supporting education of children through scholarships, donations to people affected by fire accidents, floods and other calamities, and for meeting major health expenses of other members - and their families. Federations provide awards to meritorious students and people from various walks of life who have higher sense of social responsibility and involved in service.

A Case
Civic Intervention –Access to Health Services
Kadamalai Kalanjia Vattara Sangam (KKVS) is an autonomous and financially self sufficient federation of the Self Help Groups (SHGs) at Mayiladumparai - Kadamalaikundu block in Theni district. As on 31st March 2005, 270 Kalanjiam primary groups have become members of this federation, which cover 4,668 poor families in the block. The federation initiated its activities with the focus of addressing financial needs of the members and today it has emerged as a civic institution. It has identified and undertaken various development issues in the block Mayiladumparai - Kadamalaikundu is a remote and one of the most backward blocks in the State. It is well known for development issues such as low literacy rate, high infant mortality rate, poor health care access, high incidents of female suicides and infanticides, lack of employment opportunities poor infrastructure facilities, high level of exploitation by informal financing systems etc. The federation identified poor health status of women and children as a predominant and important development issue in the block and took several measures to address it.

The federation initiated development activities pertaining to health right from its inception. Realising the need for the proper maternity case services to the members, the federation identified and appointed traditional birth attendants (Thais in Tamil) across the villages. Periodical trainings are being given to the attendants. They are also provided with hygienic maternity kits. Through this programme skills of the local birth attendants have been enhanced to offer hygienic maternity services. In necessary cases, these attendants would direct to the patients to the referral hospitals. Presently this programme is under implementation in 15 villages in the block.

Apart from rendering maternity services the ‘Thais’ also provide primary health care services to the members. The Thais are also given with small medicinal kits which contain medicines meant for minor aliment. An exclusive team has been set up by the federation to create enough awareness among the villagers to arrest the female infanticide. The team gives periodical counselling to the pregnant woman to create awareness. Apart from this, an amount of Rs 2000 is mobilised and deposited in the name of girl children. The ‘Thais’ are also actively involved in this programme. In the view of improving the nutritional status of the Kalanjiam members and the family. The federation motivates the members to promote kitchen gardens. Vegetable seeds are distributed to the members through federation staff, leaders and ‘Thais’ during the month of July every year. Now, the kitchen gardens have become an integral part of members’ houses. The federation organises need based health camps. The health team functioning in the federation ensures the follow-up action to the patients attended the camps. Every year two to three such camps are organised by the federation. The federation offers health insurance services to the members and their families for hospitalisation reimbursement.

Considering the existence of poor infrastructure facilities in the block pertaining to health needs of the villages and consequent exploitation of quacks the federation has established a referral hospital. The need for such hospital was long felt by the villages. The hospital has been set up in federation’s own building. An advisory body constituted by Kalanjiam members has been set up to provide guidance and support to manage the hospital. The federation has appointed a qualified physician and a nurse on full time basis. Existing health activities of the federation such as access to maternity care services, arresting the female infanticide, provision of primary health care, health insurance, etc. have been linked with the hospital. The hospital has been successful in offering quality health care services to the members at cheaper rate.

The earnest efforts taken by the federations have resulted in the following effects among the villagers.