8/15/2018 SAATH

Micro – Finance for Development

Amulya Pothkanuri
PP0000617
 INTRODUCTION:
Saath (which in Hindi/Gujarati means ‘together, co-operation, a
collective or support’), founded in 1989, is an NGO in India registered
as a Public Charitable Trust and is based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Saath major target is to empower the socially marginalized people &
vulnerable communities by providing them livelihood choices by
supporting them in terms of skill development leading to employment.
The focus areas of Saath are:
1. Skill development
2. Health & education
3. Livelihoods & rights
4. Financial inclusion
5. Rehabilitation & resettlement and
6. Other community development initiatives like urban governance

VISION:
Saath envisions inclusive & empowered communities and individuals

MISSION:
To make human settlements equitable living environments where all residents and vulnerable people
have access to health, education, essential infrastructure services and livelihood options, irrespective of
their economic and social status.

ORGANOGRAM:

The SAATH Board is made up of experts in the field of urban planners, rural management,
environmental management, research, community mobilisation, judiciary experience, public policy and
urban governance. The Board meets compulsorily at least twice a year and in cases of emergency the
Board is convened as required. A quorum of at least 3 members is mandatory for the meeting.
 Partnership with government, corporates, individuals and NGOs/NPOs and over past 27 years Saath
provided its support and services to slum residents, migrants, minorities, children, women, youth and
vulnerable people in Gujarat, Rajasthan & Maharashtra.

INSTITUTIONAL PARTENERS:
Saath Livelihood Services; Saath Savings & Credit Cooperative Society Ltd.; Saath Mahila Savings &
Credit Cooperative Society Ltd.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS:

Saath has received several accolades for its programs. Some of them are – India NGO Award 2014 – 15
in the medium category, Champion level platinum seal by guide star India transparency awards – 2016
etc.

HISTORY:
 1989 – Saath registered as a trust in Behrampura. Major focus was levied on providing youth a forum
to come together, to communicate & to identify the problems existing in the settlement.
 1990 – Community Leadership Building (Linkages with TB hospital & AMC to identify and treat TB
patients, AMC’s subsidy scheme – 80:20 toilet construction in Behrampura through revolving loans,
First CBO – Ekta Yuvak Mandal, registered and savings were started)
 1991 to 1992 – Health & Vocational Training (Community health programs, Expansion of ISDP, A
preschool sewing classes & electrician courses started)
 1993 to 1994 – Riots Floods (2296 households covered during Ayodhya – Babri riots – rehabilitation
& resettlement, Food supply & medicine distribution)
 1995 – Slum Networking Project (Capacity building of local community associations)
 1996 – Savings & credit activities through “Sakhi Mahila Mandal”
 1996 to 2000 – Market based approach (Research & documentation cell, Expansion of slum networking
program, Included vegetable sorting & sewing in livelihood activities)
 2001 – The Earthquake (Relief work in Kutch – 2204 households of 7 villages of Khadir & Rapar,
Implementation of “Slum Electrification Program”)
 2002 – Communal Riots & Saath’s stand (Relief & rehabilitation program, Participated in Gujarat
Harmony Project for reconstruction of houses, Registration of Sankalp Mitra Mandal – CBO, Partnered
with CBO’s to prepare Draft Gujarat State Urban Slum Policy & participatory poverty assessments)
 2003 – Building Credibility & Scale up (Saath’s governance, financial and management systems are
in compliance with global norms laid down by ‘Credibility Alliance’ and Give Foundation. In a rating
of 1342 NGOs by the Planning Commission of India, Saath stands 281st in India and 7th among 50 in
Gujarat)
 2004 – Geographic Expansion (Mother & Child Care Program, Managed & monitored 191
Anganwadis, Urmila Home Manager Program)
 2005 to 2006 – Livelihood Focus (Ek Mouka Udaan Project, Natural resources management with rural
communities in Rajkot, Initiation of Snehal project)
 2007 – Institutional Expansion & Recognition (Registration of Saath Livelihoods Services, Umeed
expanded to 8 districts through 55 centres)
 2008 – Child Rights for Change program, PPP model with AMC & IIM for managing Urban Health
in Ahmedabad
 2009 to 2010 – Grih Pravesh program to facilitate purchase of affordable houses, Promote handicrafts
– Patola & Tangaliya
 2011 to 2012 – Change in Leadership (Nirman Skill building program for construction workers)
 2012 to 2017 – More programs ( Youth Force Program, Housing Rights Program for Gujarat, Housing
Rights & Governance initiative in Gujarat)

FACTS & FIGURES – 2016 & 2017:

1. Saath has provided its services to more than 5 lakh individuals in Gujarat, Rajasthan & Maharashtra.
2. Saath Charitable Trust
a. Income – 4.3 crore
b. Expenditure – 4.22 crore
c. Individual Clients – 13,756
3. Saath Livelihood Services
a. Income – 1.62 crore
b. Expenditure – 1.51 crore
c. Individual Clients – 10,756
4. Saath Savings & Credit Cooperative Society Ltd.
a. Income – 4.15 crore
b. Expenditure – 3.84 crore
c. Individual Clients – 10,634
5. Saath Mahila Savings & Credit Cooperative Society Ltd.
a. Income – 0.58 crore
b. Expenditure – 0.54 crore
c. Individual Clients – 3.555
6. Saath’s 21 initiatives and 4 institutions contribute toward 14 out of the 17 Sustainable Development
Goals set by UN, to transform the world by 2030
7. Udaan Program
a. Trained – 1000
b. Placed – 620
8. Nirman Program
a. Trained - 421
9. Women @ Work
a. Trained – 421 & Placed – 89
10. Livelihood Resource Centre
a. Formal Sector Placement – 383
b. Informal Sector Placement - 152
11. Urmila Home Manager
a. Trained – 158
b. Placed – 88
c. Clients - 152
12. Business GYM
a. Micro Entrepreneurs – 179
b. New Entrepreneurs - 49
13. Rweaves
a. Artisans - 25
14. Youth Force
 a. Livelihood Linkages - 235

REFLECTION:
Started in Behrampura, Saath is a need based integrated model. It is a “Bottom up Approach”. Saath
plays an important role in translating the targets to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. From the
above details, we can understand that Saath bridges the communication gap between authorities and
the vulnerable communities. The works of Saath focus on improving the living conditions of the
vulnerable communities by providing financial support and also initiating many programs like Udaan,
Nirman etc.
One of the major aim of the Saath is to “Empower Women” – which is successful in current stage,
where most of the Saath clients are women. Saath makes sure that atleast 1/3 of the group for which
they are providing loan should be women clients. Also Saath financial model is 100% sustainable – in
the above facts and figures we can observe that there is no great loss for the Trust in annual year 2016
& 17. We can say that Saath is “Inclusive in terms of Economics”.
Some of the best practices of Saath are - To provide a loan, Saath makes sure that there is a homogeneity
on the group. The first loan provided will be based on Joint Liability Group” and the members of the
group should purchase shares in the trust to get eligibility for opening a savings account & also to avail
loan; the rate of interest for loan is 24% with a concept or reducing EMI.
In coming days, Saath is also going to launch mobile app for savings and transactions – this is one of
the major outcome because of demonetisation affect. Finally we can conclude that micro finance
institutions like Saath creates a very positive impact on the life of vulnerable communities and help
them to achieve livelihood skills to sustain.
REFERENCES: www.saath.org