Established in November 1998 in Raichur, Koppal and Uttara Kannada districts, Munjavu is currently functioning in 129 villages and working with 479 women's groups. Trained Munjavu staff, systematically facilitate rural women to form groups and take on thrift and credit activities.

Highlights 2002

95 New Groups :

Ninety five new groups consisting of 1318 members have initiated thrift and credit activities.

MMVSSN in Deodurg, Tavargera :

A hundred and sixty four SHG's in Deodurg and 104 SHG's in Tavaragera established the Munjavu Mahila Vividoddesh Souhardha Sahakara Niyamith (Co-operatives) in these places.

Volunteers for 139 Groups :

A hundred and thirty nine groups have recruited volunteers to maintain their books of accounts and are no longer dependent on project staff for this task.

UCSF-SAMUHA Study on Adolescent Girls :

The University of California, San Francisco, in association with SAMUHA Munjavu, has initiated a study to understand the correlation between economic status and health in adolescent girls. This study will also examine levels of awareness about HIV/AIDS and STI in the group.

Kanakanala Dairy programme :

The Kanakanala Dairy programme (Milk Cooperative) started functioning in September 2002. The unit has taken up the sale of milk and milk products on a pilot basis to gain an understanding into the existing market conditions.

Computerisation Increases Efficiency :

Computerisation of all books of accounts has made it easy to ensure uniformity and efficiency of records, retrieve information and track progress of each member.

Street plays and audiovisual aids are effective media to build awareness and disseminate information.

Trainings and exposures lead to both structured understanding of systems, and easier learning.

Conflict resolution modules need to be introduced into group building exercises.

Groups become bored or project-dependent if they are not given enough responsibility. They are more interested and receptive when exposed to new and innovative information.

Planned action-oriented activities are necessary for sustaining the interest of groups in areas outside immediate savings and credit.

IN THE PIPELINE...

... Munjavu Mahila Sahakar will initiate onward lending for land mortgage, gold loans, dry land horticulture, micro enterprise development, infrastructure development, alternative energy, home shopping, farm shopping and grain bank.

... It will also lend support for insurance, death relief fund, ryota sahakar (farmers’ cooperative) reproductive and child health, and early child care and development.