Chetana Child-focused Community Development Project

Chetana Child-focused Community Development Project (CFCD) (Sustained)

Chetana Child-focused Community Development Project (CFCD) has been continuing to serve its target communities through Project Level Federation of Women Self Help Groups, which is an independent registered body managed by the elected leaders from the CBOs and registered under Karnataka Souharda Co-operative Societies Act. Chetana is currently functioning as a Community Managed Microfinance Institution and provides microfinance service support for children’s education, especially for higher studies, life skills development of children, vocational skills training, micro-enterprise promotion (farm and off-farm) for income generation are some of the major systems provided by the cooperative society.

Main Issues

The nutrition status of children below 5yrs was low due to the families' dependence on wage labor.
75% of the population belonged to SC/ST communities, and 70% were below the poverty line (BPL).
Education, especially that of girl children, was low due to poor accessibility and the dropout rate of girl students was high.
66% of SHG members were dependent on irregular and insecure wage labor, and 22% were dependent on agriculture.
There were no livelihood opportunities for women to earn extra income for the family.

Changes Brought

Children below 5 years were covered under Anganwadi programmes like nutrition, immunization, etc. Malnutrition status came down to less than 1%.
The school dropout became nil both among boys and girls. No child marriages were reported.
Out of 14 health works in the project, 10 of them have become ASHA works.
90% of the SHG women were covered under the livelihood programme.
Crop yield increased by at least 20% in the 226 acres of land belonging to farmers, which were treated through land bunding activities.
The Federation has started a Cooperative Bank, which is doing well.

Currently, the federation has 60 SHGs (712 members), 5 CLAs, and one Federation. Total savings of ? 1,42,00,000 has been mobilized (CSA contribution and SHG Fund). Current portfolio of fund rotation is ? 21,35,60,000. The Federation has also collaborated with Unnat Baharat Abhiyan. It plans to start a school, an old age home, and a garment industry in their locality.