Page 34 - Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2020-21

28 Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2020-21 29

Women Empowerment Governance

Reliance Foundation works to address gender inequality, especially in rural areas, conscious Reliance Foundation builds grassroots leadership by enhancing the capabilities of Gram Panchayats
of the catalytic role of women in community development. (GPs) for the effective implementation of local plans. During the year, Gram Sabhas and Panchayats Transformation Rural
mentored by Reliance Foundation took the lead in responding to challenges posed by the pandemic
Geeta Baraskar of Mandikoh village, Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh talks of her
RNG and how it inspired others to develop their own RNGs and addressing new emerging needs. Community members, with support from Reliance Foundation,
helped set up community kitchens and arranged for food kit distribution.

In FY 2020-21, Reliance Foundation focused on livelihood Mentoring and trainings were conducted virtually or through Reliance Foundation has been guiding different Gram Panchayats (GP) During FY 2020-21, Reliance
trainings in collaboration with NRLM & various agencies for small groups with utmost care for safety. During the pandemic, and other community groups about various government schemes such Foundation built capacities of
the economic empowerment of 1,700+ Self-help Groups, with SHGs took the lead in supporting communities by stitching as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Swachh 10,000+ elected representatives
end-to-end mentorship, and providing bank and government masks for frontline workers and providing ration for affected Bharat Mission (SBM) and government's social security schemes,
department linkages. The SHGs took up diverse enterprises communities apart from conducting other activities. COVID-19 related government schemes, etc. and has been creating and village volunteers
– from mushroom cultivation to nursery development, from awareness on the 15th Finance Commission guidelines and supporting In an attempt to strengthen local governance
livestock rearing to pisciculture. 1,700+ Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP). and push for economic development and social

Women-run SHGs mentored by RF during the year Through these measures, it is facilitating GPs’ elected representatives justice, Reliance Foundation trains elected
and functionaries to leverage scheme benefits in collaboration with the representatives of different Gram Panchayats
government machinery, district officials and various departments, and and other volunteers. These GPs then collaborate
ensuring that they reach the target communities. with departments and institutions like, Forest,
Horticulture, Agriculture, KVK, Banks, other
Promoting budding development agencies, etc. and invest their time
entrepreneurs in leading various community initiatives in their
respective villages
Sumitraben Vasava, a community
champion, had always dreamt of leading
her people to a better future. To turn
her vision into reality, she and the other
members of her SHG group, Shivshakthi
Mahila Juth, decided to begin a collective
agro-business in Netrang, Gujarat and
reached out to Reliance Foundation for
guidance.
Role of Reliance Foundation
Under a robust skill-building programme,
facilitated by Reliance Foundation, the
women fast built up their business skills
and gained from multi-stakeholder
interactions.
RF also linked them to livelihood finance
opportunities and different markets to
understand the scope of their business
model. Using the support, the group
today processes, packages and markets
a bevy of products like drumstick, amla,
giloy, and fenugreek, all using solar dryers.
This was by no means an easy task for the
women of Mahila Juth. They invested their
savings and also took loans from external
stakeholders.

Armed with the sound knowledge of
running a profitable agro- business,
the hardworking women have become
shining examples for their community.
The group is beginning to formalize their
processes and take flight, armed with the
sound knowledge of running a profitable
agro-business, these hardworking women
are slowly becoming shining examples
for their community. Reliance Foundation
salutes the determination of these
budding entrepreneurs of Gujarat and
Sumitraben Vasava with members of Shivshakthi Mahila Juth SHG in Netrang, Gujarat is humbled to have played a role in their P Swapna, the Sarpanch of Thimmajiwadi GP, Kamareddy, Telangana
venture.