This document provides information about women saving schemes in India. It discusses the history and guidelines for self-help groups and microfinance through women saving schemes. It outlines various government schemes to promote women saving schemes such as the Bhartiya Mahila Bank and Corporation Bank's savings scheme for women. An interview with Sangeeta Kamble, the leader of a women saving scheme called Vishwa Shanti Mandal, highlights her journey in founding the group and empowering women through financial inclusion and community support.

1. A Project on
WOMEN SAVING SCHEME
Submitted to Mr. Vinit
Group members
Revati Ramaswami Roll no 80 (MMS)
Depti Chougule Roll no 16 (MMS)
Vivek Hande Roll no115 (MMS)

2. WOMEN SAVING SCHEME
“When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in
the life of another.” - Helen Keller
Introduction
- It is a group of 10-20 members, usually local women. SHGs have been traditionally
supported by NGOs or by government agencies. Members of the group make small
regular savings contributions over a few months to collect enough capital which is
then used for lending to the group members for any purpose. The loans are made in
small amounts and this forms the basis of micro-finance. SHGs also encourage
members to use the loans to set up micro enterprises.
- A self-help group is a financial intermediary comprising of a group of like-minded
people especially women who come together to pool their small savings to a common
fund and agree to meet their emergency needs on mutual help basis.
- Group is a silent revolutionary concept that is taking place in the credit delivery
system. Micro-finance through SHGs offers best form of credit for reaching the
unreached and the under-reached. The SHG concept has gained momentum due to
active participation of banks.
- 'Self-help Group' is a voluntary association of poor formed with the common goal of
social and economic empowerment.
- The members volunteered to organise themselves into a group for the eradication of
poverty of the members. They agree to save regularly and convert their savings into a
common fund known as the group corpus. The members of the group agree to use this
common fund and such other funds that they may receive as a group through a
common management.
History of women saving scheme
This scheme was started by Dr. Mohammad Younis in 1943 in Bangladesh. Today every
rural bank in Bangladesh is developed through this scheme.
In India the first women saving scheme was started in Amravati district back 1976. Every
month during the introduction stage of this scheme the women‟s use to contribute 25 paisa.

3. Broad Guidelines for Group Formation
Normally, the number of members in a group should not exceed twenty;
otherwise registration becomes compulsory. Generally, a self-help group may consist of ten
to twenty persons. However, in difficult areas like deserts, hills and areas with scattered and
sparse population and in case of economically weaker and/or physically disabled persons,
this number may be from five to twenty. Generally, all members of the group should belong
to families below the poverty line. However, if necessary a maximum of 20% and in
exceptional cases, where essentially required, upto a maximum of 30% of the members in a
group may be taken from families marginally above the poverty line living contiguously
with BPL (Below Poverty Line) families and if they are acceptable :o the BPL members of
the group. However, the APL members will not be eligible for the subsidy under the
scheme. The BPL families must actively participate in the management and decision
making, which should not ordinarily be in the hands of APL (Above Poverty Line) families.
Further, APL members of the SHG shall not become office bearers (Group Leader, Assistant
Group Leader or Treasurer) of the group.
The group shall not consist of more than one member from the same family. A person
should not be a member of more than one group. The group should device a code of conduct
(Group Management norms) to bind itself. This should be in the form of regular meetings
(weekly or fortnightly), functioning in a democratic manner, allowing for a free exchange of
views, participation by the members in the decision making process. The group should be
able to draw up an agenda for each meeting and take up discussions as per the agenda. The
members should build their corpus through regular savings. The group should be able to
collect the minimum voluntary saving amount from all the members regularly in the group
meetings. The savings so collected will be the group corpus fund.
The group corpus fund should be used to advance loans to the members. The group
should develop financial management norms covering the loan
sanction procedure, repayment schedule and interest rates. The members in the group
meeting should take all the loaning decisions through a participatory decision making
process. The group should be able to prioritise the loan applications, fix repayment
schedules, fix an appropriate rate of interest for the loans advanced and closely monitor the.
repayment of loan instalments from the loanee.
The group should operate a bank account preferably in their service area bank branch,
to deposit the balance amounts left with the groups after disbursing loans to its members. The
group should maintain simple basic records such as minutes book, attendance register, loan
ledger, general ledger, cash book, bank pass book and individual pass books.

4. SCHEMES FOR WOMEN
1. PNB MAHILA UDYAM NIDHI SCHEME
To meet gap in equity. The women entrepreneurs will be assisted for setting up of new
projects in tiny /small scale sector and rehabilitation of viable sick SSI units. Existing tiny
and small scale industrial units and service industries undertaking expansion , modernization
technology up gradation & diversification can also be considered.
2. PNB MAHILA Samridhi Yojna
Under This Scheme , four schemes have been launched under the umbrella of one scheme.
These are for purchase of required infrastructure for Setting up of
1) Tailoring shop/Boutique, i.e. for purchase of Sewing Machines, etc.
2) ISD/STD Booths, i.e. for Security Deposits with MTNL/other Agencies like
Reliance/Tata Indicom.etc., for purchase of Fax Machine, Xeroxing/Photocopier Machine,
etc.
3) Beauty Parlor, i.e. for purchase of Furniture, Chairs, Bench etc.
4) Cyber Cafe, i.e. for purchase of Computers and furniture like computer tables, chairs etc.
and for recurring expenditure as per the need of the activity.
3. Scheme For Financing Creches
To provide support services for women empowerment to working women in terms of crèches
with necessary services by making cheaper and easier credit available for financing Creches.
The women will be assisted for purchase of required infrastructure for setting up Crèches like
basic equipment, utensils, stationers, growth monitoring equipments, fridge, cooler/fan, water
filter, etc. and for recurring expenditure for one month.
4. PNB Kalyani Card Scheme
For meeting working capital credit requirement of allied agricultural activities/ misc
farm/non- farm activities either singly or in combination with other activities. The
literate/illiterate women dwelling in rural / semi-urban areas who have attained the age of
majority shall be eligible under the Scheme. Such Women shall include individuals, farmers,
landless laborers, agricultural laborers, tenant farmers, share croppers, lessee farmers, etc.
The women desirous of undertaking non-farm sector activities should have
aptitude/experience and capability for undertaking the activity chosen for self employment.
5. PNB Mahila Sashaktikaran Abhiyan
Under this scheme, following concessions will be admissible
• Interest rate to be relaxed by 0.25% in Non-Priority Sector Advances and 0.50% in Priority
Sector advances
• Margin to be reduced to 10%, wherever the margin requirement is more than 10%
• Waiver of 50% upfront fee (wherever applicable)
Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance And Development (TREAD) Scheme
The scheme envisages extension of credit by the bank and grant by the Govt of India to
NGOs for the benefit / on lending to women either through SHGs or individually for setting
up of small & micro enterprises in non farm sector.

5. ADVANTAGE TOWARDS THE SOCIETY WITH INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT
1. Channel of Financial Inclusion :
Usually, commercial banks are not very keen to lend money to the poor. In order to
include the poor in the credit delivery system, the government decided to launch the
SHG-Bank Linkage Programme (SBLP). The objective of the SBLP model is to include
all groups of people in the credit system. SHG members are from a diverse background
covering different social and economic categories like the Below Poverty Line
population, Scheduled Castes and Tribes, minorities and women.
2. Resource Mobilization :
SHGs play a very important role in mobilizing savings of the poor, many of whom
individually do not make use of the banking system to save. Under the SBLP, as on
March 2009, SHGs held total savings of ? 5,545 crore with banks.
3. Promote Savings and Banking Habit :
A very large number of poor people do not have access to banks. SHGs play a very
important role in linking them to the banking system by promoting savings habit in rural
areas. People are motivated to save because of the benefits they get from such savings
through the SHGs. Most of the share of SHG savings is held by commercial banks and
regional rural banks.
4. Improve the living conditions of the poor :
One of the major objectives of the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme is reduction of
poverty. It is assumed that investments made with the credit provided by SHGs would
generate income and contribute significantly to family earnings. Studies have shown that
in many cases the provision of micro-credit to poor women has created a positive impact
in this respect.
5. Women Empowerment :
SHGs have been successful in making a number of rural women economically, socially
and politically more empowered. Studies have pointed out a positive relationship between
SHG membership and women's participation in politics. Many SHG women members
have participated in and won Panchayat elections. ~
6. Promote Socio-economic Justice :
SHGs are considered to be a unique system for promotion of socioeconomic justice.
SHGs help to reduce poverty and thereby promote economic justice. They empower
women, people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes and Minorities. Thus, they
promote social justice

6. 7. Community Actions :
Women in SHG can work together to address issues that affect not only their own
members but others in the larger community. Case studies have shown that
women in SHGs have been motivated to improving community services including water
supply, education, health care, veterinary care, village roads, trying to stop alcohol sale
and consumption, contributing finance and labour for new infrastructure and protecting
natural resources. SHGs also make the rural poor"" aware about their various rights and
entitlements and help them fight exploitation.
8. Develop Individual Skill of Group Members :
The rural poor are usually not very educated and many are illiterate. While working as
members of SHGs, they develop certain skills, like negotiation, marketing and
accounting skills, creative skills, effective problem solving, team building and leadership
skills.
9. Livelihood Finance and Employment Generation :
The SHGs are designed to support the livelihoods of the members. The members are
encouraged to start micro enterprises. The credit needs of SHG IT. ambers vary from the
introduction of new livelihoods to providing support such as marketing efforts to
procurement of raw materials. SHGs are a very elective way of promoting
entrepreneurship and generating self-employment in rural areas. Small rural enterprises
help in reducing the incidence of disguised and seasonal unemployment.
10. Reduce Influence of Unorganised Sector :
The unorganised sector of the money market comprises of money lenders, chit funds,
nidhis and indigenous bankers. They are not regulated by the RBI and provide credit to
the rural poor at very high rates of interest. SHGs have T.ade a difference in reducing the
influence of this sector by providing bank- supported credit to the poor.
11. Beneficial to the Financial Sector :
The linkage of SHGs with the financial sector was beneficial for the banking sector. The
banks are able to tap in a large market, namely the low-income Households, transaction
costs are low and repayment rates are high providing benefit to the overall societ

7. INITIATIVES TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO START WOMEN SAVING
SCHEME.
BhartiyaMahila Bank
It has been decided that the bank will be called the BhartiyaMahila Bank as it will have connect
with rural India, which was the main idea behind setting up a women's bank In his budget speech
this year, Finance MinisterP Chidambaram had announced that the government would establish a
women's bank and provided for 1,000 Crore as initial capital.
"The discussion with the Planning Commission states that They will soon approve a provision of
1,000 Crore under the Plan during 2013-14,"
The BhartiyaMahila Bank will not offer any concessional rates to women, though. "It is a
commercial bank, which will follow the guidelines stipulated by the Reserve Bank of India," the
official said. The bank will primarily draw its human resource from existing employees in public
sector banks.
"The idea is to empower women in the country and bring banking services at their doorstep. The
bank will take initiatives to open accounts of women not only through branches but by
organising camps all across the country," he said.
The women's bank will support and coordinate with self-help groups and other organisations to
promote lending to women. It will also tie up with existing state-run financial institutions to
provide other services such as insurance and pension products.
According to the finance ministry's estimates, the bank will expand its presence up to 500
branches by its fourth year of operations.
Chidambaram had earlier said that initially there would be one branch in each major region of
the country - North, South, East, West and the North-East. He had argued in his budget speech
that women got a raw deal from many institutions, including public sector banks.
"A number of people have told me clearly there is a bias to lend to men rather to women,"
Chidambaram had said, adding that a public sector bank for women would be a good institution
that would address issues usually ignored by banks.

8. Corporation Bank has launched savings scheme for women
Corporation Bank, has launched a new loan-linked savings bank account called „Corp Mahila
Power‟. The release said that „Corp Mahila Power‟ was designed for working women or women
with independent source of income. The account stipulates maintaining a quarterly average
balance of Rs. 2,500.
The accountholder is provided with personalized cheque book, debit card, any-branch banking,
Internet banking and SMS or mobile banking, free of cost. The bank also offers personal
accident insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh to the accountholder. The release said that the
accountholder can take a personal loan of up to Rs. 1 lakh, depending on her income. The
scheme includes terms as applicable to regular SB & Personal Loan and other loan Accounts.
The bank has planned to recruit 1,200 people this fiscal with an aim to achieve its target of
adding 200 branches to its network. The banks processes of opening new branches are on and the
expansion will be across the country, particularly in the northern states.
Various Government Schemes
Swarnajayanti Gram SwarojgarYojana (SGSY)
SwarnaJayantiShahariRozgarYojana (SJSRY)
RashtriyaMahilaKosh (RMK)
Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development (TREAD) Scheme for
Women

9. INTERVIEW OF THE WOMEN SAVING SCHEME LEADER: SANGEETA KAMBLE
A story of a motivational lady leader Sangeeta kamble an activist in RPI and a federation
secretary of 550 women saving scheme, who founded a women saving scheme vishwa shanti
mandal . With a 10 pass certificate she felt the need to being educated which made her to get a
degree of MSW ( Master In Social Work).Her journey , her experience and her struggle truly
denotes that her conviction and integrity to work towards the society and how she managed to
ignite the women power and brought light to others life to step up from their regular house hold
chores and relief from the thought that woman are made to work at home.
Being a normal women where her journey began from her home itself where the greatest barrier
towards her destiny were her own loved ones. The main problem she faced was to gain trust from
the community where the society she keenly was to work with are themselves pushing you down.
They felt the insecurity of how a women can move out side the house to work but it is rightly
said when you have no one in this world to support your god leans his shoulder beside you. Now
she is on of the leader who made way for many other women and the only message she gave
was even you are not educated , your braveness counts a lot. A fight began in right intention will
always lead to victory even it takes time and patience.
At 2004 this scheme was actually implemented and came into action. It was hard for others
women to believe in them but their actual power was noticed when they gave an reaction. The
whole team fought against the crime of hitting a women, during 2005, when the whole Mumbai
city was praying for mercy , they took the lead and realized its time not to shed tears but time for
action.
They started with the saving of 50 per head Living herself in a slum area with the saving they of
around 500- 600 they invested the whole in the flood victim.
Buying them food , arranging an proper living for their home where peoples roof was drowned in
water. They wrote many letters to many NGO‟s, BMC , even TISS where ever possible and they
were astonished by the tremendous amount of help they got from all these group .
They also has tried her hands in nursing cause. And even for catering purpose.
Initially with no proper direction they had problem with documentation work with the ward
office.
After keeping its proposal in front of BMC and gaining its approval they got registered legally.
The group selected its first president Akshada and Sangeeta became the treasury. They
conducted meetings for its members where they discussed the new idea generation and
brainstorming session was introduced. This extended their reach for trying their hands in
garments

10. In their locality people use to have problems because there were no proper restrooms there was
water problems this made them to send letters to the government officials to has the right to
issue warrants for pipeline purpose. But even after written request and releasing rally the
cooperator didn‟t bother to pass the request for approval .but after repeating the same word again
and again finally The BMC fund was finally passed.
Even a loan of Rs. 5lakh was granted with an interest of 15% but they fought their way and make
it possible with their negotiation skills for the interest to fall within the range of 10% especially
on central bank. The government even granted a subsidy of nearly 2.5lakh.
For the craze to work for their people and to boost the power of justice they made their voice
raise up to Mantralaya protest. They held a fight for 5 yrs long yrs to provide a proper shelter for
the one staying near the streets with a plastic tent. To provide the rights of ration card facility for
the one at the BPL level.
When asked about the difference in implementation of women saving scheme at rural and urban
areas. The answer we got was its all about reaction with the real pull technique which was
possible at urban as rights can be gained if the force has power in it and change can happen faster
than compared to rural areas where the time delay on a cause was the real problem.
It was surprising in a case where all the people in the list of BPL were the rich people where the
privileged were enjoyed by such bribe masters..
They also conducted MSW field work for their cause. even there were interference from
government officials , treat from political side but with the help of their courage , confidence of
their support and their highly established connectivity they managed to get such heights .
They also held an rally which lasted for one month in respect of providing food service for the
NGO
Finally people start believing in their work and suddenly they start supporting for their goodness.
She got a idea to form a women saving scheme from print media and motivated by the thought
she managed to form a group of 15 members .
There are two worlds residing at the same place where the rich and poor both relies.
No matter what happens change happens when they have the will power to change it..it‟s a
struggle not to change the world but to change an leader within you..
We are living in such a World, where Artificial Lemon Flavor is used for Welcome Drink
& Real Lemon is used in Fingerbowl.

11. CONCLUSION
Now women in Maharashtra do not have to approach money lenders, as they can get credit at a
low rate of interest that they could never get before from other banks or credit institutions. The
main outcome is they have gained confidence—they have vision for their future, which results in
planning for their future. Women are respected by their families and communities and have
become financial advisers. ”Now we have started thinking about ourselves and giving
importance to us!” women have said.
“We never used to think of ourselves but only for the children and the family,” one woman said.
“But now we should be healthy, we should spend on our health.” In the annual general meeting,
the women unanimously recommended that NGOs in the area focus their work on education for
children.
These achievements do not mean there are no disappointments. Along with women‟s increased
responsibility comes more work—they must manage the house and finances, plan for the future,
and do other daily tasks. We are not creating superwomen—we want men to share the
responsibilities.
It was observed that these economically, socially and psychologically backward women become
informed very quickly through Bachat Gat activities. it can be seen that once they get motivated,
they start treading confidently and then all their embarrassment, fear, doubts, etc. fall apart. Their
success is also helpful in another uncommon way .Now, they have real stories of success to tell,
from which many others might be similarly encouraged to grow economically and socially.
“The strength of a woman is not measured by the impact that all her hardships in life have
had on her; but the strength of a woman is measured by the extent of her refusal to allow
those hardships to dictate her and who she becomes.”
― C. JoyBell C.

12. Case Study of a boy named Gulamrasul sheikh
Child profile
Name: Gulamrasul Shaikh
Age: 7
DOB: 11/10/05
Birth place: Bombay
Gender: Male
Religion: Muslim
Mother tongue: Urdu
Fathers name: Aftab
Mothers name: Afroja
Family members: 7
Observation analysis:
The family to which the boy belongs to lies on the edge of below poverty line where the monthly
income of the Karta is around 5000 i.e. 0.60L PA. He is a mechanic by profession with no
educational back up and same is the situation with his wife. The family size is of 7 consisting of
5 children‟s and parents. The family migrated from Bihar in hope of better future with work
conditions and children education,
Problem :
The real problem of this case more than poverty is illiteracy and lack of awareness.
Due to pressure from the forefathers of a male child and lack of knowledge in use of protection it
leaded to pressure to serve more with a little in hand.. No proper family planning and no
awareness of government facilities provided and their newly introduced campaign has been
notified.
Seen in most case , Students are drop out due to delay in fees and thereby no Annual results has
been issued from private educational institute neither an leaving certificate has been handed over
which makes the child hanging in the middle .

13. Benefits:
Thanks to Ngo project crayon where they can lay their head with some creativity and learning ,
prompting them for a motivational move to lead a better future, new activity grooves them to be
involved and be touch with studies till they get confirmed admission from their respective
schools . In this way they can learn to implement good habits and there by pass to their friends
who are nearby in the slums areas. In addition Project crayon provides a meal for a day which
counts a lot for the dried eyes with great hopes ..
This is the way they can be far from crimes like theft and even stay away from bad company
where they can be easily used in smuggling or get trapped in child trafficking or drugs racket.
Future growth:
The case study also supports side way business where the child‟s mother implies her skills in
making plastic bangles for their living in a same way where she can stabilize her family living,
By analyzing the child‟s background , it has been estimated that there will be pressure on the
child to earn at the early stage because before him 2 girl child has been observed .
The future prospective of the child is bright because the child is an brilliant star showing major
rays to improve where the percentage he got is above 81% at the age of 7 so if proper guidance is
passed to this child he can be the next respected professor who can give light to more growing
little seeds mentioned as the future of tomorrow..
Moral:
That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your
life, but in a new way.
Doris Lessing

14. Child Name- Saliya Anif Ansari.
Date Of Birth- 20/04/2001
Age- 12years
Gender- Female
Place of Birth- Mumbai
Religion- Muslim
Address- Annabhausathenagar, DrAmbedkarchawl, Mankhurd, Mumbai 400043.
Father Name- Mr. Arif Ansari
Mother Name- Firajadehatan Ansari
Education of Parents- 3rd
std Pass
No of family member- 7 person
This is the story of a child miss Saliya Ansari who was born with god grace of intelligence and fair
healthiness in 2001. The family to which she belongs was wealthier and could easily survive with the
children in the today’s world. The child at the age of 4 started her education then slowly when she was
moving towards her upper-class her family started growing bigger and larger with her 3 brothers 2
sisters and 2 parents in total 7 members of the family. One year later the family income was constant
and the expenses of the family was increasing day by day, because of the increase in the family member
the family was facing lots of financial problem, earlier Miss Saliya was alone and younger child in the
family to take education but later on because of her 4 siblings parents could not bare her education
expenses and the school because of not paying the educational fees has removed her from the school
and Miss Saliya was then moved to project Crayon for continuing her further education. Gradually with
her sibling she started studying in an NGO (Project Crayons). During Saliya school days they were staying
in sakinaka Andheri slum area and then the demolition took place they were moved to mankhurd slums.
This has affected the student’s growth and educational life but because of such projects like project
Crayon student can fulfill, grow and dream into reality.

15. Conclusion –
The main causes for such economic down turn of saliya’s family are –
As they were belonging to a below middle class family and both the parents have only been educated till
3rd
standard of their primary school they were unaware of the family planning and sexual knowledge
which in turn has given birth to 5 children’s and the parents were not able to feed them properly and
take care of their education.
(Till now the 4 children’s of the Ansari’s family including Saliya are not able to continue their school and
they are forced to take the education in project Crayon)

16. CASE STUDY ON AZAM MD. ARIF ANSARI
Now he is 12 year old. his father & mother both are studied till 5th
std only. His father working in
sakinaka in a helper at a shop. His earning is very low. He have total 5 childrens 2 girls & 3
boys. His mother is a house wife. This family needs education support. Because Azam‟s father is
only working & his family income is only 3000.
Religion - Muslim,
This urban poor family live with many deprivations. Their daily challenges may include:
limited access to employment opportunities and income,
inadequate and insecure housing and services,
violent and unhealthy environments,
little or no social protection mechanisms, and
limited access to adequate health and education opportunities.
Getting food
Getting work
Paying the bills
Getting necessary financial help.
Paying for their medications
Paying for their children‟s education
Buying proper, warm clothing for winter
Not able to afford to give their children lunch to take to school
Spending yet another winter in not- heated flat (if can afford one)
Lack of understanding from financially better situated people
Sometimes even not having enough for fare to go to work
Being perceived as stupid just due to their poverty
Children being bullied at school
Loosing self-esteem, so getting depressed & some react with unnecessary aggression
Victims of economic exploitation due to the fact that are willing to accept worst-paid job
with longer than usual hours
Abuse from managers or supervisors
Lack of sex education so they are not aware with child planning or family planning
Basic amenities like electricity, potable water, toilets may be lacking in slums and there is
no drainage
Heaps of garbage is found here and there. Hygienic conditions are not there-thus slum
dweller fall easy prey to diseases like cholera, malaria, jaundice. During the rainy season,
it is real hell for slum dwellers.
Most of the houses are very small comprising of only one room for a household. These
are shabbily built without any provision for natural light or ventilation.

17. Most of the inhabitants work as unskilled or semi skilled laborers and are usually below
poverty line.
Unhygienic living conditions along with poverty create health problems. Large numbers
of children are malnourished and respiratory diseases are common. Child mortality rate in
these areas is the highest in the country
Although government has made efforts to provide education to the children in the slums,
enrolment rate is low and dropout rate is high as poverty forces the family to send every
child to work.
Inhabitants are prone to evils like alcoholism which results in domestic abuse and other
social, economic and health problems.