Role in promotion of leadership in collectives of women:self help groups,cluster and federations 29th August , 2018 Chaitanya

Context Chaitanya has been facilitating spaces for women in the form of self help group, clusters and federations over 25 years It is working in 40 locations with nearly one lakh members, mostly in Maharashtra and recently in Madhya Pradesh

What has it helped It has facilitated spaces to share joys and sorrows, overcome fear, take risk, do something new, come out of the house create an identity for themselves, understand other women, take decisions collectively, solve problems, access resources, become confident

Strategies adopted for strengthening leadership Regular meetings at group, cluster and federation level Federation leaders take an honorarium ranging from RS. 50 to Rs. 200 per meeting depending on the financial situation of the federation. Leader and member training Rotation of location of meeting, chairperson for the meeting, Organisation of AGM at group, cluster and federation level Recognition of groups, clusters , office bearers in such AGMs Exposure visits , conducting study, Thematic jankars: audit, legal, govt, financial literacy, health, livelihood , resource person, Thematic workshops

Exercise with facilitators of 8 federations Identify the 3 leaders having excellent leadership qualities? Why do you call them excellent? What is the role of the facilitator in that What did you learn out of this ?

Qualities identified by facilitators in the excellent office bearers Takes responsibility Eagerness to learn Gained confidence of the women Has support of family members Attends regularly,, on time and vigilant Ready to travel Coordinates well with the women Takes up new responsibility Timely deposit of money Participate in training Thinks of how to take the federation ahead Can take decisions involving everyone Ability to express her opinion and women’s concerns Promotes new groups, visits other clusters, revive dormant groups Guide women in their livelihoods and solving problems Coordinates between office bearers and the facilitators

Role of facilitator in leadership development Train office bearers in their role and responsibilities Focusing on transparency Help them solve their problems To discuss , demonstrate, Share new information Encourage, meet family members of the office bearers Go with them to govt.offices to develop linkages To share experiences of other groups, clusters, Share in the joys and sorrows Facilitating their participation in the gram sabha

Learning’s for the facilitators Insights into how do we facilitate other leaders Ensuring distribution of responsibilities , so that some leaders do not have to take more responsibilities. Realized the need to talk to the families of the office bearers Need to conduct training for the new office bearers It helped reflection on the role s facilitator Office bearers play an important role in problem solving

Next phase The interview schedule used for earlier study on incentives and motivations translated into marthi Video record the interview Transcribe it Find out the motivations and incentives which get reflected through the interview Share the interview back with the leaders interviewed if she wants to add to her interview.

Work to be done further Develop a cadre of participatory action researchers from the leaders and facilitators to work on issues which they find important Collect and analyze data to understand leadership processes Collaborate with academic institutions , VAF to do studies of mutual interest. Changing aspirations of younger leaders and implications for shg process. Facilitating new spaces for shg leaders Self interest vs mutual interest of leaders