Managing Change: A Case Study of Paryavekshana Samakhya in Kamareddy District of Telangana

Abstract

Mahila Abhivruddhi Society (MAS), a Non-Government Organisation based in Hyderabad, works for mobilization of the rural poor to form collectives for thrift and savings. It has been working in the district since 2001. The Self Help Groups which they formed grew in number and were federated into Primary Level Federations (Village Organizations) and Secondary Level Federations (Mandal Samakhyas). While MAS was busy in social mobilization and bringing about stability for the SHGs, the checks and balance aspects had taken a back seat, until a notice was received from the Registrar of Cooperatives to submit the annual reports and to conduct regularly the Annual General Meetings of the SHGs. This case study tracks how, despite all the constraints,  they put in place a self-regulatory system within the SHG movement and how it transformed the SHGs from a minimum regulated body to highly successful self-regulated units. The Paryaveksham Samakhya, which brought about this transformation, was recognized as a National Resource Organization by the National Rural Livelihood Mission and was invited to other states to strengthen the SHG movement.