Self Help Group - TOGETHER WE CAN... Success story of Annai Indra Disabled Sangam - Kilputhupattu, Tamil Nadu

Kilputhupattu is a small village in Tamil Nadu not far away from Chennai on the way to Pondicherry. Chennai Cheshire Service expanded its services to this village as part of the community outreach program. In 2007 the disabled people in this village were made aware of their rights and entitlements through an awareness programme which was organised by the staff of Cheshire Service to explain the concept of Self Help Group and objectives of the same to address the issues related disabled people locally on their own. Information regarding disability and rights was shared with all the participants. 15 disabled people out of 30 participants showed willingness to be part of a Group. Thus Annai Indira Disabled Sangam came into existence. Marimuthu is the president of the sangam and Jayasankar is the secretary.

The group initially operated as a Micro Finance initiative with the members saving Rs. 55/- every month. They have an account in State Bank of India with a savings of about Rs. 25000/- Slowly as the project continued to impart leadership and other such trainings to equip them with knowledge the group started expanding its activities. They were successful in mobilising self employment loan of Rs. 10,000/- each from the government. State Bank of India extended a support of Rs. 70,000/- and the members in the group have been successful in establishing self employment ventures individually.

The members of the group participate effectively in all the meetings held in the village. Together they have pioneered in lobbying with the government and meet the District Rehabilitation Officer to avail all the available schemes for the disabled people in the community. They have built good rapport with the government officials. The Annai Indira Sangam takes initiative in organising campaigns to advocate for the benefit of disabled people. Banking and loans are still not easily accessible to the disabled people. The Annai Indira Sangam decided to take up the issue of surety for loans and protested against banks demanding surety for a small sum of Rs. 25,000/- . They lobbied in front of the Collector's office and were successful in inviting him to their village for a meeting with all the disabled people where all their demands were put forward. One of the demands put forward was withdrawal of surety for the disabled for Rs.25000/- loan.