Approximately 7000 women from RamapirNo Tekro begin their day at 3 AM by collecting waste. They walk 10 to 15 kilometers collecting paper, glass, plastic, cardboards, etc. and make 70 to 80 rupees daily, hardly making ends meet. 500 such women save 200 rupees on a monthly basis which helps provide loans to women in need regarding health, education or employment. Moreover, this helps them obtain household items like wheat, rice, oil, gas connection, etc. at a lower cost and in installments. Life related training is given to the women during group and monthly meetings.

There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.

In the year 2019-20 with the generous support of “Young Volunteers’ Organisation” we could raise membership from 1,500 to 1,800 and could conduct regular group meetings and monthly general assembly which provided them space to learn and celebrate. We are proud of them for their commitment, politeness and discipline.

One of the biggest achievements of the SHG Strengthening program was registration of “Jeevantirth Mahila Bachat and Dhiran Sahkari Mandli Limited” as per Gujarat co-operative societies Act. 1961.

Covid-19 Response:

The year 2020-21 started with the fear of corona virus and lock down. Global Pandemic Covid 19 gripped the world and for days and month we lived in fear and trauma. It’s a long story for our SHGs also. We are happy to inform that during this pandemic time we could provide dry ration kits, masks, sanitizers and immunity medicines to all our members with generous donors.

Distribution of about 1300 Dry Ration Kits to Rag Picker Women in ‘RamaPirNo Tekro’ and surrounding slums of Ahmadabad. Friends of Jeevantirth supported this initiative, special thanks to Brindaben, Giants Group – Lion’s Group and others.

We are happy to share that devotee of “Shreemad Rajchandra Mission, Dharampur” provided us about 2,000 Gloves, Homeopathy Medicines for Immunity to us for distributing Rag Picker Women and their families in RamaPirNo Tekro and nearby slums. Our BaalMitras and other team members distributed jus in two days to all needy people in the area.

Inauguration of Sanitary Napkin Production Unit

Ms. Anar Patel, Founder Trustee of Manav Sadhana inaugurated CRIMSON – International Service Project of Ahmadabad Synergy Ladies Circle 165 at Saaheli Kendra, Jeevantirth, RamaPirNo Tekro, Vadaj on 17th October 20. The aim of the project is to provide high quality of sanitary napkins to under-privileged girls and women at affordable price. Ms. Anar Patel congratulated and expressed her best wishes to the ASLC-165 and Jeevantirth for this wonderful initiative. Practical demo was also done by the trained local women of Jeevantirth SHG Members. Raju Deepti of Jeevantirth thanked ASLC 165 for partnering with Jeevantirth for this International Service Project.

Rag-pickers sustain themselves by collecting, sorting and segregating waste and then trading it. In doing so, they help clean up a significant proportion of the 62 million tonnes of waste generated annually in India. Given that rag-picking is a totally informal sector it is hard to quantify how much waste is collected in this manner, but there are rough indicators: Only 75-80% of the waste generated in India is collected by municipal bodies. And more than 90% of India does not have a proper waste disposal system. A lot of garbage clearing thus is the done informally, by rag-pickers – mainly women – who work without any job security, salary or dignity. Not just that, they are regularly exposed to cuts, infection, respiratory diseases and tuberculosis apart from poverty, humiliation, harassment, and sexual abuse on the streets. The problems faced by rag pickers are multi-fold. Most waste picking activity is technically illegal or unpermitted, so waste pickers commonly face harassment by police and authorities. Also, there is widespread public scorn against waste pickers due to their poverty and perceived lack of hygiene.

More than 1,500 women – mainly rag-pickers – members of SHGs promoted by Jeevantirth at RamaPirNo Tekro, are saving Rs. 200/- month of their hard earned money to help themselves. Now they have formed Credit Co-operative Society to function in a very systematic way.

Generous support given by Giants International as a revolving fund through ‘Jeevantirth Foundation’ helps them to run “Aapni Dukan”. Regular group meetings and monthly general assembly provides them space to learn and celebrate. We are proud of them for their commitment, politeness and discipline.

We remain in constant contact with the women through Group Meetings. During the year 216 group meetings were held in which 4,320 women participated. Group meetings help in resolving local problems and solidarity is maintained. In addition to the group meetings we held 14 Leader’s Meetings also to strengthen SHGs and newly formed Credit Cooperative Society.

General Assemblies and Main Agenda

10th April: New Office,
Formation of new groups
10th May: Wheat distribution,
RTE follow-Ups
10th June: Formation of rules for new groups 10th July: Pension schemes,
ATM for Sanitary Pad
10th August: Passbook entry,
Loan & Grocery support
9th September: Beneficiary criteria, Regularity 10th October: JanDhan Scheme,
Widows registration
11th November: Account settlement, TB-Kalrav 10th December: Insurance, Darpan Card
10th Jan. 20: RTE forms, 26th program
10th Feb. 20: Cooperative registration, Trips 8th March 20: International Women’s Day!