Prochesta Thrift and Credit Cooperative Society Asom Ltd Key Issues and
Operational Areas, Major Activiities & Achivements
Operational Districts: Goalpara, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, Baksa
Operational States: ASSAM
AchieveMents: The seed of the association with womenââ¬â¢s issues was sown way back in 1987. Science activists from all over the country met at Bhopal to discuss the issue of science popularization. It emerged that, without basic literacy, popularization of science among masses will always remain a dream. The science forum formed the All India Peoples Science Network (AIPSN). The constituent science societies formed Gyan Vigyan Samiti in their respective states to work for eradication of illiteracy with the Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS) at the centre to co-ordinate the whole concept. In Assam, the premier organization, Assam Science Society decided to initiate the literacy movement in the state by forming Gyan Vigyan Samiti Assam (GVSA).
GVSA initiated literacy in the state in 7 blocks of 6 districts in 1991. After completion of the first phase of literacy, Total Literacy Campaign (TLC), it was found that most of the learners and volunteer instructors (VIs) were women; this fact was collaborated by the evaluation conducted by Gauhati University (74% womenââ¬â¢s participation).
After completion of TLC, during the 2nd phase of literacy under Post Literacy Program (PLP), the women wanted to learn and do a lot more. The womenââ¬â¢s wing of GVSA, SAMATA, organized activities at District, Block and Panchayat levels under Samata Vigyan Mela in 1995. Between 1996 ââ¬â 1998, more than 200 Panchayat level melas were organized to create awareness among women. These activities created Panchayat level women leaders. Meanwhile, towards the end of 1997, Samata activists from Assam attended a regional Samata Camp at Dhanbad, where we came to know about Self Help Groups for women under the Malar Groups. During the time, there was growing demand from our women neo-literates and Samata activists to do something. GVSA decided to organize SHG for women at grass root level in the state. Coincidently, ARIASP approached GVSA with a proposal for organizing workshops on Women Empowerment. With this help GVSA organized the first workshop on small savings towards formation of Self Help Groups for women in January 1998. GVSA invited 6 women per panchayat from 21 panchayats on the basis of involvement in literacy campaign from different parts of Assam.
In a series of workshops, the participants after thorough discussion and inputs from various sectors chalked out a set of rules and regulations and finalized the aims and objectives for formation and governing of SHGs under the name of PROCHESTA. The first group of team leaders was trained by FWWB, Ahmedabad in the later part of 1998. The formation of groups spread horizontally like wildfire in rural areas of the state. This forced Prochesta to organize panchayat and state level workshops on various aspects of SHGs like thrift & loans, formation, nurturing, accounts keeping reporting etc. In April 1999 Prochesta was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. The management structure was finalized and Board of Directors was constituted in due course. State Resource Centre Assam, Zila Saksharata Samitis and Assam Science Society were other organizations to help Prochesta.
Now Prochesta has 2932 women SHGs comprising 37850 members in 14 district of Assam. Cumulative Loan Disbursement to SHGs is 300.24 lakh.
