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Community - Based
Initiatives
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Sangams |
Thrift & Credit Societies (TCs)
In addition to physiological conditions and sexual behaviour, the
context in which a person lives contributes considerably to the spread
of HIV. For example, if a person is unable to advocate on behalf of
her/himself or if they lack financial stability, their susceptibility
to the virus increases. SIAAP addresses these problems in an
integrated, cost-effective manner through its community - based
initiatives.
SIAAP believes that NGOs
like itself should not dominate grassroots efforts; thus, communities
use SIAAP as a resource to manage their own development and
empowerment. SIAAP is committed to communities creating their own
agendas and has developed models of empowerment to suit the unique
requirements of each community.
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Sangams address social
and advocacy - related issues |
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TCs help communities
develop and maintain financial livelihood |
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Sangams are Community Owned and Managed Organisations (COMOs)
formed among local populations of women in sex work (WSW), men who
have sex with men (MSM) and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) that
help members avail of their civil liberties. Membership averages
around 50 and rules and regulations are set and adhered to by the
members.
Sangams help members to:
Obtain "ration
cards," which formally register their identity with the government
thus making available government schemes and subsidies
Register for voting
Avail of government
schemes that enhance their livelihood
Enroll in schemes
for life and health insurance
Network with local
lawyers to ensure rights are upheld
Maintain outlets
for condom distribution
Obtain medical
referrals
Communicate in a
safe atmosphere of camaraderie and trust
As of 2004, SIAAP has developed and supported over 25 sangams,
helping to build networks of health, development, livelihood, and
self-empowerment. Some accomplishments include:
Health camps
facilitated for villages to introduce HIV/AIDS-related counselling
Police reports
filed against violence committed against community members
Same-sex marriages
conducted
Training workshops
held for community members on topics including sexuality,
communications, and legal issues
Funeral expenses
arranged for AIDS-related deaths
Thrift and Credit (TC) Societies
enable communities to
design and manage mutual financial services helping them to become
more self-reliant. For communities vulnerable to HIV, they provide
an opportunity for marginalized groups to lead and influence their
larger community.
TCs are cooperatives in which
members regularly deposit a fixed amount of savings with compounded
interest (decided by the community members), which then becomes
available to the members as loans with easy repayment schedules. A
management team from the community is elected to record each
member's savings, credit, and the amounts accumulated. Such loans
are taken for children's education, marriages of their
siblings/children, household repairs, and other necessities.
As of December 2007:
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Total savings
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Rs 50.30 Lacs
(approx. $1.25L USD) |
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Total amount outstanding
loans |
Rs 56.78 Lacs
(approx. $1.42L USD) |
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Total membership
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2014 |
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