Welcome to Gram Sathi | Bringing Social Change through Community Mobilization

Women Empowerment Programme

MPOWERED Plus Program (Scale Up Cluster)

Gram Sathi is committed to promoting women's economic empowerment by strengthening their capacities, enhancing access to livelihood opportunities, and supporting collective entrepreneurship. The organization believes that economically empowered women are better positioned to make informed decisions, contribute to their families and communities, and participate actively in social and economic development.

To advance this vision, Gram Sathi is implementing the MPOWERED Plus Program (Scale Up Cluster) in partnership with Trickle Up India Foundation. The project focuses on strengthening women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and promoting sustainable, market-based group enterprises. The initiative builds upon the idea of collective entrepreneurship, enabling women to move beyond traditional savings and credit activities towards viable livelihood and business opportunities.

Project Location & Reach

The project is being implemented in Ramgarh and Ranishwar Blocks of Dumka District, Jharkhand. Through this initiative, Gram Sathi is working with:

92 Self-Help Groups

1,060 Women Participants

2 Blocks (Ramgarh & Ranishwar)

1 District (Dumka, Jharkhand)

The focus is on strengthening their entrepreneurial capacities and promoting sustainable economic development.

Program Objectives

The MPOWERED Plus Program aims to support participating women in developing sustainable and market-based group enterprises. Women are encouraged to identify livelihood opportunities based on local resources, skills, and market demand. The programme focuses on strengthening their knowledge of enterprise development, business planning, financial management, product development, marketing, and market linkages.

A key component of the programme is building the confidence, leadership, and decision-making capacity of women. Through regular capacity-building initiatives, women are supported to take greater control over economic activities and become active contributors to household and community-level decision-making. The project recognizes that economic empowerment is closely linked with women's agency, self-confidence, mobility, and participation in community institutions.

Key Components

What We Focus On

1. Strengthening SHGs as Platforms for Service Access

The programme focuses on strengthening Self-Help Groups as effective platforms for service access and market linkages.
By promoting collaboration among SHGs and other stakeholders, the initiative seeks to create stronger opportunities for collective businesses, improved access to resources, and sustainable livelihood opportunities for women.
SHGs are supported to move beyond traditional savings and credit activities towards viable livelihood and business opportunities.

2. Digital Technology for Collective Businesses

An important aspect of the MPOWERED Plus initiative is the promotion of digital technology for collective businesses.
Women and SHG members are encouraged to build their understanding and use of digital tools for enterprise development, communication, marketing, financial inclusion, and access to services.
This approach aims to make women-led enterprises more connected, efficient, and responsive to changing market opportunities.

3. Capacity Building, Mentoring & Exposure

Through continuous training, mentoring, stakeholder engagement, exposure opportunities, and enterprise development support, Gram Sathi is working towards creating an enabling ecosystem where women can transform their collective strength into sustainable economic opportunities.
Regular capacity-building initiatives support women to take greater control over economic activities and become active contributors to household and community-level decision-making.

4. Social Security, Healthcare & Social Inclusion

Productive Social Security: Access to productive assets can enhance social security by increasing productivity, leading to higher and more stable incomes among SHGs.
Saving and Quality Healthcare: Saving enables individuals and households to invest in quality healthcare services, including preventive care, diagnostics, and treatment. This can improve health outcomes, reduce the incidence of illness and disability, and enhance overall well-being.
Increased Skills and Social Inclusion: Investments in education and skill development can enhance individuals' capacity to participate in the labor market, earn higher incomes, and contribute to economic growth. By empowering marginalized groups and narrowing socio-economic disparities, increased skills can foster a more inclusive and equitable society.

Our Approach to Women's Empowerment

Our approach to women's empowerment goes beyond income generation. We work towards strengthening women's economic independence, leadership, confidence, agency, and decision-making power. By supporting women-led collectives and promoting sustainable enterprises, Gram Sathi aims to create long-term pathways for women to achieve economic security and social empowerment.

Through the MPOWERED Plus Program, Gram Sathi continues to work towards a future where women are not only beneficiaries of development but also leaders, entrepreneurs, decision-makers, and drivers of change within their communities.

"Empowering Women, Strengthening Collectives, and Creating Pathways for Sustainable Economic Independence."