Overview
The Shimoga Multipurpose Social Service Society (SMSSS) is the ‘Development arm’ of the Diocese of Shimoga, Karnataka, India which comprises of three civil districts namely, Shivamogga, Davanagere and Chitradurga.
SMSSS is a secular, voluntary, non-profitable organization registered under Karnataka Societies Registration Act-1960, Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act-1976 and Income Tax Act under Section 12A and 80G.
SMSSS is committed to influence positive change in the lives of the people of the Diocese ever since it came into existence in 1989.
It caters to the needs of the poor & marginalized of the Diocese irrespective of caste, creed, gender and race through developmental interventions in more them 627 villages of 187 Grama Panchayaths of three districts.
Vision
A SOCIETY BASED ON JUSTICE, PEACE AND LOVE.
Justice means: Where everyone gets their due with dignity without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and gender, enjoy their rights and exercise their duties.
Peace means: Where everyone lives in harmony, fraternity and freedom without conflict, dispute and fears.
Love means: Where everyone accepts each other as they are with mutual respect.
Mission
EMPOWERING THE POOR AND THE MARGINALIZED THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CAPACITY BULIDING AND RIGHTS BASED ACTIONS.
Marginalized Means: women, children and youth, farmers and people living with HIV / AIDS.
Empowerment means: People are accessing their rights, having control over their resources and actively participating in decision making process/governance.
Goal
OUR PRIORITY GROUPS SMALL AND MARGINAL FARMER, PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV / AIDS, MARGINALIZED WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS, UNEMPLOYED YOUTH, UNORGANIZED LABOURERS ETC.
OUR APPROACH:- IMPLEMENTATION CAPACITY BULIDING NETWORKSING RIGHTS BASED ACTIONS.
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS UNDER
6 DEPARTMENTS
Women Empowerment
Goal: Women will have gained more equal access and control over information and knowledge, resources, decision making in family and community affairs.
Programs
Women Empowerment Projects
Streebandhu Multipurpose Souharda Cooperative (Women's Bank)
Women in Micro-Eterprises
Women Rights
Family Development Programme
Education and Development
Goal: Communities, particularly children, will have improved their levels of education and development in keeping with their potential and will be able to use it for the social and economic development of their communities.
Programs
Integrated Child Development Programme (ICDP)
Child Rights
Unnati- Shcolarship for Higher Education
Karanataka Open School (KOS)
National Institute of Open School (NIOS)
Natural Resource Management
Goal: Communities will have been utilizing available natural resources (land, water and forest) for their needs and well being in an optimum yet sustainable manner.
Programs
Farmers' organization and livelihood of small and marginal farmers
Farmers' rights
Soil and water conservation
Organic Farming
Effective and sustainable use of Alternative sources of energy
Good Governance
Goal: Marginalized communities will have greater participation in the process of governance and effectively influence the governance structures in their favour, AND those in leadership positions will be more sensitive, capable, accountable and transparent.
Programs
Empowerment of civil society towards promotion of good governance
Promotion of value based and efficient leaders
Creation of model grama panchayaths
Mass awareness on PRI, RTI, MGNREGA, PDS and Government Schemes
Health and Development
Goal: Communities will be using means to protect themselves from communicable diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS and PLHIVs live a life of dignity and inclusion.
Programs
Prevention of HIV/AIDS and stigma reduction
Support services to PLHIVs
Mass awareness on communicable diseases and prevention
Village health camps
Capacity Building
Goal: Various stakeholders have been capacitated to be able to reflect, make decisions and implement the learning and decisions for improved results in their areas of work.
Programs
Capacity Building of the change agents (NGO, GO, CBO)
Seminars and Workshops
Designing and conducting innovative and relevant training programs
Publications
History
The organization started its journey in the year 1988 when the Diocese of Shimoga was formed which comprised of the districts of Shimoga and Chitradurga and in this year itself SAFP and MCH programmes were transferred to the Diocese of Shimoga from CMSSS.
In the year 1989, SMSSS got established and registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1969 and Rev. Fr. Mark Patrick D'Silva was appointed as the first Director of SMSSS.
In 1992, Credit Union Federation was formed at Sagar.
Rev. Fr. Clement D'Souza was appointed as the second director of SMSSS in year 1994.
The organization launched Integrated Child Development Programme in the year 1997.
In 1999, Rev. Fr. Gilbert Lobo was appointed as the Asst. Director of SMSSS and in the same year itself first Diocesan level International Women's Day was celebrated.
In the year 2000, Rev. Dr. Gerald I. Lobo was consecrated as the Second Bishop of Shimoga and became ex-officio President of SMSSS. In the same year training was imparted to the staff and community level on Panchayat Raj and 30 women were elected for Gram Panchayat.
In the year 2001, Lump sum Loan Scholarship programme was launched.
Women Empowerment Programme was extended to Honnali Taluk of Davanagere District in 2002.
Child Rights Programme was launched in 5 Gram Panchayats of Shimoga taluk in 2003 and in the same year, Karnataka Open School programme was launched in collaboration with J.S.S. Mysore and K.S.E.E.B.
In the year 2004, SMSSS got 12A Registration for Income Tax Exemption.
In 2005, 100 houses were constructed which were supported by Manos Unidas. In the same year more than 500 SHG women contested for Panchayat elections out of which 182 were elected. Also in 2005, Chaitanya building was inaugurated and SMSSS office was shifted to the new premises.
The development program of SMSSS was extended to Holalkere in 2006. The first SNEHA KOOTA was given to loan scholarship beneficiaries. In year 2006, Systematic Capacity Building Programmes for the staff of SMSSS were launched.
In 2008, Micro finance and Micro Enterprises programme was launched.
In 2009, Sanitation Programme was launched.
Major Milestones
In the year 1991, 13 Credit Unions were formed and in the same year first Housing construction/ house repair and toilet scheme was introduced.
In 1997, SMSSS got FCRA registration and in the same year, various Women Empowerment Programmes were launched with the concept of SHGs. In this year, Akshara Thunga, a literacy programme was also launched in collaboration with the Government of Karnataka.
J.F.P.M. and Water shed programmes – environment program were also launched for the first time in 1998.
In 2000, the organization organized their perspective planning and in 2002, a workshop on Strategic Planning was organized for SMSSS.
Decennial Celebration of Shimoga Diocesan Self Help Group Federation was organized in 2003.
In the year 2006, HIV/AIDS- Sneha programme was launched. Fr. Veeresh V. Moras was appointed as the Director of SMSSS in 2006 and in the same year Grassroots level federations were formed comprising all the SHGs at panchayat level. The organization started Annual Activity planning in the year 2007.
In 2008, there was a shift from empowerment concept to Rights Based Approach in Women Empowerment Programmes.
Streebandhu
Stree Bandhu is a dream project of SMSSS. This is concept of People’s Bank aims at Sustainable Development of women, their families and their Communities.
GOAL
Sustainable Development of women, their families and their Communities.
PROGRAMMES
Community Development
Good Governance
Resource Utilization
Community Mobilization
Establishment of the People’s Bank
STREE BANDHU ACTIVITIES
Community Development, Good Governance, Resource Utilisation, community mobilization etc are some of the major Issues undertaken by Stree Bandhu. Every month they meet to discuss about their Social and Economic Development.
STREE BANDHU ACCOMPLISHMENT
Members have been exercising their rights to get widow pension, senior citizen pension, education scholarship, house/toilet facilities, etc., through Stree Bandhu.
In the last two years around 5000 members have availed government facilities amounting 30.5 million through Stree Bandhu.
Various awareness programs undertaken by Stree Bandhu are Health, HIV/AIDS, Domestic Violence, women’s Rights, women empowerment etc.
For community welfare various camps such as blood donation, free eye/dental/ general health checkup have been organized.
Common celebrations such as Independence Day, Children’s Day, Environment Day, Women’s Day, and Child labour Day are celebrated by Stree Bandhu.
Stree Bandhu has played prominent role in good governance at rural local self-governance.
Training programmes on effective leadership have helped the members to be good leaders.
More than 500 members of Stree Bandhu have been elected as members in the local self-government.
Another Important milestone in the history of Stree Bandhu is the establishment of “People’s Bank”. It was started on 7 December, 2013 with just 534 members. At present, there are 52 Federations consisting 7000 members from 650 SHGs.
Within just two years, the total capital of the people’s bank amounts to around 20 Million. This capital has been utilized for various developmental works. Around 1800 members have availed the loan facility up to 40 Million. Stree Bandhu has given more than Rs. 4,00,00,000 as loan to more than 1,200 members.