Major Achievements

 

Kranti Mahila Sangh (KMS) undertook a range of initiatives aimed at health advocacy, livelihood empowerment, and social protection for marginalized communities. They organized impactful street plays on World AIDS Day to promote zero stigma against sex workers, MSM, and transgender individuals, reaching an audience of 1,000 people. In collaboration with DLSA-Solapur, KMS conducted legal awareness sessions, enhancing understanding of health rights and the HIV Bill. Their financial inclusion efforts facilitated savings accounts for 383 community members and promoted collective savings among 800 members in 80 Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Additionally, KMS implemented skill development programs, such as auto driving training for 30 sex workers, and helped connect women to small business loans. They also focused on social protection, assisting community members in obtaining necessary documentation and accessing government benefits. Through partnerships with various organizations, KMS strengthened its capacity to advocate for and support vulnerable populations effectively.

Health Advocacy & Awareness Initiatives

Under Health Initiatives Kranti Mahila Sangh (KMS) organized impactful street plays on World AIDS Day, December 1, at VM Medical College, advocating for zero stigma and discrimination against sex workers, MSM, and transgender communities. The event attracted around 1,000 attendees, including nursing students, NGOs, DLSA members, and government officials, and emphasized the importance of inclusive healthcare services. Additionally, KMS collaborated with DLSA-Solapur to conduct four awareness sessions focusing on the HIV Bill, domestic violence, and access to free legal aid, which enhanced community understanding of health rights and HIV prevention, ultimately improving healthcare responses for sex workers. Other than that, KMS also organized one screening camp on Oral Cancers benefitting 39 community members.

Empowering Livelihoods through Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

Kranti Mahila Sangh (KMS) implemented several initiatives aimed at empowering livelihoods through skill development and entrepreneurship for marginalized communities. They facilitated auto driving training for 30 sex workers, equipping them with skills for alternative income opportunities and financial independence. KMS also enrolled four community members as ASHA workers, providing them with stable monthly incomes of Rs. 12,000 and integrating them into the formal healthcare system. Additionally, KMS connected 85 women to the Swanidhi Scheme for small loans to start businesses, while 25 self-help groups (SHGs) engaged 250 members in producing home-based goods, fostering sustainable micro-enterprises. Moreover, KMS mobilized collective savings for 80 SHGs, involving 800 members, to promote financial security and self-reliance within the community.

Strengthening Social Protection and Inclusion for Marginalized Communities

In 2023-2024, Kranti Mahila Sangh, in partnership with Swathi Mahila Sangh under the Taras Coalition, acted as a CBO partner for the GFATM C-19 RM grant in Solapur. The initiative aimed to enhance access to social protection services for marginalized groups, including sex workers, transgender individuals, and MSMs in Maharashtra. KMS facilitated ID applications (such as pan card, adhaar card, voter id card etc.) for 792 community members, with 683 successfully obtaining their IDs. It also helped 478 individuals access benefits under 503 government schemes, such as Ayushman Bharat, PMJJBY, PMSBY, Labour Cards, and e-SHRAM. Despite documentation challenges, KMS secured pensions for 20 individuals under the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana and opened 394 savings accounts, with 380 members benefiting. Additionally, KMS provided dry ration kits to 25 marginalized sex workers, collaborated with ASTHA Roti Bank to offer meals to elderly sex workers, and referred four children of sex workers to residential homes for better opportunities. Kranti Mahila Sangh (KMS), appointed as the SSR, has been actively involved in advocacy and capacity-building initiatives. In August 2023, KMS, in collaboration with DLSA, organized a District Level Advocacy Meeting in Kolhapur to address challenges faced by vulnerable communities and strengthen institutional capacity. This meeting raised awareness of the GFATM C19RM project and led to calls for health camps to monitor HIV status.

 

A key aspect of the C-19 RM grant was building CBO capacities, particularly in statutory compliance and legal literacy, to ensure that organizations meet regulatory requirements and operate transparently. KMS participated in a three-day Organizational Development training in May 2024 under the C-19 RM grant, aimed at enhancing the skills of CBO leaders in organizational management, statutory compliance, and financial management to improve strategic planning and resource mobilization.

Empowering Dignity: Sunita’s Path to Stability and Hope

Sunita, a 45-year-old transgender woman from a small village in Maharashtra, has faced a lifetime of social exclusion and discrimination. Alienated from her family and denied educational and employment opportunities due to her gender identity, she struggled to find stability. Like many in the Hijra community, Sunita survived by performing at ceremonies and seeking alms, trapped in a cycle of poverty with little access to healthcare or financial security.

Her life changed when she became a member of Kranti Mahila Sangh, where she received access to essential health services and advocacy support. Through the organization’s efforts, Sunita secured social protection benefits for the transgender community, including a pension. Though modest, this pension has transformed her life, allowing her to meet her basic needs, such as food and medicine, with dignity. More importantly, it has given her the confidence to pursue stable living conditions and dream of a better future.

Sunita’s journey, supported by Kranti Mahila Sangh, exemplifies the power of social protection and advocacy in creating meaningful, lasting change for marginalized individuals.

Enhancing Legal Empowerment and Access to Justice

Kranti Mahila Sangh (KMS) collaborated with DLSA-Solapur to enhance legal awareness among community members by conducting four sessions covering vital topics such as domestic violence, the Supreme Court judgment on sex workers’ rights, and accessing free legal aid services. These initiatives not only empowered members with knowledge of their legal rights but also contributed to a significant reduction in crisis cases within the community, decreasing from 10-12 per month to 3-4 through the formation of an advocacy committee with DLSA authorities to manage legal issues. Additionally, during a legal awareness session, KMS community leaders were invited by a senior judge from Lok Adalat to inaugurate one of their sessions, which heightened awareness of the benefits of Lok Adalat and the legal recourse available for social protection.

A Home of Her Own: Meera’s Fight for Dignity

For years, Meera’s life was confined to the harsh streets of the city. Born into poverty in a small village, she had no access to education and few opportunities for work. Forced by circumstances, she entered sex work, facing stigma, violence, and a lack of basic rights. Despite the daily struggles, Meera clung to a dream that kept her going—the dream of owning a home, a safe place she could call her own.

Her opportunity came when a local NGO advocating for the rights of sex workers informed her about the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Board labor card. Meera, who had also done manual labor on housing projects, learned she could register as a construction worker and access government schemes. With the NGO’s support, Meera applied for a labor card, which eventually got approved after months of persistence. This card opened doors to benefits she never imagined, including financial assistance for housing.

With the aid of the welfare board, Meera was able to secure a small but comfortable one-room house on the outskirts of the city. It was a modest space, but to her, it symbolized safety, stability, and freedom. Owning her home empowered Meera to leave sex work and begin rebuilding her life. Now, she plans to open a small shop in her neighborhood, embracing a new chapter filled with dignity and hope.

“This house is more than just walls and a roof,” Meera reflects. “It’s my freedom. It’s a chance for me to start again.”

Meera’s story exemplifies how access to welfare schemes and government programs can transform the lives of marginalized individuals, offering them a path to dignity and a better future.

Enhancing Organizational and Staff Capacities for Community Resilience

Kranti Mahila Sangh (KMS) actively participated in several capacity-building initiatives to enhance its operational effectiveness and community resilience. Staff members attended a three-day Senior Master Trainer workshop organized by SAATHI NGO in Hyderabad, where they launched master trainer modules focused on training outreach workers. KMS engaged in the Sutradhaar Programme, which aimed to strengthen grassroots organizations’ institutional resilience, facilitated by Swasti and the Community Action Collaborative. Furthermore, KMS organized nine in-house capacity-building sessions for its staff, seven of which were conducted by SAATHI NGO, covering crucial topics such as outreach work, HIV prevention, and counseling methods, ultimately equipping the team with the skills necessary to serve the community more effectively.

Promoting Financial Inclusion and Stability Through Banking and SHG Savings

Under Financial Inclusion activities, KMS facilitated the opening of savings accounts for 383 community members with banks such as Bank of India, State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, and the Post Office, providing them access to secure banking services and fostering financial stability. Additionally, KMS mobilized collective savings for 80 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) involving 800 members, creating a safety net for sex workers while promoting financial literacy and self-reliance through these collective savings efforts.