Samaan Social Development Society
Empowers women through career opportunities in non traditional livelihoods as mechanic, driving and electrician etc.
- FCRA
- 80G
- 12A
- CSR-1
About
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Headquarters
Indore, Madhya Pradesh
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Since
2015
Samaan Society, which means "Equality" in Hindi, is an organisation dedicated to tackling various forms of unfairness in society, especially when it c Read moreomes to women in India who have faced gender inequality for a long time, denying them the justice they deserve in both social and legal aspects. Samaan Society's main goal is to help women who have suffered from violence or injustice by providing them with legal assistance and giving them opportunities to work as drivers or bike mechanics. Because of these efforts, many young women in Indore now have jobs as professional drivers and others receive training within the organisation. Samaan Society's beginnings can be traced back to individuals who have spent the past two decades working with various non-profit organisations in different parts of Madhya Pradesh. They shared a common vision of creating an organisation based on democratic values, which eventually led to the establishment of the Samaan Society. The team at Samaan has a wealth of experience in areas like education, livelihood, and local self-governance, gained through extensive grassroots work. The primary focus of this organisation is to address the widespread unfair treatment faced by women and members of the Dalit community, who not only lack opportunities for development but also endure violence within society. Samaan Society actively works to make sure that women who have suffered from violence can access legal help while also promoting their economic and social well-being. In cases where women experience violence, Samaan provides support by helping them navigate the legal system and offering opportunities for them to work in fields typically dominated by men, like driving and bike mechanics. These efforts challenge society's preconceived notions and empower women to take control of their futures.
Issue
WOMEN AS BIKE MECHANIC: Transformational role of women through bike mechanic training and livelihoods..... This programme was started in April 2018 to link women with bike mechanic profession by training them in it. Under this, in the year 2018-19 to 2020-21 total 250women were trained 68 of them were employed as Bike Mechanic at different service centres of Indore city. Probably for the first time in Madhya Pradesh women are working as mechanics. INDIA'S FIRST WOMEN MECHANIC GARAGE: Women have been trained as mechanics in Indore with the aim of furthering the process of social change by linking women with non-traditional livelihoods. As evident, the bike mechanic work has been dominated by men so far over skill and employment. All the garage repairing bikes are operated solely by men and their men are mechanics. In Indore, for the first time, a garage operated by women mechanic have been started by the Samaan Society. WOMEN WITH WHEELS: New Journey of women’s life as driver.... Women from socio-economically weaker sections of the society were included in the women driving training conducted by Samaan Society in Indore. Many of these women were in search of employment, while many women were associated with work like cleaning workers, domestic workers, daily laborers etc. There was neither dignity nor adequate remuneration in these works. WOMEN ELECTRICIAN WORKSHOP Women are trained as electrician and linked to non-traditional jobs like electrician Along with, women are provided opportunities to play a transformative role through the process of empowerment and leadership. Process of training them as electricians, linking them with employment and social action plans and empowerment training to make them play a transformative role and develop leadership was initiated. SOCIAL ACTION AND JUSTICE Access to justice for victim women of violence through empowerment and legal support... Violence against women at home is not only inhuman elsewhere, but it is also very challenging to violence free society. Because most people consider domestic violence to be a personal matter of the family. In this condition, the woman suffering from violence in the house becomes completely isolated. Because the relatives of the locality, neighbourhood do not help women considering these incidents as their personal matter. While her parents are also away from him. In this situation, Samaan Society is preparing women leaders in different settlements. These women leaders help the concerned women in case of violence against women in their locality. KHUSHAHAALI : Community Mental Health Programme Behind the work of social change is the dream of building a society in which marginalized people can become socio-economically strong and lead a better life. Education, health, nutrition, justice, equality and livelihood are prominent among these works. Samaan Society has been working in Indore on issues of justice, equality and livelihood for the past decade. It was during these works that the experience came to the fore that the mental health of the individual and the community is a major dimension of development and justice. There are many problems in the society. These include unemployment, gender-based violence, other external violence, tension in personal relationships, etc. All these problems affect the development and well-being of the individual and the community. Because when we work for better life of human beings through community participation and empowerment, that work is incomplete, unless we connect it with work for their good mental condition and mental health. Because mentally healthy individuals are not only capable of leading a better life themselves, but also contribute significantly to the society. COMMUNITY MOBILISATION The work of Samaan Society is community based and community cantered. So, the Samaan society has a special process for reaching out to the community. The community mobilization team of the organization is constantly active in the field and constant communication and contact with the community. The special thing is that the contact of the community is not limited only to its programs, but the organization stands with them in all their problems and makes efforts to increase the capacity of the community to deal with the problems. The Samaan Society has direct access to 6 lakh population of 200 habitations of Indore city.
Action
It is a great pleasure to discuss with you about the positive and encouraging changes happening in Indore these days. Women are now working as mechanics and drivers in Indore. They have proved that they too are skillful in male dominated professions. The talk of gender equality till now heard in discussions and slogans only, the women of Indore have succeeded in realizing it. With the initiative of Samaan Society, today many women in Indore are adopting non-traditional employment. Women from the weaker sections of the society broke the traditional social inertia while facing patriarchy and violence and create a new identity for themselves. Today, hundreds of women are engaged in employment as mechanics and drivers in Indore. I am happy that today these women of Indore have shown a new path to the whole country. The Samaan Society started its work by providing legal assistance to women suffering from violence. The organization believes that it is necessary for women to achieve social justice in addition to legal justice. Therefore, the organization has tried to make women skilled as driver, mechanic and electrician in Indore. For this happening change in Indore, we salute the women mechanics and drivers that, after facing all the challenges, chose and successfully adopted this profession. The role of all the citizens is also important in encouraging these women and it is expected that the city will not only accept this role of women, but they will also have significant support in it.
Demographies Served
Cause Area
Impact
1. 1000 women of Indore city were linked to various types of non-traditional employment. For this, they were given training in mechanic, driving, electrician and parcel delivery and were linked with employment. 2. More than 600 women of Indore city are driving four-wheelers on the city roads as professional drivers. Also, more than 100 women have made their mark as mechanics. 3. The country's first women mechanic garage has been started in Indore. Also, Madhya Pradesh's first bus driven by a woman driver is operating in Indore. Apart from this, women cabs driven by women drivers are also being operated in Indore. With women coming into these jobs, an environment is being created in favor of gender equality in the city. 4. As electricians, women are doing house wiring, electrical fault repair and home appliance repair. 5. The income of women associated with these employment has increased by two to four times. Due to this, the socio-economic status of women has increased and they have started taking the role of decision makers in the family. 6. Samaan Society is not only providing technical training in its programs, but also made the content of empowerment and leadership development a part of the training. This enabled women to break stereotypes, confront patriarchy and bring about change in the family. 7. Steps were taken against violence against women by many women mechanics and drivers. Along with this, he has also tried to stop child marriage. 8. The impact of Samaan Society programs is visible that the gender narrative is changing. Gender stereotype is broken.
Programs
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Yantrika - Women Mechanic Garage Programme
Samaan Society has initiated "YANTRIKA," India's first women mechanic garage, aiming to empower women with non-traditional livelihoods. Historically, bike mechanics have been male-dominated, but the Samaan Society challenges this norm with a garage run entirely by women mechanics in Indore, breaking gender stereotypes and addressing women's livelihood and employment challenges. Moreover, the programme has fostered women's entrepreneurship, with women mechanics forming the 'Samaan Yantriak Association' and managing the 'Yantrika Service Centre.' This initiative not only empowers women but also offers a more comfortable environment for women vehicle owners.
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Bike Mechanic Training Programme for Women
Samaan Society's groundbreaking programme empowers women by training them as bike mechanics, challenging gender norms and stereotypes in employment. This initiative, started in April 2018, provides specialized technical and empowerment training, with a focus on community mobilization. Through this programme, women become not just mechanics but empowered leaders, gaining control over their lives and contributing to gender equality and justice. Placement in various service centres and support for starting independent businesses are key components, resulting in 50 women securing employment as bike mechanics and others becoming self-employed. This transformation has not only empowered women socially but also improved their financial stability, shifting them from low-paying jobs to respected positions as "Mechanic Madam."
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Women With Wheels Programme
Samaan Society's "Women with Wheels" programme in Indore has revolutionized the role of women by training them as professional drivers. Starting in 2015 with 50 trainees, it has grown to encompass 400 women, with over 350 currently employed as drivers. These women, mostly from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, have transitioned from low-paying jobs to earning Rs. 10,000 to 15,000 per month as drivers, earning the title "Driver Madame." The programme covers community mobilization, learner's license acquisition, specialized training, and additional empowerment training. Remarkably, Indore became the first city in Madhya Pradesh where women drive buses, and many women have doubled or quadrupled their incomes, contributing to their children's education and nutrition. Some have even ventured into self-employment by operating e-rickshaws, earning 500 to 1000 rupees daily.
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Social Action & Justice Programme
Samaan Society is committed to establishing a just and equitable society, with a specific focus on eradicating violence against women. It engages with communities on multiple fronts to provide access to justice for women facing violence. This includes training women leaders in different settlements through the Kanoon Sakhi programme, who support victims and even facilitate legal actions when necessary. Additionally, the Samaan Society runs a Legal Clinic, offering legal advice and assistance, particularly for women and children. It aims to empower marginalized communities, help victims access their rights, and connect them with Government legal aid schemes. Furthermore, the Lawyers Initiative for Women's Rights involves a panel of compassionate lawyers who provide free legal support to victims, reinforcing the pursuit of justice and empowerment.
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Community Mobilisation Programme
Samaan Society operates on a community-centred approach, actively engaging with the local population of Indore City. It maintains constant communication and contact with the community, not just limited to its programmes but also extending support to address various community issues and enhance their problem-solving capabilities. This approach is vital to its goal of integrating women into non-traditional professions like driving and mechanics, particularly within socio-economically disadvantaged communities. The organisation conducts various activities in settlements, such as focused group discussions, film screenings, poster exhibitions, and door-to-door interactions, to sensitize and motivate women to explore non-traditional employment opportunities. Skill and employment camps serve as meetings for women from different settlements to discuss skill development and training, facilitating their registration for Samaan Society's programmes.
Impact Metrics
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Enrolments for Two Wheeler Training for Girls
Program Name
Women With Wheels
Year-wise Metrics- 2020-21 100
- 2021-22 100
- 2022-23 100
Leadership Team
Demographics & Structure
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No. of Employees
21-50
M&E
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Internal, External Assessors
No
Policies
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Ethics and Transparency Policies
No
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Formal CEO Oversight & Compensation Policy
No
Political & Religious Declarations
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On Affiliation if any
No
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On Deployment Bias if any
No
Registration Details
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PAN Card
AAHAS8816L
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Registration ID
03/27/03/13405/10
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VO ID / Darpan ID
MP/2017/0164674
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12A
AAHAS8816LE20217
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80G
AAHAS8816LF20215
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FCRA
063300137
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CSR Registration Number
CSR00002145
Location
Other Details
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Type & Sub Type
Non-profit
Society
Website
Financial Details
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2020-21
IncomeRs.5,946,796ExpensesRs.5,457,982Admin ExpensesRs.727,527Program ExpensesRs.4,730,455Tip: Click on any value above to exclude it. -
2021-22
IncomeRs.6,126,688ExpensesRs.4,348,605Admin ExpensesRs.913,383Program ExpensesRs.3,435,222Tip: Click on any value above to exclude it. -
2022-23
IncomeRs.11,610,820ExpensesRs.10,724,345Admin ExpensesRs.568,408Program ExpensesRs.10,155,937Tip: Click on any value above to exclude it.