With an overarching conceptual framework and a synthesis of findings, this book is a unique collection of the experiences of twenty diverse cases of women's collectives, holding critical lessons for livelihood enhancement and women's empowerment. The book is the result of a collaborative project between the development organisation viz, PRADAN, working to strengthen women-led collectives under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), and a group of development and management scholars hailing from the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA). Based on the documented cases using immersive methods and a feminist perspective, the book provides a critical analysis of the agency displayed by women and their collectives with the potential to induce changes in the socio-economic status of women hailing from disadvantaged sections. Inclusion, governance and leadership, financial intermediation, livelihoods, and social action are the major outcome dimensions of the collectives examined in the book, as highlighted under SDG-5 which calls for ensuring women's effective participation and leadership and reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources. While the conceptual framework helps unravel the complex interlinkages visualised between women, livelihoods, and collectives, the cases in themselves and the synthesis objectively depict the lessons and challenges encountered by the collectives given the entrenched gender relations and the neoliberal policy narratives.

This book serves as a source of real case studies for teaching and training, a reference work for researchers, and a guidance book for policymakers and practitioners.

Explores the holistic understanding of women's collectives Discusses social inclusion, governance & leadership, financial intermediation, livelihoods addressed by these collective Contains twenty structurally and spatially diverse cases of women's federation showing varied dimensions of their role

Inhalt

Part I: Overview and Synthesis.- Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Emerging Women's Livelihood Collectives: A Synthesis.- Part II: Cases From North-East.- Chapter 3: Where women come forward': Dhansiri Cluster Level Federation (DCLF), Assam.- Chapter 4: Striving for 'Happy Women, Happy Family, and Happy Village': Japfuphi Thenuko Block Level Federation (JBLF), Nagaland.- Chapter 5: 'We are the Employees of the Federation': Kalashi Cluster Level Federation (KCLF), Tripura.- Part III: Cases From East.- Chapter 6: Creating Linkages for Income Generation: Nitya Sangha (NS) Mahila SHG Co-operative Society Ltd., Birbhum, West Bengal.- Chapter 7: Sowing Seeds of Change: Aastha Cluster Level Federation (ACLF), Chhattisgarh.- Chapter 8: Transforming Adivasi Women's Lives: Getalsud Aajeevika Mahila Sankul Sangathan (GAMSS), Jharkhand.- Chapter 9: 'CRPs are the Lynchpins': Kumurisingha Gram Panchayat Level Federation (KGPLF), Odisha.- Part IV: Cases From South.- Chapter 10: Convergence is the Way: Karakulam Community Development Society (KCDS), Kerala.- Chapter 11: From Microfinance to Livelihoods: Nandigama Mandal Mahila Samakhya (NMMS), Telangana.- Chapter 12: 'Women are Even More Capable': Adarsha Mahila Mandal Samakhya (AMMS), Telangana.- Chapter 13: Signs of Change: Chethana Gram Panchayat Level Federation (CGPLF), Hoskote, Karnataka.- Chapter 14: Inclusion and Convergence are the Mantras: Sri Divyajyoti Sanjeevini Gram Panchayat Level Federation (DGPLF), Karnataka.- Chapter 15: Towards Livelihood Diversification: Pileru Mandal Mahila Samakhya (PMMS), Andhra Pradesh.- Chapter 16: Even Third Gender Matters: Ariyankuppam Block Level Federation (ABLF), Puducherry.- Part V: Cases From West.- Chapter 17: Leading from the Front: Durga Samudayik Samiti (DSS), Madhya Pradesh.- Chapter 18: Going Beyond the Finance: Navprabha Cluster Level Federation (NCLF), Maharashtra.- Chapter 19: Aiming to be a Mahila Bank: Sangani Cluster Level Federation (SCLF), Gujarat.- Part VI: Cases From North.- Chapter 20: Reversing the Distress: Jhonthri Cluster Level Federation (JCLF), Dungarpur, Rajasthan.- Chapter 21: Creating Pathways for Ascent: Sangam Jeevika Cluster Level Federation (SJCLF), Bihar.- Chapter 22: 'We Too Can': Pragati Prerna Sankul Samiti (PPSS), Uttar Pradesh.