Transforming Success to Sustainability

Focus 2009/2010

For the past 29 years, CSG has trained and developed, and provided knowledge and access to resources.  We have taught women the importance of economic self-sufficiency and education, worked to overcome socio-economic discrimination and gender barriers, and eradicated female infanticide and feticide in our project areas.  We have helped women recognize the value of social leadership, collective bargaining, and taking a proactive approach to bettering their lives.  In the process, CSG has made great strides in helping women empower themselves and take control of their lives to the benefit of their communities, their families, and themselves.  We can say with satisfaction that our organization is continually accomplishing the many goals laid out in our mission statement.

Over the course of the past year, CSG’s focus has been entirely on transforming these successes into something that will stand the test of time and promote self-reliance in our constituents, and thus, aid CSG in achieving its ultimate goal – fostering self-sustainable development among women.  To this end, CSG has turned its efforts toward making the idea of Pengal Pannokku Koottamaippu or PPK a reality for every one of the self-help groups (SHGs) under its aegis.

The PPK was the result of CSG’s past experiences with creating self-sustained organizations known as Pengal Pannokku Iyakkam managed by women, for women in Cuddalore, Salem, and Pattabiram.  As mentioned previously, at the heart of CSG’s goals has been the intent to empower women, and develop and strengthen their faith in their own abilities and leadership to survive, succeed, and thrive in life.  CSG found a way to achieve this by transferring the management and administration of the many SHGs, and their programs to the women themselves.

The years 2009 and 2010 have seen the joint efforts of all CSG constituents, staff, management and Board culminate with our organization resting on the brink of handing over the management and development of all of our SHGs to the various PPKs that are being formed.  This allows CSG to ensure that the reins of control are placed firmly in the hands of the women themselves, which would safeguard the future sustainability of these PPKs and of any development that may take place since it would have been instigated by the women, and not by an outside party.  CSG will maintain an advisory role on which the PPKs may rely for support and guidance.