DISHA

EMPOWERING - WOMEN

Women Empowerment and Integrated Rural Development

Since beginning, DISHA is working on women empowerment and integrated rural development programme. The activities include formation of Self Help Groups, building women leadership, Health care, Sanitation, Latrine construction, Vocational training, Income generation and economic empowerment, Purification of drinking water, Kitchen gardens, Dairy project, Organic Farming, etc.

DISHA TALK

ABOUT US

HISTORY

Development Initiative for Self Help and Awakening (DISHA) is a registered Trust & Society formed in 2000 with the purpose of empowering women by conducting various programmes and activities.
Initially DISHA concentrated on microfinance; however it was realised that along with alleviation of poverty it is essential to implement number of other activities to empower women in a true sense.

DISHA was founded by Late Dr. Mohan Dharia (Chairman) & Late Mr. Jayant H. Shah (Vice Chairman) who took inspiration from Dr. Mohammed Yunus, Nobel Laureate, founder of Grameen Bank, Bangladesh. Initially DISHA introduced the Joint Liability Group (Grameen) model in 5 rural & 2 urban branches in Pune district in Maharashtra.
After operating on the Grameen model for 9 years, DISHA decided to change to the SHG model, which is more suited to the area of operation. Along with the initial microfinance activity other developmental activities were gradually started.
Over the years DISHA expanded its scope of work in terms of area of operation and activities. In 2009-2010, 45 SHGs were formed with loan disbursement of Rs.12 Lakhs. The loan recovery was 100%. Area of operation was Khed & Maval Talukas of Pune district. DISHA was operating only as a Trust & main activities were Micro-finance, Health Care & Vocational training. All these operations were controlled from the office which was functioning in rented premises.
Gradually, as the need was felt to expand its operations & activities, a Cooperative Credit Society was formed in 2014. During 2014-2015 total of 150 SHGs have been formed, with loan disbursement of over .Rs.1 Cr till 31st March 2016
In 2015, DISHA acquired own premises in Talegaon where “H.V.Desai Centre for Women Empowerment“ has been established.

WHAT WE DO

Formation of SHGs through DISHA Co-Operative Credit Society

Disha Mahila Bachat Gat Sadasyanchi Sahakari Patsanstha Maryadit", a registered Patasanstha was formed in 2014.

Till 31st March 2019 we have almost 200 SHGs with more than 3000 members.

Health Awareness and Care

DISHA is involved in healthcare of women. Health Camps are being held in conjunction with Government and Trust Hospitals in various villages in Maval taluka.

We are also conducting health awareness programmes for girls and women in Maval. In follow up activities, some medicines are distributed to overcome hemoglobin deficiency. Some acute cases are reported to various experts.

Awareness Programmes

Programmes are being carried out for increasing awareness on social issues, gender, women leadership and governance for girls and women.

Vocational Training and Income Generation programmes

Income generation activities such as tailoring, agriculture, basic computer training, making of quilts, rakhis, liquid soap, food production are being carried out for girls and women.

Collaboration & Networking

We are getting support of following orgainsations for various training programmes: Jana Shikshan Sansthan, RUDSET, MITCON, Aalochana, Mahila Rajsatta Andolan, Jnana Prabodhini, Annapurna Parivar, etc.

Support to schools

Education programmes including support to schools by strengthening infrastructure, donating Bicycles to girls, Toys for Anganwadis & E-learning facilities in Maval taluka.

SUCCESS STORIES

Name : Rakhama Raju Bangar
Village : Valak
Project : Comprehensive Rural Development
Intervention supported : Dairy

Ms.Rakhama Bangar, from Valak, beneficiary of Dairy project who is Chairperson of Savitribai Phule Gat. DISHA supported her under its DAIRY project to purchase buffalo. She took loan of Rs. 35,000 from DISHA and added Rs. 10000 from own pocket and purchased buffalo at Rs.45000. At present she is selling 13 lit milk daily through which earning avg. Rs. 200 daily, thus getting approx benefit of Rs. 5250 per month. She is about to complete her loan repayment soon.
In addition to her traditional farming business, she has started earning sufficiently by selling milk. She has expressed her gratitude towards DISHA as her income has risen due to supported intervention.

Name : Sunanda Thorave , Lalita Durge , Anuradha Yewale ,Sunita Thorave
Village : Vadiwale
Project : Comprehensive Empowerment of Women
Intervention supported : Entrepreneurship development (Vocational Training)

The women underwent Vocational training organized by DISHA and decided to do production of spices and chocolates. They purchased raw material (of Rs.2830) from Pimpri and recently started production at village itself. Initially, the village children are their first consumers and later they have sent their products to nearby villages.
They are receiving good response .Till now, they have received almost 30% profit. Slowly they will expand their business. As the chocolate production helped them to earn additional income they have expressed thanks to DISHA.

Name : Pushpa Dilip Thorave
Village : Vadiwale
Project : Comprehensive Rural Development
Subject : Latrine construction.

She is member of SHG from Village Vadiwale. DISHA initiated a Comprehensive Rural Development project in 2014. Under this project, an important intervention introduced was latrine construction.
Initially there was lot of resistance from villagers. But, Ms.Pushpa Thorave took initiative to build latrine for her home. She took loan of Rs. 15000 from DISHA and to that added own amt of Rs. 3000. In Jan 2015, the latrine construction was over.
This has benefited her and her family. Now, she is encouraging other villagers to construct latrines to avoid open defecation.

Name : Renuka Chandrakant Kumbhar.
Village : Talegaon
Project : Microfinance

Renuka Kumbhar, initially member of "Ahilya bai Bahat Gat" in 2009, later formed her new group in 2013. Her family business is Ganapati idol making. Besides this, she is also engaged in tailoring .
To strengthen her traditional Ganapati making business, she took loan from DISHA. (first loan Rs. 30000, second loan of Rs. 40000) Her earnings in the year Rs. approx 80000. She expressed her gratitude towards DISHA for supporting her business.

Name : Sunita Ankush Rathod
Village : Vadgaon
Intervention supported : Microfinance

Ms Sunita Ankush Rathod, a member of "Shri. Ambe Group". Initially she was engaged in tailoring business but in 2012 she took loan from DISHA for purchasing parlor accessories.
She was running both businesses from home. After observing good response from women she has again decided to take loan from DISHA to take a shop on rent. Till now she has taken 3 loans from DISHA and repaid them which has helped to expand her business
Now she is empowered enough to involve other ladies in her business. She has also formed 3 other groups and linked them to Patsanstha. In this way she is progressively working and empowering herself.

OUR TRUSTEES

Brig. Raghunath V. Jatar

Chairman

Born 5 Oct 1932. Served in the Army from 1949 to 1984. Saw active service in various military operations such as India China war 1962. Indo Pak war 1965, Mizo Insurgency, and Indo Pak war of 1971. Led the Battalion attack on Border Pillar 638 on India Pak border on 9 Dec 1971 for which he was given the Award " Mention in Despatches" After retirement from the Army, he served for 10 years with Bajaj Auto as In charge of Administration. From 1994 onwards Brig Jatar has devoted himself to social work. He was the Executive Trustee of Jankidevi Bajaj Gram Vikas Sanstha for 14 years. He is associated with the Family Planning Association of the Pune Branch for 25 years as past President and currently Adviser. He was a Founder Trustee of the Development Initiative for Self Help and Awakening (DISHA)and is its Chairman since the demise of Dr Mohan Dharia.

Shri Yeshwant Limaye

Vice Chairman

After having Engineering and Management education, has about 30 years experience of running various small-scale industries. Full time volunteering for past 12 years for old-age home, Gurukul school, and various educational trusts of Jnana Prabodhini, Nigdi.

Mrs. Indu Gupta

Trustee

Graduated in Commerce, she worked in Foreign Exchange and Treasury with a major bank in the UAE. During her banking tenure, she gained extensive experience in International Trade & Banking. Her last position was with a Display & Packaging Company in UAE as Director of Finance, Accounts, and Administration. She proved to be an effective team player. On her return to Pune in 1997, she started as a social activist and was involved with the Inner Wheel of the Rotary Club, Pune. She has been awarded the prestigious Kirloskar Vasundhara award for her project on Ramnadi at Pune. Her social services have been recognized by the Pune Municipal Corporation and has won accolades from various Public Institutions of Mumbai and Pune. She is also affiliated with a Public Trust that caters to the wellbeing of remote villagers around Pune, in terms of education, composting, kitchen waste management, health, and women empowerment.

Shri Navin Pathak

Trustee

Industrialist. Chairman & MD of SPACO Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Shri Nitin Desai

Trustee

Graduate in Civil Engineering and Masters in Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. Chairman and M. D. of Desai Brothers Ltd., Pune. He is also working in the following capacities: Chairman of Aquapharm Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Poona Blind Men's Association, and H. V. Desai Eye Hospital. In recognition of his leading role in providing comprehensive eye care, he was felicitated by the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. President of Shri Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj and Poona Club and Poona Junior Chamber & Vice President of Indian Jaycees. Trustee of Poona Gujarati Kelvani Mandal and Vanarai. Independent Director of Force Motors Ltd. & Cadila Healthcare Ltd. Actively associated with Sahyadri Hospitals Ltd, & diverse social activities, mainly in the spheres of eye care, environment, support to the disabled, and education. Recipient of "Adarsh Vyapari“ Uttam Puraskar in 2004 from Poona Merchants Chambers.

Shri Vijay A. Muddebihalkar

Trustee

Graduate in Arts and Post-Graduation in Labour Welfare. From 1963 till 2002, worked in Personnel departments of Ogale Glass, Racold Co., Bajaj Tempo and Bajaj Auto Ltd. He is a former secretary of Jankidevi Bajaj Gram Vikas Sanstha. After retirement he was a trustee of Jankidevi Bajaj Gram Vikas Sanstha and member representative & treasurer of Jankidevi BGVS in AFARM. Simultaneously was working in the Family Planning Association of India, as a Life member, then treasurer, secretary, and Chairman. At the present member of NIPM National Institute of Personnel Management.

Shri Jayawant Deshmukh

Trustee

Chief Project Officer, Vanarai.

Shri Ravindra Dharia

Member

President of Vanarai. Under his leadership and guidance, Vanarai has marked its presence over 250 villages. He is instrumental in incorporating importance of environment in the Schools through ECO club. The new concept of Community Farming has been started and is been implemented in few villeges - Impact is farmers income increases. He is also the editor of the Vanarai magazine and has been receiving international level recognition and prestigious accolades for the past three consecutive years. Under his leadership Vanarai has teamed up with Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, and ZEE 24 Tas channel to run "Jala Samvardhan Panchayat“ Ek Lok Chalval all over Maharashtra for Water Conservation, Afforestation, Water Budgeting, Improved Agricultural Practices training will be given to the villagers, to make villages sustainable and self-reliant. He is also the recipient of Prestigious Awards, Like: 1. Samaj Gaurav Puraskar in 2014, 2. "Paryavaran Mitra Award in 2016, 3. Madhu Bhasin Smurti Purskar in 2016, 4. Paryavaran Mitra Puraskar in 2016, 5. Eco Friends (NGO) Award in 2017 and 6. Jalotsav in 2017.

Mrs. Medha Kotwal

Member

Late Shri Ashok Garg

Ex-Vice Chairman

Social Work. Former CEO of Mahindra Owen Ltd. He was an active Rotarian and was engaged in various social activities. With his financial support, DISHA could reconstruct government school at Thoran, Tal: Maval, and initiated various rural development activities.

OUR SUPPORTERS

Name : Avirat - Infotech

Development Initiative for Self Help and Awakening (DISHA) is a registered Trust & Society formed in 2000 with the purpose of empowering women by conducting various programmes & activity.

Name : Disha

Financial Services consist of micro credit loans to the SHGs and Micro Insurance while social services would include Health Care, Vocational Training & Social Awareness Programmes for an ever expanding network of copartners while remaining apolitical and secular.

Name : Itechno

DISHA is involved in healthcare of women. Health Camps are being held in conjunction with MIMER Medical College & Hospital Talegaon. Adolescent girls' training programmes are also being conducted especially to improve hygiene and sanitation.

Office Address :

4&5, Krishna Sahavas Apartment,
281 A, Yashwantnagar,
Talegaon Dabhade – 410 507, Pune
Contact No. 7875552400/02114-229400
Email : disha_pn@yahoo.com
Website : www/dishatrustngo.com

EMPOWERING - WOMEN

ABOUT US

HISTORY

VISION

MISSION

REGISTRATION

VILLAGES WHERE DISHA IS WORKING

PRESENT STATUS

WHAT WE DO

Formation of SHGs through DISHA Co-Operative Credit Society

Health Awareness and Care

Awareness Programmes

Vocational Training and Income Generation programmes

Collaboration & Networking

Support to schools

OUR PORTFOLIO

Organic Farming, Vadivale, Tal: Maval

Summer Camp for Children Maval Taluka

Cow Project Beneficiaries - Mulshi Taluka

Cow Project -Market Visit, Dhule

Cow Project -Market Visit, Sangamner Loni

Melava For Children at 10 Village Project

Cow Project Beneficiaries - Maval Taluka

SUCCESS STORIES

videos

OUR TRUSTEES

OUR SUPPORTERS

Disha News

DISHA is a professionally sound Society/Trust, well suited to receive rural development projects with emphasis on women empowerment from Corporates & individual donors under following

OUR MEDIA

Rotary Kamdhenu Cow Project - Through Rotary's support, DISHA distributed 300 cows to women in Maval and Mulshi taluka in Pune district.

Rotary Kamdhenu Cow Project Rotary Kamdhenu Cow Project -Rotary Club members along with Rotary Club of Chunan, Taiwan visited Cow project.

Annual General Meeting of DISHA Mahila Bachat Gat Sadasyanchi Patsanstha - DISHA is working with 35 villages and formed 200 Mahila Bachat Gats having 3000 members.

CONTACT US

Office Address :