Project Adhikaar is a focused financial and legal literacy initiative dedicated to empowering communities in semi-rural India by enhancing their access to essential civic and economic resources. Currently operating primarily through consistent, weekly engagements at the Spread Smile Foundation (SSF) centre in Sonipat, Haryana, the project employs a case-based support system to address community needs directly.
Core Activities:
Documentation Drives and Government Schemes Registration: The project facilitates the acquisition and correction of vital identification documents like Aadhaar, PAN card, and ration cards, and helps in opening zero-balance Jan Dhan bank accounts etc. A key effort is linking beneficiaries to various state and central welfare schemes, including scholarships for children, and ABHA health cards. All individual cases are logged and tracked meticulously for follow-up.
Financial and Legal Literacy: Adhikaar conducts workshops to instill basic financial knowledge, focusing on budgeting, savings, and responsible use of loans. This is done through weekly session for an audience of primarily 30-50 women in Sonipat, with hopes to expand to many more locations in the Delhi NCR soon. Livelihood Generation and Economic Empowerment: This initiative focuses on creating sustainable income streams. This includes the formation and handholding of Self Help Groups (SHGs) when necessary, assisting them with official registration, initial savings protocols, and crucial bank linkages. The team also actively researches and facilitates access to alternate employment options for underemployed individuals.
The path forward involves both deepening the intervention in Sonipat and expanding the project's geographic footprint. The team is proactively pursuing collaborations with experienced, large-scale organizations to ensure the sustainability and scalability of its Livelihood Generation vertical. Specifically, Adhikaar is exploring partnerships with organizations like Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad, a famous women’s cooperative that started with ₹80 and now gives self-employment to over 45,000 women across 16 states, offering a proven model for home-based work (papad rolling) that aligns perfectly with the needs of the community women. Similarly, collaborations with established development entities such as the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), and the Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW) are actively being worked upon to provide essential administrative, financial, and strategic support for sustained efforts. Looking ahead, the project plans to expand its operations to new communities in the Delhi NCR. This expansion will focus on identifying new income-generating activities tailored to local needs and, crucially, will facilitate registration for more specific government schemes, including those identified in the recent field research: the Dr. Ambedkar Medhavi Chhatar Sanshodhit Yojna (scholarship), the Saksham Yuva Yojana (unemployment allowance), the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) and more. Through these direct interventions and strategic partnerships, Adhikaar is committed to building a replicable model that secures both civic rights and economic dignity for marginalized families across the region.