About Samaj Pragati Sahayog (SPS)

Samaj Pragati Sahayog (SPS) is a grass-roots organisation working with women-led institutions on financial inclusion, watershed development, sustainable agriculture, commodity aggregation and markets, livestock, skill development, social enterprise, health and nutrition, public education, research and community media. SPS is committed to an alternative path of inclusive development based on the principles of equity, sustainability and empowerment of the most disadvantaged sections of Indian society in the most backward districts of India. We take inspiration from the life and work of Baba Amte, who rejected charity and successfully empowered even the most challenged.

SPS is headquartered in the remote and drought-prone, tribal hinterlands of Bagli tehsil, Dewas District of Madhya Pradesh. Our direct interventions are spread across Dewas and Khargone districts in Madhya Pradesh, and Amravati district in Maharashtra.

As a Support Voluntary Organisation, and anchor of the National Consortium of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for MGNREGA, SPS has worked with 122 partner grass roots organisations in 72 of the most backward districts across 11 states, primarily in the Central India Adivasi belt.

SPS promoted institutions have a membership of over 40,000 women directly through its SHG Federations, in over 600 villages and impact over one lakh households through all its initiatives. The SHGs have gone on to form 14 registered Federations, a Bridge Finance Company, a Farmer Producer Company, and an Artisan Producer Company, that function as autonomous social institutions led by local women.

The foundation of our work has been the commitment to build and strengthen women institutions supporting participatory, transparent, decentralized planning and governance.