Association for Sustainable Community Development (ASSCOD)

Since 2003, ASSCOD centered its approach on the concept of Self-Help Groups(SHGs) – organizing women into small groups, encouraging micro-savings and credit, and imparting skills and awareness training to its beneficiaries. ASSCOD is also dedicated to working closely with smaller, local NGOs and supporting and promoting their efforts.

Activities of the NGO:

• Women Empowerment: Since inception, ASSCOD’s focus has been on women empowerment and it has formed around 362 women SHGs with over 6,500 members. ASSCOD supports these SHGs through training programs on developing skills, promoting gender equality, improving maternal health, and ensuring a decent livelihood for the target group.
• Health camps: ASSCOD conducted a health check-up camp and two eye screening camps. Several families attended and availed necessary medical advice and medicines free of cost.
• Education: ASSCOD gives scholarships to school children in the age group of 6 to 14 years to reduce school dropout rate. 36 children were provided with school uniforms, note books and other educational materials to continue their higher education. ASSCOD’s educational goals are to spread awareness about school enrolments, motivate girl child education and enable illiterate women in SHG’s to being basic literates. ASSCOD supported government run schools by providing them with basic furniture.
• Financial Literacy: To enable women attain economic independence, beneficiaries under this initiative are trained to open bank accounts and practice financial transactions through banks, micro-financing activities, income enhancing and generation through savings and thrift.
• Digital Literacy: National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) program aims at bridging the digital divide in the rural areas of India and empowering beneficiaries trained under this to adopt internet technology from day to day living.

ASSCOD is accredited by Credibility Alliance under Basic norms, has Special Consultative Status with Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations.