Social Action and Rehabilitation Association (SARA)

SARA is supported by Swasti, whose HIV/AIDS prevention project is being funded by Avahan III, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s project.

Activities of SARA in FY2015:

• Facilitating Government Welfare Schemes: SARA facilitates its members in getting access to government welfare schemes like voter ID, ration card, elderly pension, and Aadhaar card. More than 200 members and their families have benefitted till now.
• Microfinance: SARA promotes microfinance through Self Help Groups (SHG) among its transgender members. Currently, 6 SHGs have been formed, covering 60 transgender members; SARA supports the SHGs to avail bank loans for livelihood needs of its members. This initiative facilitates access to savings, credit, and insurance, for economic empowerment of deprived transgender members.
• Livelihood Promotion: SARA provides skill related training in areas like tailoring, beautician, and catering, to its members. Additionally, credit access and marketing support have been provided by SARA. More than 50 members received training.
• Other activities: These include legal aid & counselling services; working closely with the government hospital to help & support People Living with HIV/AIDS; organizing an SHG meeting on a monthly basis to discuss the importance of savings, credit system, proper book keeping, solving the problems of SHGs, and income generation activities. The CBO organises a fund raising event every year where children and transgender individuals of the community are encouraged to participate.