New challenges for Sugandh

Sugandh first opened its doors in October 1997, to support children working in a local market. Since then it has continued its grassroots outreach and community work in some of Delhi’s poorest communities. But now it faces new challenges with a change of leadership.

At the end of last year, the team said goodbye to one of its longest serving members. Thangtei David has been a central part of the Sugandh team for over 18 years, and Project Director for the last 10 years. In 2022 she had the opportunity to take a sabbatical. And during this period her family’s application to move to the USA was approved, so the planned temporary leave of absence became permanent. She resigned at the end of December 2022.

Thangtei originally trained and worked as a nurse, but it was her expertise and experience in self-help savings programmes that led her to join Sugandh to start up the self-help programme in 2005.

She faced significant challenges as around this time the slum communities in South Delhi, where Sugandh had worked since 1997, were cleared by the government. Families were moved to two different locations on the city outskirts, 30+ kms away, on opposite sides of the city. Communities who had been settled for many years were divided.

In 2005, the community began to form again as families started to rebuild their lives. Thangtei remembers the newness of the Holambi development:

“As the slum was still in the beginning of developing, we had no place where we could meet the people.”

Community meetings were held on the balcony of a government school. People who had moved into the area did not know each other and there was little sense of belonging. The team worked hard and through generous donations a centre was built and work blossomed. The team formed local networks with other NGOs, government bodies, local politicians, and community leaders.

Sugandh staff trained women in the community to be advocates for better water supply, improved street lighting and electricity provision, all of which made people feel more settled and secure.

The women’s Self-Help Groups established during Thangtei’s time expanded. These community led groups are a great source of support and encouragement to the women and allow them to save and become economically independent. At the time she left Sugandh, 57 groups were operating in one community, and 37 groups in a second, with over 1,100 members overall. Thangtei has been at the heart of Sugandh and stood with community members during happy and difficult days. She will be greatly missed and we wish her family well as they settle into a new life in the USA.

The Board soon appointed Mrs Maheshwari Deep, with whom I worked in the early days of Sugandh, teaching art and craft to the teenagers. With further experience in different NGOs, in 2004 Maheshwari started the work of Jagriti. This project includes a primary school, a hostel and practical skills training. Maheshwari belongs to an active fellowship and is committed to serving the poor and seeing change in the most difficult circumstances.

Please pray for Maheshwari and the team as they set the priorities for 2024 and that she will be clear in her vision with the Board for what Sugandh can achieve in this next chapter.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support.

Article by:
Emma Greenfield,
Founder of Sugandh