Dignity & Empowerment for Marginalised Women
Swathi Mahila Sangha is a community-based organisation led by marginalised women, working towards securing their rights.
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Mission
To improve women's lives by responding effectively to the needs of every woman.
Our Vision
Our Mission
Our Mission
To provide high-quality services and facilities in accordance with the requirements of Swathi women with self-funded and capacitated human resources
Who We Are
How It Started
How It Started
“Swathi” means different things, but all symbolic of what SMS set out to be. It refers to Swathi - a star in Hindu Astrology, Swathi Muttu - the first drop of rain, and Swathi - a beautiful pearl.
We — Swathi Mahila Sangha (SMS) — are a women-led Community Based Organisation (CBO) of Marginalised Women in Karnataka. With 13,000 active members, we provide services to 21,000 WSW.
How It Started
How It Started
How It Started
In 2003, Bangalore lacked comprehensive programs for marginalised women like Women in Sex Work (WSW). While a few NGOs offered basic HIV/STI prevention, deeper issues were overlooked. Inspired by movements in Bangladesh and Sonagachi, a group of Bangalore sex workers, led by Helen, Puspalatha, Geeta, and Zarina, formed Swathi Mahila Sangh
In 2003, Bangalore lacked comprehensive programs for marginalised women like Women in Sex Work (WSW). While a few NGOs offered basic HIV/STI prevention, deeper issues were overlooked. Inspired by movements in Bangladesh and Sonagachi, a group of Bangalore sex workers, led by Helen, Puspalatha, Geeta, and Zarina, formed Swathi Mahila Sangha (SMS) with Samraksha's support on December 15, 2003. SMS was later formally registered under the Karnataka Societies Act.
What We Do
How It Started
What We Do
We strive to bring equity, equality, dignity, and empowerment into the lives of every woman in sex work. We build capacities of WSW by enhancing their knowledge and skills and improving their attitudes towards safeguarding their lives and livelihood. To mainstream the most marginalised women, we provide healthcare services, financial security, social protection services, and legal rights.
OUR JOURNEY
Through a range of programs, Swathi Mahila Sangha tackles critical issues like HIV/AIDS prevention, financial security, healthcare, and social stigma.
Watch our journey here!
Our interventions
Empowerment & HIV/AIDS Prevention
Empowerment & HIV/AIDS Prevention
Empowerment & HIV/AIDS Prevention
Project Pragati, reaching over 15,986 women, provides HIV/STI prevention education, condom distribution, and STI treatment referrals. Staffed by over 80% sex workers, the project covers most of Bangalore.
Financial Inclusion
Empowerment & HIV/AIDS Prevention
Empowerment & HIV/AIDS Prevention
Swathi Jyothi Cooperative, a micro-finance initiative, offers savings, credit, and insurance to over 7,100 women in sex work.
Health & Nutrition
Empowerment & HIV/AIDS Prevention
Health & Nutrition
Swathi Savi provides nutritious food supplements to people living with HIV, and Swathi Spoorthi supports women living with HIV to improve their quality of life.
Combating Stigma
Combating Stigma
Health & Nutrition
The Baduku project tackles stigma and discrimination faced by sex workers.
De-addiction
Combating Stigma
Access to Rights
Over 1450 women have received treatment for alcohol dependence.
Access to Rights
Combating Stigma
Access to Rights
SMS has facilitated access to government IDs and social protection schemes for over 14,500 people.
Livelihood
Livelihood
Livelihood
Swathi Innovation focuses on facilitating employment and livelihood opportunities for women and their children.
Video stories
Empowerment and beyond
Watch the implementation of 'Pragati', an empowerment initiative by Swathi Mahila Sangha, which seeks to address HIV prevention through risk and vulnerability reduction.
Some leaders are born women
Watch the empowerment journey of the resilient women of Swathi Mahila Sangha.
Swathi Jyothi - The Bank of Empowerment
Take a look at Swathi Jyothi, a community-owned regulated micro financial institution providing access to critical financial services to marginalised women in Bangalore.
Community Story
Hear from Swathi Jyothi member, Vishalakshi, as she shares her empowerment journey.
The melody of our lives
There is a song we composed. It is what we live by.
“Nooraru Saaviraru, Nammavaru
Laingika Vruttialiruva Mahileyaru
Nammavaru Yella Nammavaru
Nammavaru Yella Nammavaru!”
“Hundreds and thousands of women in sex work are ours. We are all one!”
More often than not, our lives are out of sync. Harmony is difficult to imagine. But we’ve got our song. And our melody. And we are humming along!
Our Partners
Contact Us
Contact Us
Postal Address: #1488/35, 2nd floor, 2nd block, MKK Road, Rajajinagar,
Bangalore. PIN: 560 021,
Phone: 91-080-23343726
Email: swathimahilasangha@gmail.com
Swathi Mahila Sangha
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.