Milestone Moment: Women Secure Their First Savings Certificates Through Empowerment Initiative
Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Distribution Programme recognises livelihood champions across 15 village
Chennai: Omega Forum for Social Impact (OFSI), the CSR arm of Omega Healthcare, in partnership with The Association for Sustainable Community Development (ASSCOD), successfully concluded the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Distribution Programme, a landmark event celebrating the financial transformation of tribal women from across 15 villages in the Chengalpattu district.
The initiative brought together over 200 women participants, including the 30 of them being awarded savings certificates. The event featured a short video capturing the journey of the initiative, followed by keynote addresses from partners and stakeholders.The highlight, however, was the heartfelt stories shared by the beneficiaries, women who spoke of how access to credit and community support transformed their lives.
Speaking about the significance of this event, Sunanda Rangarajan, OFSI’s CEO, said, “This milestone shows what’s possible when a corporate partner commits deeply to a grassroots NGO and stays the course with the community. The result isn’t just impact, its transformation. Women who once lacked access now lead enterprises, manage finances, and drive change. This is the power of meaningful, long-term investment in communities.”
The women honoured at the event were recognised not only for their timely loan repayments but also for demonstrating leadership in taking charge of their financial futures. Their repaid loans were converted into fixed deposits via India Post, giving them long-term savings and exposure to formal banking. For many of these women, this is their first personal bank account; a quiet but significant milestone in rural women’s financial inclusion. The programme also trained one woman per village as an emergency responder to support health screenings, raise awareness on nutrition and anaemia, assist in health camps, and guide referrals to government services.
“For decades, we’ve worked with tribal women who have faced generations of neglect and exclusion. What we witnessed today is not just financial inclusion, it is the beginning of lasting dignity.” said, ASSCOD’s Executive Director, K Loganathan “When a tribal woman learns to save, lead, and care for her community, she becomes a pillar of strength. Empowering these women is not just social work, it is nation-building.”
Over the past two years, 161 women from marginalized communities received interest-free microloans through OFSI and ASSCOD to support traditional livelihoods like goat and cow rearing. Paired with financial literacy and life skills training, the initiative empowered them to build and manage sustainable incomes. This momentum is now sparking a ripple effect, with tribal women emerging as role models in financial discipline, health awareness, and community change.
