190,000+
Women
6
States
The female labour force participation is intrinsically linked to health of the women in the community. According to a research conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Harvard University, only 37% of women receive healthcare in India. Even with improved interventions to better the situation of healthcare for women, it still lacks priority in the Indian society. This situation is not limited to reproductive health of women and girls, but also to their right to quality life. This neglect further affects the productivity of women and thus participation in labour force.
In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3 - Good health and wellbeing, Goal 5 - Gender equality, and Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth, and Government initiatives including Anaemia Mukt Bharat, Atma Nirbhar Bharat, Skill Her Skill India, Digital Health India, Digital Financial Literacy, and Poshan Abhiyan, Smile Foundation’s women empowerment initiative Swabhiman aims to contravene these challenges through creation of opportunities and an enabling environment.
Swabhiman adopts an integrated approach, recognizing the significance of health and economic opportunities in empowering women and girls. The programme capacitates women through innovative community practices, empowering them to seek healthcare and bring sustainable changes in the community, while also supporting them to become aware, skilled and financially independent.
Health & Nutrition Awareness Engages communities for behavioral change, and promotes maternal, adolescent, and child health through reproductive health awareness and services
Sustainable Nutrition-Based Systems Enhances community nutrition knowledge through demonstrations, IEC materials, and health camps, while fostering social and behavioral change
Economic Empowerment Trains women entrepreneurs, supports business models, provides digital financial literacy, and offers seed capital to scale women-led enterprises
System Strengthening Building capacities of front line workers, upgrading wellness centers, and strengthening Anganwadis for long-term sustainability
Information, Education & Communication tools on Nutrition and Anaemia were developed and shared with Government bodies
Door-to-door visits, community mobilisation sessions, awareness talks, street plays, couple counselling sessions and more were conducted to spread awareness
Through health camps and telemedicine centres, women and children received specialised healthcare services, along with medicines, contraceptives & sanitary napkins
Provided business skills training and financial literacy to women, encouraging them to become financially independent and start their own micro enterprises
This pilot initiative of Swabhiman aims at improving the knowledge of pregnant women, lactating mothers, and primary care givers on the impact of proper nutrition and healthcare. Comprehensive reproductive health services, education, and resources are provided to the women. Through continuous communication activities in households and communities, the programme prepares expectant mothers for childbirth, highlighting issues such as Diet Diversity, Personal Hygiene, Breastfeeding, Birth Preparedness, Complementary Feeding and Iron Calcium Supplementation Intake.
Initiatives led by the community are key to the programme’s success as they help sustain the change in the long-term. One such initiative was Mothers’ Meetings, which were organized as cross-learning and experience sharing platforms for pregnant women and lactating mothers. Held at the local Anganwadi centres, the meetings were facilitated by volunteers from within the community. Another initiative was the establishment of Community Kitchen Gardens to ensure regular supply and intake of locally available nutritional vegetables and fruits to the beneficiaries.
Dedicated health camps are conducted to support pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children, offering vital health check ups including blood investigations, physical examinations, and need-based counseling. Pregnant women are screened for anemia, pre-eclampsia, and high-risk pregnancies. Lactating mothers receive assessments for anemia and malnutrition, along with guidance for better health. Children’s growth is monitored to prevent malnutrition. Through these health camps, Swabhiman ensures early detection, timely care, and better health outcomes for women and children.
Entrepreneurship and skill development training is provided to women from urban slums and rural areas with limited means owning low scale businesses, giving them access to opportunities for economic empowerment, independence, and leadership. Industry experts join in-house Swabhiman trainers to help the women understand and apply the basics of business and financial management, marketing and communication. They are familiarized with ways and opportunities to scale up and expand their small-scale endeavors to maximize profit and grow as independent, successful entrepreneurs.
One of the major interventions under Swabhiman programme is working hand in hand with government institutions to enhance community awareness such as the Integrated Child Health Scheme (ICDS), health departments, educational institutions and panchayats. Swabhiman developed several IEC tools that were later handed over to government stakeholders including audio visual tools on nutrition, anaemia, and IFA supplementation, awareness brochures on anaemia for lactating and pregnant women, and recipe booklets by project beneficiaries.
Capacity building of frontline workers is essential for enhancing the effectiveness and quality of services delivered in various sectors, particularly healthcare, social services, and community development. Training, resources, and support are provided to workers who are directly engaged with communities. It also helps in addressing systemic issues such as resource gaps and logistical challenges, ultimately leading to more resilient and responsive service systems. Investing in the capacity of frontline workers is crucial for sustainable development and the achievement of developmental and community goals.
Losing my husband felt like the world had stopped, I felt lost. Everything seemed impossible, and I was scared to face the world. Then I met Shardamma. She had also lost her husband, and we connected through our shared pain. Our friendship became my lifeline. We started cooking together, sharing meals, and slowly, my tears turned into moments of peace. Life goes on, even when it feels like it can’t. And in time, I realized that it’s the people we meet along the way who help us heal. Shardamma, Jaya Lakshmi, and I have found strength in each other. Together, we started a sambar powder business. It’s not just about making a product—it’s about rebuilding our lives, step by step, with each other’s support.
Me, a changemaker? No. But yes, I think it is important to share what I know.” Quiet and reserved, Shivani would feel uncomfortable and shy to even share her own experience at the Swabhiman group meetings. She never thought that people, let alone women, could talk about menstruation so openly. But when she started regularly attending the menstrual hygiene and health awareness sessions, she slowly gained confidence. Equipped with knowledge, she started helping her friends in school who had similar concerns. Today she is a peer educator in her community and often leads awareness talks and group sessions on menstrual hygiene. Shivani smiles easily and carries an energy that makes one want to get into a conversation with her. She doesn’t even know that she is a change maker; she just thinks that any important knowledge should be passed onto others.
I grew up in a small village near Bangalore, where survival was all we knew. As a child, my days were filled with chores and working in the f ields. Life took another turn when I married young. My husband, a driver, worked tirelessly to keep us afloat, but we still struggled. His support was the spark that gave me the courage to start something of my own. That’s when I came across beekeeping. It seemed simple, but it felt right. Working with bees, something so close to the nature I’d grown up with, gave me a sense of purpose. It became a way for me to provide for my family and build something lasting. Today, I manage my hives and sell honey. Sometimes, the smallest changes can make the biggest difference.
I am Anita, and my motherhood journey has been one of care, learning, and support. From the moment I conceived, I received regular check-ups and counselling from the Swabhiman team—not just for me but also for my husband. We learned the importance of institutional delivery, and thanks to their constant guidance, I gave birth safely. Even after my child’s birth, the support didn’t stop. I continue to attend awareness meetings on nutrition, immunization, and breastfeeding. These sessions have given me the confidence to take the best care of my baby. I now understand what my child needs to grow up healthy. This journey has not only made me a more informed mother but has also given my family a healthier future. I am grateful for the care and knowledge that will stay with me forever.
