Social Security & Health

SEWA Shakti Kendras (SSKs) serve as community-based support centres for marginalized and underserved populations. Being deeply rooted within the communities they work with, SSKs have built strong relationships of trust and are well-positioned to help women access government schemes, essential services, and official documentation. The staff at SSKs are themselves members of the communities they serve, which enables them to understand local needs and provide relevant, accessible support.

The key areas of work undertaken by SSKs include:

• Creating awareness among local women about health, financial management, and their rights and entitlements as citizens.
• Providing legal guidance, counselling, and awareness sessions on issues affecting women and their families.
• Supporting community members in obtaining identity and address documents, birth and death certificates, and other essential government documents.
• Facilitating access to healthcare services and government schemes, while also connecting women with SEWA’s financial institutions and labour union.

The experience of working through SSKs has highlighted two important learnings:

• Community leadership plays a crucial role: Local leaders can effectively facilitate linkages with government schemes and programmes and support community members in following up to ensure that benefits and services are actually delivered.
• Awareness must be accompanied by access: Simply understanding available schemes and programmes is not enough to create sustainable impact. Women and communities also need practical support to access these opportunities and receive the benefits they are entitled to.

The strong trust that SSKs have built within communities over the years has enabled them to reach and support some of the most vulnerable sections of society. Their community-based approach allows them to engage effectively with people who may otherwise face barriers in accessing public services and entitlements.

• Through SSKs and Swasthya Sakhis, SEWA Delhi helps women and their families access health information, preventive care and public health services.
• Health Camps are organised, offering screenings and check-ups including blood pressure, blood sugar, eye, cervical and oral health.
• Women were also enabled to access Anganwadi centres, hospitals, dispensaries and health schemes such as Ayushman and ABHA Cards.