Premankur Social Organization has been actively working in Dharavi, Mumbai—recognized as one of the largest and most densely populated urban settlements in Asia. The organization operates at multiple levels with women, youth, and children, focusing primarily on the socio-economic empowerment of women through community-based interventions.
A key focus of the organization is the formation and strengthening of Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Through these groups, women are mobilized and organized at the community level and provided with comprehensive training aimed at self-development. The training covers social, economic, political awareness, livelihood enhancement, employment, and self-employment opportunities, delivered directly at the settlement (Vasti) level.
In addition, women are educated on financial literacy aspects ranging from regular monthly savings to accessing formal banking services and institutional credit. Through the Tanishka Community Managed Resource Centre (CMRC), Premankur Social Organization has successfully established 228 Self-Help Groups in the Dharavi area, collectively engaging approximately 2,700 women, enabling them to move towards financial inclusion and self-reliance.
Our mission is to economically, socially, and politically empower women in Dharavi by equipping them with the necessary skills, resources, and institutional support to achieve financial independence and self-confidence. We strive to transform lives and create sustainable livelihoods through focused skill development programs, entrepreneurship promotion, and community-led initiatives.
We envision a society where gender justice and equality are fundamental values, and where women have equal opportunities to thrive socially and economically. By investing in human capital and capacity building, we aim to enable women to access sustainable livelihoods, strengthen their decision-making power, and eliminate gender-based discrimination.
Tanishka CMRC follows a community-centric and participatory approach, which includes the following core components:
We provide customized skill training programs aligned with individual interests, talents, and local market demand. These programs empower women to access wage employment or establish their own micro-enterprises.
Through strategic branding, marketing, and market linkage initiatives, we connect women-produced goods to wider markets. This helps challenge stereotypes around quality and highlights the capabilities and craftsmanship of community-based women entrepreneurs.
Our sustainability-focused projects promote the creation of value-added products from waste materials, such as handbags, diaries, and home décor items. These initiatives generate livelihoods while promoting environmental responsibility and circular economy practices.
We have formed and supported 228 Self-Help Groups in Dharavi, engaging around 2,700 women from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. These groups serve as platforms for collective growth, mutual support, leadership development, and financial independence.
We actively collaborate with reputed organizations including World Vision India, Khadi, United Way, and Sneha to strengthen program implementation. We also partner with financial institutions such as HDFC Bank, Saraswat Bank, and Canara Bank to facilitate SHG credit linkages, micro-finance access, and financial inclusion.
