Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha
TMSS (Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha Bengali: ঠেঙ্গামারা মহিলা সবুজ সংঘ, ) founded in 1964 by a group of destitute women, has emerged as one of the leading NGOs in Bangladesh and well acclaimed for its pioneering role to integrate women empowerment as a way forward towards alleviation of poverty. Thengamara is a village, located in vicinity of archaeological site of Pundra Kingdom, is now vibrant hubs with a number of education institutions, technical institutes, hospitals, nursing institutional and also a place for the tourists and development researchers. TMSS, the biggest women -led and gender focused NGO in South Asia. In 1980, the organization entered into a new phase and gained momentum under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Hosne Ara Begum, Ashoka Fellow. The reforms brought about by Professor Dr. Hosne Ara Begum rejuvenated the organization with clear vision and mission.
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| Founded | 1980 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit |
| Location |
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| Locations |
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| Services | Microfinance Education Health ICT Programs Environmental Programs Social development Programs Economic development Programs |
Key people | Prof. Dr. Hosne-Ara Begum, Founder |
Employees | 35,000+ (2022) |
| Website | http://www.tmss-bd.org/ |
Keeping women empowerment as the core focus of the organization, the mission of TMSS is to help millions of women to lift up their socio-economic condition through mobilization and augmentation of resources. Diverse programmatic intervention of TMSS encompasses mainly skill training and providing financial support through micro-credit, paving ways and opening up new economic opportunities for the millions of women. The three key areas of intervention health, education and micro –credit shapes up the programmatic approach, which, over the decades of journey, expanded in multifarious sectors including growing adaptation and resilience to climate change and efforts to restore and protect the environment. Arraying means effectively to disaster and finding ways to respond promptly to disaster is integral to TMSS programs. Advocacy and campaign on various emerging issues particularly focusing on social justice and human rights concerns.
TMSS is registered by 11 regulatory authorities of Government of Bangladesh, including NGO Affairs Bureau, Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Health Family Welfare, Department of Narcotics Control, Micro-credit Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Register of Joint Stock Companies etc.
In consistent with SDG goals and national priorities of development, TMSS continues to evolve its own mechanism to devise strategies and develop programs in order to fulfill its mission to provide a better life with dignity in the family and society through their capacity building, adaptability, responsiveness, optimum use of their own/available resource, participation in development activities, good governance, and establishment of their legitimate rights on a sustainable footing and promotes the novel slogan 'Let Family be the Focal Point of Women Development'(4).
Presently, TMSS has paved the opportunities of for more than 36,000 people engaging them directly and indirectly and the numbers of beneficiaries are growing significantly with the expansion of the program across the country. To date, the organization serves for more than 8 million beneficiaries engaged in multiple programs.
History
Thengamara Sabuj Sangha (TSS) was established in 1964 under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961, in the remote village of Bogra sadar upazila with the initiatives of a group destitute women with the objective to fight back the social odds and improve their economic condition through small savings and mobilization of resources to let the others to accept their role, dignity and inclusion in the community. Sabuj literally means green, metaphorical manifestation of the dreams and aspiration of the women who conceived the unity as the way towards survival and dignity. (4)
The year 1980 marks the turning point of the organization when the management and ownership of the organization was transferred to the local educationist and renowned Ashoka Fellow Prof. Dr. Hosne-Ara Begum. After assuming the responsibility Prof. Dr. Begum renamed the organization as Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS) by adding the word 'Mohila' (women), with the goal of empowering the country's womenfolk. She became its founder chief executive. The small organization is now closer to realizing the objectives of reaching out to millions of poor and destitute people. The organization is now expanded from a mere micro-credit entity to number of diverse ventures covering ten sectors.(4) TMSS , with a well built intuitional framework and managerial efficacy undertaking multifarious programs along the lines of TMSS’s cherished Goals and Objectives continues to contribute towards achieving its goals which could well attributed to her caring approach, dynamic leadership and prudent guidance.(2)
As Prof. Dr. Begum recounts, it all started in 1964 when a group of beggar women led by Fatema Bewa and Jomela Bewa, two regular beggars of the village Thengamara at the district of Bogura organized the beggars of the locality and started to regularly save a 'handful of rice' out of what they begged from door to door with the aim of feeding their families and extremely poor community. In 1980 the group named TSS (Thengamara Sabuj Sangha) approached her to lead them. A 21-member committee was formed for managing the organization consisting of 226 general members and 8 tons of collected rice was turned into a life changing path. TMSS started by the destitute and disadvantaged women of Thengamara, who had long suffered from deprivations, violence and social neglect. Its growth and development was possible mainly through implementation of decisions taken at the grassroots level. (4)
The mission of the organization is to ensure continued enhancement of the socio-economic status of the poor, especially women, through implementation of local decisions and utilization of local resources.
Specialty of TMSS/ Democratic Organization
- TMSS Originated with the Disadvantages, Honest and Protesting Women
- Inquisitiveness and Innovativeness are encouraged
- Bottom-up approach (Grass-roots Options Seeking System Mandatory)
- Participatory Management (Office Order of Highest Authority is always amendable within a period)
- Democratic Operation (Global Meeting i.e. MCM, CCM, DCM, AGM, GBM, THMM, GAM, CCM meeting decisions are coming up from each area as powerful decision)
- Inclusive – Open style AGM
- Decentralized Management (Domain Chief has authority to implement any project under SR)
- Zero Tolerance Corruption, Exercise Penalty, Low Performance Deduction (LPD), Dual Service Deductions (DSS)
- Good Governance, Transparency and Accountability
- Highest Priority on ethical conduct (honesty, dedication, commitment, integrity)
- Strong Focus on Women Emancipation, Empowerment and Development
- Gender responsiveness
Sectors
Under the Charismatic and visionary leadership of Prof. Dr. Begum, TMSS has now expanded from a mere micro-credit entity to innumerable diverse ventures under ten sectors and services, including health, education and its institutions, human resource development, food security and livelihood, microfinance, social enterprise, human rights and social justice, climatic change, disaster management and environment, organizational development and capacity building, information and communication technology.
Microfinance
Microfinance is one of the oldest programmes of TMSS. TMSS is implementing rural and urban micro-credit as well as development program under the guidance and directives of PKSF and other donor agencies. The primary goal of TMSS Microfinance program is to empower poor women by creating, expanding, strengthening and upgrading their abilities and capacity by ensuring their direct involvement in income generating activities through demand —driven, multi-dimensional and integrated financial services.
Micro credit programmes are empowering the poor by providing them a little amount of credit enabling them to seek potential self-improvement capabilities. TMSS started micro financing for reducing the poverty of the poor women by empowering them (6).
TMSS implements credit program in 376 upazilas of 64 districts. Until June 2020, a total 76, 92,607 beneficiaries have been covered with loan facility under microcredit loan (7).
Based on the experiences of long 41 years of practicing microfinance program, TMSS emphasizes the importance of bringing about desired changes in the lives and livelihood of the poor people; micro-credit alone is not sufficient but integrated micro-credit approach is considered as the stimuli towards attaining the goals relating to socio-economic development.
For proper management and utilization of microcredit, the target beneficiaries must remain healthy/physically sound, and need to have at least basic literacy skills. To this end, TMSS has developed an approach called “Health, Education & Microfinance (HEM)”. The HEM approach includes awareness building on primary healthcare issues, promoting basic literacy (reading, writing and numeracy) capabilities on microfinance management, utilization and record keeping among the target participants (8.
The HEM approach has been successfully implemented in Bangladesh through 883 branches in Bangladesh covering nearly 8 million members. The branches function as a center of excellence to provide all support services and program delivery, technical back-up, supervision, monitoring to their target beneficiaries and to achieve the overall goal and objectives of TMSS and finally to contribute towards poverty alleviation in Bangladesh in a sustainable way.
Health
TMSS management has given top priority in the provision of affordable and quality health services for its member and the general mass as well. Health is considered as one of the most crucial developmental elements with priority to address the basic needs of the poor (Internal, 2)). To materialize this TMSS started its health services in 1990 by ensuring optimal health care services for the poor and under privileged people (9). Gradually the healthcare services and programs of this sector were expanded in manifold dimensional aspects such as in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary care level as well as in medical, dental, nursing, paramedical and health technology education through establishing hospitals, community level sub-centers and educational institutes. TMSS not only established a 1000 bed Hospital but also 97 satellite clinics in the rural areas. In addition, in the medical and health education, TMSS has given equal emphasis to medical, para-medical; community health service education institutes (Internal, 2).Primary care starts at the village satellite clinic at microfinance group members ‘neighborhoods. The satellite clinic usually organizes a weekly group meeting with its microfinance participants. Paramedical staff or medical assistants provide the service.The2nd tier of service is provided at the sub-center. There are 483 sub-centers at 45 districts of Bangladesh for all villagers irrespective of their microfinance participation and with a minimum fee for services (Tk 5.00/ or $0.058) or free of cost in most cases. The sub centers are the first place for institutional development work. There is a duty roster to indicate the availability of the doctor who provides healthcare to the villagers apart from paramedic/medical assistant. The sub centers operate on a daily basis. If necessary, the patients are referred by the village sub center to better facilities. TMSS has a good networking system and transportation facilities. Transportation is available to move patients from the sub center to other facilities at a nominal charge. Tertiary care is provided in Bogura district where TMSS has its own hospitals, diagnostic services and medical college. In addition, most government facilities are linked with the TMSS network and with the government service providers extending their full support to TMSS (10)
TMSS Health Sector has been working as a supplementary force to Government for building Bangladesh as a healthy, dynamic and disease free country in South Asia.
Education and Institutions
TMSS established its “Education Domain” in 2013 to facilitate and strengthen the capacity of institutions and ensuring quality education for the students. It is stated that all of the educational institutions including the university have been successfully operating under the relevant sectors and domains of TMSS as per approved rules and regulations of TMSS and Government of Bangladesh. In the recent years, TMSS has given special emphasis on improving education in Bangladesh and has established 31 institutes, which range from primary to advanced level education along with the technical and health and medical education.
The aim of TMSS’s educational programs is to transform human resources into human capital while enhancing competencies and capacities to meet the ever growing national and global challenges. (Internal, 1)
Agriculture, Food Security &Livelihood
Agriculture is the main source for food and nutrition for the people of Bangladesh and a source of employment for the rural population. In addition to the impact of climate change, the role of agriculture in ensuring food security for a growing population from declining cultivable land is undeniable. The government is working tirelessly to build a sustainable, safe and profitable agricultural sector in order to ensure food security. (11) TMSS program sector actively looks into these aspects to ensure food security and livelihoods in a sustainable way. TMSS is implementing a wide range of programs to assist program participation and the programs include quality seed production and distribution, marketing, fisheries, agriculture, efficient irrigation system, homestead gardening, and Land Development. In addition, TMSS carries out VGD program (since 1990 )which is a social safety-net program of Government of Bangladesh to ensure access of the poorest to the program. (Internal 1, Page- 29)
TMSS has developed a number of sectional programmes such as: livestock farming, poultry rearing, fisheries, petty trading, vegetable selling, quality seed production and distribution, VGD, homestead gardening, land development programmes which are facilitated by its micro-credit sector, training and technical support services and are implemented through the overall Rural Development Programme (RDP). These programmes are generally designed to contribute positively to household activities and household decision making, utilization, management and conservation of natural resources for sustainable rural community development to alleviate poverty. (12)
Human Resource Development and Training
Human Resource development and capacity building training is the core for any development or intervention to improve performance and productivity. TMSS has a pool of expert trainers having professionally competencies and experiences for providing and managing national level standards training and consultancy in management and technical skills including entrepreneurship and business development and management. It has also a specialized team responsible for developing effective teaching and learning materials such as training manuals, modules, schedule session plans, handout/information sheets, activity sheets, instruction sheets, Self-cheek sheets, Assessment Sheets etc.
There are several residential and non-residential training facilities in Dhaka, Bogura, Joypurhat, Rangpur, Natore, Benapole and Chittagong to impart human resource development training for domestic and external stakeholders.
In addition to regular training programs, TMSS also implements several training service projects financed by World Vision Bangladesh, NGO Foundation Bangladesh, UPP-Ujjibito-PKSF, PRIME-PKSF, SME, SEIP of PKSF, B-SEP of ILO, B-SkillFUL of Swisscontact, BDC, Basic Training, Staff Training and Staff Orientation etc.
Climate Change, Disaster Preparedness and Environment
Bangladesh is making its efforts to confront climate change and environmental challenges. To cope with such changes it became imperative to continue its efforts not only in mitigation but also to learn adaptation practices to such climatic changes. TMSS has given its full effort for the adaption, mitigation; and conservation of environment through its programs and projects like Sustainable Environment Development Project (SEDP), Social Forestry Program, Tree Deposit Scheme (TDS), Land Filling Project (LFP), TMSS Renewable Energy Program (TREP), ECCP at Gaibandha, Anticipatory Actions at Bogura. Relief and Rehabilitation Program, etc. (Internal, 1) TMSS is in the process of setting up high quality Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), medical waste treatment plants, block bricks factories, water reservoirs as environmentally friendly investment.
Human Rights and Social Justice
TMSS is working to promote awareness on Human Rights and Social Justice within the family, community as well as Bangladesh as a whole as a nation. As a women focused NGO TMSS is closely linked with grassroots community and activities like Human Rights and Prevention of Gender Violence, TMSS Autism and Disabled School and Rehabilitation Center, Shelter Home Support for the victim VAW, trafficking, domestic violence etc., Local Mediation and consultation, Legal support and Law and Litigation (LL), Safe Migration Promotion, Policy Advocacy and awareness, etchave been carried out since inception to address Human Rights and Social Justice.
To address the above issues TMSS is implementing current activities on the following projects and programs in collaboration with many donor agencies and partnerships:
- Human Rights & Gender
- Shelter Home for the victims VAW, GBV and trafficked victims
- Community-led Outreach on Safe Migration (COSM)
- Platforms for Dialogue (P4D)
- Strengthening service provision for protection and assistance to victims of cross-border trafficking between Bangladesh, India and Nepal
- Awareness Program on Violent Extremism
- TMSS Community Policing Program
- Local Government Support Project-2
- TMSS Day Care Centre
- TMSS Masuda Probin Nibash (Shelter home for elderly people)
- TMSS Community Policing (TCP)
Social Business Venture
A social enterprise is a relatively new concept in which it differs with the conventional enterprises in profit sharing and investment plan. Although both the commercial and social enterprises have similarities in operation and management modalities and style, the main difference lies in their mission, profit sharing and investment plans (13).
It is not to say that the commercial enterprises cannot have social objectives, but such objectives are fundamentally motivated to the perception of making the enterprise financially more viable and acceptable to the society. TMSS has been successfully operating number of social enterprises and sister enterprises, such as TMSS Handicraft, TMSS Printing Press, TMSS Agro Based Industries Ltd, TMSS Dairy Farm, TMSS Domestic Employment Agency, TMSS Security Agency Limited, TMSS Travels & Tourism Ltd, TMSS Momo-Inn Amusement park, etc (Internal, 1).
Impact on SDGs
Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in achieving the Goals under 2015-2017 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by193 nations, targeting a set of actions and targets contained in the SDGs Declaration, towards inter alias 17 goals. TMSS’s activities have been addressing these issues and all projects and programs (Microfinance programs, Health programs, Education programs, Promotion and Protection the Human Rights, Women Rights and Disability Rights and Skill development Training) have been contributing to fulfill the national (SDGs) and international goals and objectives.
TMSS has made remarkable program impacts in the life and livelihoods including enabling them to access public and private sector services. The program impacts are believed to have contributed towards Bangladesh government’s aim of achieving SDG goals (8).
Response to Covid-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 prevention measures are maintained 100% in each activity of TMSS. TMSS has several initiatives to prevent COVID-19 and to respond to the devastating impact due to COVID-19. The initiatives include and are not limited to:
- Compliance: Developed Covid-19 Compliance Guideline in line with COVID-19 Guideline developed by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and implementing at every level within Global TMSS
- Setting up hand wash devices in front of all TMSS Officer premises and communities, about 2000 hand wash devices have been set up so far.
- Food Distribution to the poor: Distributing food and daily essentials through its "Manabata Store” benefiting 100 families on regular basis (1st April - to September’20). So far food package distributed to 40,000 families all over Bangladesh during Flood and Covid-19.
- Logistics Distribution: So far distributed 1.61 million masks, 1.05 million soaps, 6,000 sanitizers and 2,000 thermometers.
- PPEs: So far 50,000 PPEs have been supplied and distributed among DGHS, Govt. Offices and community people.
- COVID-19 Awareness Campaign: Starting from March 2020, TMSS has distributed 10, 50,000 leaflets/ handbills within the communities and raised awareness to people through 874 branches.
- Established RT-PCR lab to COVID-19 test and started COVID-19 unit
Development Partners
TMSS has partnered with a number of organizations, including different government ministries, UN Agencies, Diplomatic Missions, International Development Organizations, Corporate Houses, scheduled Banks and other MFIs to help enhance services available in more rural areas (2).
Working Areas
TMSS has operations currently in 26,362 villages through its 883 branches/service centers across all 64 districts of the country (8).
Networking, membership and affiliation
| AND | Agricultural Development Network |
| AFDF | Aquaculture for Fish Development Forum |
| APAN | Asia Pacific Agro-forestry Network |
| AWID | The Association for Women in Development |
| BATA | Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance |
| BCRSA | Bangladesh CNG Refueling Station Association |
| BFWE | Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs |
| BHRC | Bangladesh Human Rights Commission |
| BMCA | Bangladesh Medical College Association |
| BMEEG | Bogura Metal Engineering Entrepreneurs Group |
| BSN | Bangladesh Salish Network, Dhaka |
| BSAF | Bangladesh Shisu Adhikar Forum |
| BSF | Bangladesh Silk Foundation |
| BWP | Bangladesh Water Partnership |
| BWCCI | Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries |
| BWTP | Banking With the Poor Network |
| CRIN | Children Rights Information Network |
| CWU | Church Women United |
| CEN | Coalition of Environmental NGOs |
| CUP | Coalition for the Urban Poor |
| CLU-B | Commonwealth Liaison Unit Bangladesh |
| CDL | Community Development Library |
| CCHRB | Coordination Council of Human Right Bangladesh |
| CDF | Credit and Development Forum |
| DNCCF | District NGO Coordination Committee |
| FEMA | Fair Election Monitoring Alliance |
| FNB | Federation of NGO’s in Bangladesh |
| FPED | Forum for Participation Education and Development |
| FORAM | Forum for Regenerative Agriculture Movement |
| FGW | Fund for Global Women |
| GWP | Global Water Partnership |
| IFF | Inter-Fish Forum |
| IAVE | International Association for Volunteer Effort |
| IWA | International Water Association |
| M-CS | Micro-credit Summit |
| NOMF | Nari o Manabadhikar Foundation |
| NCCADN | National Coordination Council of Anti-Drug NGOs |
| NWMEG | National Water Management Entrepreneurs Group |
| NIRAPAD | Network for Information, Response and Preparedness Activities on Disaster |
| SAN-B | STD/AIDS Network of Bangladesh |
| DCCI | The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
| NCBP | The National Commission for Beijing Plus |
| WWN | World Wide Network |
Awards
TMSS has been honored with the following Awards at different times in recognition of its pro-people approach, grass-roots base, positive role and noteworthy performance:
· 2020 - Arch Klumph Society (AKS) award in by Rotary International
· 2015-2020 Family Planning Award
· 2019 - Rotary SEED Award
· 2015 - Public Health Education Award by Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh
· 2015 - Special Award by Bangladesh Student Welfare Trust
· 2015 - Sayed Mahabub Morshed Memorial Award by Bangladesh Supreme Court
· 2014 - Golf Tournament by Amin Mohammad Group
· 2014 - Exclusive Award by Business Digest
· 2014 - Human Shining personality Award by Asia Human Rights Foundation
· 2014 - Human Rights Award by Bangladesh Human Rights BURO
· 2013 - FOBANA Atlanta GAby Bangladesh American Association of Georgia, USA
· 2012 - National Forestry Award by Ministry of Forestry and Environment, Dhaka
· 2010 - “Citi Micro Entrepreneurship Award” by Citi Bank N.A and] CDF
· 2009 - “Special Award” by Bogura District Association, (USA) Inc, New York
· 2008 - “Mother Teresa Gold Medal Award” from the Mother Teresa Research Council, Dhaka
· 2007 - “Daridro Mata” Award by Parbotya Adibasi Shangstha,
· 2007 - National Forestry Award by the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
· 2007 - “Begum Rokeya Award” by the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
· 2006 - Best Micro-Finance Investor Award by Palli Karma Shahayak Foundation (PKSF)
· 2005 - Dhaka Post Award, Dhaka
· 2005 - Best Micro-finance Investor Award by UNCDF and City Group
· 2004 - National Livestock Exhibition Award by Zia Social Cultural Forum, Dhaka
· 2004 - Zia Respectful Felicitation Award by Zia Social Cultural Forum, Dhaka
· 2004 - ‘MIDAS Fair’ Award on IGA Production by MIDAS Financing Limited, Dhaka
· 2004 - PETRRA Award on Innovators in Rice Research Suitable for Resource-Poor Farmers of Bangladesh by IRRI, BRRI and DFID, Bangladesh
· 2001, 2004 Arthakantha Businessman Award by Arthakantha, Dhaka
· 2002 - Fisheries Award on Fish Culture by Department of Fisheries
· 2001 - Literacy Award by District and Thana Administration
· 2001 - Vocational Service Award 2000-20001 by President, Rotary Club of Dhaka, Buriganga
· 2000 - Begum Rokeya Gold Medal Award by Nari Bikas Sangstha (NBS), Bogura
· 2000 - M.A Haque Gold Medal Award by M.A Haque Foundation, Dhaka
· 1998 - Prime Minister’s National Afforestation Award
· 1996 - Human Rights Award by National Human Rights Journalism Sangstha
· 1994 - Paul Harries Fellow
· 1992 - Prime Minister’s National Population Award
· 1992 - Ashoka Fellow for the Up-liftman of Women’s by Self Decision/Criticism
· 1987 - Ansar VDP National Award on Leadership
· 1986, 1988 - President Award for Village Women’s Organization and Leadership
· 1986 - Award on Agriculture Purpose by the Agriculture Department of Bangladesh
References:
1. Move to send remittance to remote areas
2. ThengamaraMohilaSabuj Sangha (TMSS) | Devex
3. TMSS members can now repay loan Installments through bKash) – for bkash in 1st para
4. From begging bowls to global partnership for development
5. Banglapedia-ThengamaraMahilaSabuj Sangha
6. POVERTY REDUCTION THROUGH SELF EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN: A STUDY ON THENGAMARA MOHILA SABUJ SANGHA (TMSS)
7. Bangladesh economic review 2021, Chapter-13 poverty alleviation, page-225
8. TMSS Annual Report’ 2019
9. Center for Health Market innovations
10. Microfinance – A Gateway to Healthcare for Poor Rural Woman, page- 11, 12
11. Economic review 2021, chapter-7 Agriculture, page- 91
12. Impact of different progarmmes of TMSS of the self-employed women, page- 420
13. TMSS in Business
Internal Links
1. https://tmss-bd.org/
2. https://www.tmsshealth.com/