The Shimoga Multipurpose Social Service Society ®
Overview of Our Mission
The Shimoga Multipurpose Social Service Society (SMSSS) is the ‘Development arm’ of the Diocese of Shimoga, Karnataka, India. We are a secular, voluntary, non-profit organization dedicated to influential positive change ever since our existence in 1989.
A Society Based on Justice, Peace, and Love.
Justice: Everyone gets their due with dignity without discrimination.
Peace: Harmony and freedom without fears.
Love: Mutual respect and acceptance for all.
Empowering through Capacity Building.
Empowering the poor and the marginalized through capacity building and rights based actions across 627+ villages.
Sustainable Development.
Marginalized communities will have access and control over knowledge, resources and decision making for their sustainable development.
Primary Focus:
Small Farmers, PLHIVs, Marginalized Women, and Youth.
Pillars of Impact
6 Core Departments
Capacity Building
The Goal
"Stakeholders are capacitated to be able to reflect, make decisions and implement learning for improved results."
Sub-Programmes
- Change Agents Training
- Seminars & Workshops
- Innovative Training
- Publications
Health and Development
The Goal
"Communities will be using means to protect themselves from communicable diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS."
Sub-Programmes
- Prevention of HIV/AIDS
- Support for PLHIVs
- Communicable Disease Awareness
- Village Health Camps
Good Governance
The Goal
"Marginalized communities will have greater participation in governance and effectively influence the governance structures in their favour."
Sub-Programmes
- Empowerment of civil society
- Value-based leaders
- Model Grama Panchayaths
- PRI, RTI awareness
Natural Resource Management
The Goal
"Communities will have been utilizing available natural resources (land, water and forest) for their needs and well being in an optimum yet sustainable manner."
Sub-Programmes
- Farmers' Organization
- Farmers' Rights
- Soil & Water Conservation
- Organic Farming
- Alternative Energy
Education and Development
The Goal
"Communities, particularly children, will have improved their levels of education and development in keeping with their potential and will be able to use it for the social and economic development."
Sub-Programmes
- Integrated Child Development Programme (ICDP)
- Child Rights
- Unnati Scholarship
- Karnataka Open School (KOS)
- NIOS
Women Empowerment
The Goal
"Women will have gained more equal access and control over information and knowledge, resources, decision making in family and community affairs."
Sub-Programmes
- Streebandhu Multipurpose Souharda Cooperative
- Women in Micro-Enterprises
- Women Rights
- Family Development Programme
Our Reach
Area of Operation
The Journey
Our History
A detailed chronological log of our organization’s birth and administrative milestones since 1988.
The organization started its journey in the year 1988 when the Diocese of Shimoga was formed which comprised of the districts of Shimoga and Chitradurga and in this year itself SAFP and MCH programmes were transferred to the Diocese of Shimoga from CMSSS.
In the year 1989, SMSSS got established and registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1969 and Rev. Fr. Mark Patrick D'Silva was appointed as the first Director of SMSSS.
In 1992, Credit Union Federation was formed at Sagar.
Rev. Fr. Clement D'Souza was appointed as the second director of SMSSS in year 1994.
The organization launched Integrated Child Development Programme in the year 1997.
In 1999, Rev. Fr. Gilbert Lobo was appointed as the Asst. Director of SMSSS and in the same year itself first Diocesan level International Women's Day was celebrated.
In the year 2000, Rev. Dr. Gerald I. Lobo was consecrated as the Second Bishop of Shimoga and became ex-officio President of SMSSS. In the same year, the 10th anniversary of SMSSS was celebrated on October 10th.
In 2009, SMSSS celebrated its 20th anniversary.
SMSSS celebrated its 30th anniversary and also launched its new website in 2019.
In 2024, Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao was consecrated as the new Bishop of Shimoga Diocese and became the new ex-officio President of SMSSS.
Key Achievements
Major Milestones
Highlighting the breakthrough registrations and specific successful programs that defined our impact.
In the year 2001, Stree Bandhu Self Help Group (SHG) Federation was formed. The first Diocesan women's convention was also held in the same year.
In the year 2003 Chaitanya facilities were inaugurated to serve as a meeting and lodging facility for people from rural areas.
In 2004, SMSSS was registered as a Society under FCRA (Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.) with approval of the Home Ministry, Government of India.
In 2005, SMSSS constructed 40 houses for the flood-affected people and 70 houses for the Tsunami-affected people with the support of Caritas India. SMSSS was also registered under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act.
In 2006 SMSSS completed 80 housing units for flood and tsunami affected people. The organization also got the National Award for the Best NGO working for people with disabilities.
The organization was registered under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act in the year 2007.
Establishment of the Streebandhu Multipurpose Souharda Cooperative ('People's Bank') in 2013.
A Dream Project of SMSSS
Stree Bandhu
This is concept of People’s Bank aims at Sustainable Development of women, their families and their Communities.
- Community Development
- Good Governance
- Resource Utilization
- Community Mobilization
- Establishment of the People’s Bank
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Activities
Community Development, Good Governance, Resource Utilisation, community mobilization etc are some of the major Issues undertaken by Stree Bandhu. Every month they meet to discuss about their Social and Economic Development.
Various awareness programs undertaken by Stree Bandhu are Health, HIV/AIDS, Domestic Violence, women’s Rights, women empowerment etc. For community welfare various camps such as blood donation, free eye/dental/ general health checkup have been organized. Common celebrations such as Independence Day, Children’s Day, Environment Day, Women’s Day, and Child labour Day are celebrated by Stree Bandhu.
Accomplishments
Members have been exercising their rights to get widow pension, senior citizen pension, education scholarship, house/toilet facilities, etc., through Stree Bandhu. In the last two years around 5000 members have availed government facilities amounting 30.5 million through Stree Bandhu.
Stree Bandhu has played prominent role in good governance at rural local self-governance. Training programmes on effective leadership have helped the members to be good leaders. More than 500 members of Stree Bandhu have been elected as members in the local self-government.
Another Important milestone in the history of Stree Bandhu is the establishment of “People’s Bank”. It was started on 7 December, 2013 with just 534 members. At present, there are 52 Federations consisting 7000 members from 650 SHGs. Within just two years, the total capital of the people’s bank amounts to around 20 Million. Around 1800 members have availed the loan facility up to 40 Million. Stree Bandhu has given more than Rs. 4,00,00,000 as loan to more than 1,200 members.