Community Based Organizations (CBOs) are integral to the operations of social work agencies, functioning primarily at the grassroots level. According to CHASS, these CBOs represent various local social service units and grassroots organisations such as Self Help Groups, Mahilasamajams, Farmers Clubs, Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), and Credit Unions. Through the diverse community based activities of CHASS, a great many marginalised rural individuals have been effectively organised through these CBOs. The organisational effort for development includes raising awareness and conducting specific activities aimed at fostering self-reliant development within these communities.

i) SelfHelp Groups

A Self Help Group (SHG) is a neighbourhood fraternity of likeminded people with common objectives, facilitated to come together to participate in the development activities such as, mutual learning, cooperation, savings and thrift, credit accessibility, and income generation, ultimately aiming for economic independence. Operating at the grassroots level, SHGs mobilize human resources for community development. Participation in SHGs fosters group consciousness, a sense of belonging, self-respect, public engagement, expanded social horizons, and increased self-confidence among members.

• • Death Fund Scheme

A special program promoted by CHASS for its SHG members for meeting the unexpected expenses of death of a family member. The fund distributed is the collective contribution of all the SHG members under CHASS. Because of the large number of members, each person is required to contribute only a small amount to the fund which makes this scheme widely acceptable.

• •  Community Banking

CHASS has always presented a good model of enforcing savings and credit discipline among its SHG members. All the SHGs have a savings bank account in the nearest bank branches in which all cash balances are deposited after meeting the day to day business needs. In addition to this, all the SHGs are linked to the village level Credit Unions functioning under the banner of CHASS

ii) Join Liability Groups (JLG)

CHASS has taken initiatives to form Joint Liability Groups as an effective tool to augment the flow of credit to farmers, especially small, marginal and tenant farmers taking up farm activities. JLGs are groups formed from existing SHG groups. Each JLG comprises 4 to 7 members. There are 195 actively functioning Joint Liability Groups in the operational area of CHASS.

iii) CHASS Credit Union (Micro Finance Development cum Community Banking)

CHASS Credit Union is a micro finance development cum informal community banking promoted by CHASS in its operational area in the year 1987, which has now become a well-oiled credit union programme networked by 162 village credit unions making the rural economy vibrant. This also provides a significant mass base for the society in all its participatory processes of community development. CHASS credit union covers 162 villages of Changanacherry Social Service Society and more than 63420 families and 1160 SHGs are direct members of this grassroot network.

iv) Farmers’ Clubs

We promote Farmers’ Clubs targeting a revived organic, but integrated farming culture. There are 60 farmers clubs actively engaged in organic farming practices in the operational area of CHASS.

v) CHASS Local Units

Village level local social service units of CHASS is the apex body of all the grassroot level people’s organizations functioning under the banner of CHASS. The governing body of the CHASS local unit is duly constituted by the elected representatives of all the CBOs functioning under the umbrella of it. There are 165 local units duly affiliated to CHASS.