Impact Case Study: Collective Action to Challenge Power and Address Health Challenges and Inequities in Mumbai, India

Mahila Milan, “Women Together” in Hindi, are a women’s collective in slums and slum relocation colonies, who work with resident communities, their political representatives and municipal officials to manage credit and savings activities. Mahila Milan was created in 1986 when hundreds of women who lived on Mumbai’s pavements organised to successfully prevent the demolitions of their homes. Their aim is to provide a space for women to take on important decision-making roles and be recognised for their contributions towards improving their communities.

Prior to the ARISE programme, Mahila Milan already functioned in an organised manner with its women’s savings network, and were looking at issues of water, sanitation and housing. Mahila Milan’s work on health was minimal, and the majority of their interventions were on savings activities. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, SPARC and Mahila Milan started working with a focus on health drivers and systems, including the healthcare professionals. In the beginning, Mahila Milan had not considered using surveys as a method for research and action. However, over time, using the learning-by-doing process with SPARC, Mahila Milan realised the relevance of doing surveys to gather data, collectivise and initiate action on health and wellbeing. They were able to distil their findings into small data points with discussion groups in communities, to ensure the survey provided an accurate representation of community views and needs.