Frequently Asked Questions

SURMAI™ Welfare Groups (SWG) is the community advancement umbrella program of SUPANSHA® Development Foundation (SDF). It connects individual learning with household practice, family participation and neighborhood action. Members learn, reflect and work together to make informed choices and strengthen responsible, supportive communities.

SWG is established in memory of SURMAI, inspired by a thought recorded in her personal diary:

“People and communities can become stronger when they have opportunities to learn, understand, reflect, make informed choices and participate in meaningful action.”

Her words guide its emphasis on practical learning and collective action. Its official launch date is 12 November 2026, marking her birthday.

SWG helps members turn knowledge into responsible everyday practices within themselves, their families and their communities. Learning, communication, mutual support and shared responsibility guide participation. Member benefits complement this community purpose and support continued engagement.

SWG combines communication with structured learning, practical tasks, monthly meetings and coordinated local activities. A Group Coordinator and digital dashboard support participation, records and requests. Regular interaction helps members develop dependable relationships and take meaningful action together.

Four connected principles guide SWG: preventing the “Kaash Effect”; developing इच्छाशक्ति, ज्ञानशक्ति and क्रियाशक्ति - willingness, knowledge and action; practicing “Live Life by Choice, Not Chance”; and building “An Informed Community for Social Action.”

The “Kaash Effect” describes the regret of “If only we had acted earlier” - “काश हमने पहले ही ऐसा कर लिया होता।” SWG encourages members to understand needs, consider reliable information and act at the right time in everyday health, family life and community matters.

KASH means Knowledge, Attitude, Skills and Habits. It describes how learning develops into practical capability and useful everyday habits. The Kaash Effect encourages timely action; KASH supports the learning and repeated practice that help people act responsibly.

SWG connects Community Members - SURMAI Sakhi (Managers of Real Life) and SURMAI Mitra (Men of Positive Masculinity) - with Social Impact Partners - SURMAI Associates (Partners of Social Progress) and SURMAI Donors (Patrons of Social Impact).

Group Coordinators are separately selected and engaged as L-10 independent contractual personnel to manage local groups under SDF supervision; the Coordinator role is not a separate paid membership category. Institutional Partners provide defined facilities through approved institutional arrangements.

Community membership is open for consideration to residents aged 18–60 years (upper limit exactly 60), without an income-category restriction. Applicants need basic smartphone skills and must be willing to participate regularly in learning, meetings, family tasks and neighborhood activities.

Enrollment is free. Application alone does not confer permanent membership: required onboarding learning and tasks must be completed, supporting evidence uploaded and verified, and activation approved.

Once a member’s age exceeds 60 years, including by one day, the Group Coordinator facilitates their transition to an appropriate SDF program as a beneficiary, according to their needs and the receiving program’s eligibility.

Children, older people and other residents can participate in appropriate community activities or receive support through relevant SDF programs. Each program follows its own eligibility and support arrangements. Coordinators help identify suitable connections.

Women participate as SURMAI Sakhi (Managers of Real Life), contributing to personal development, family well-being and neighborhood leadership. Men participate as SURMAI Mitra (Men of Positive Masculinity), promoting empathy, responsible participation and community service. Both learn and contribute together.

A full group includes 50 members and one Group Coordinator - 51 verified participants in total. Groups may begin with fewer participants. The number draws symbolic inspiration from collective strength associated with the 51 Shaktipeeths; SWG uses it within an inclusive, non-religious community development program.

Members ordinarily live within a 1–3 kilometer radius, reduced to around 1 kilometer in densely populated urban neighborhoods. This local structure supports accessible meetings, regular interaction and timely coordination.

Apply free of charge using the SWG membership application. After initial screening, an applicant receives a Temporary Dashboard for assigned introductory learning and onboarding tasks. The applicant completes the learning, practices the prescribed task at home and carries out a positive neighborhood action.

Upload the required activity photographs and/or videos with the activity description, date and location through the Temporary Dashboard. The authorized Group Coordinator / Field Office and SDF team review the submissions, request corrections where needed and verify completion. Permanent Membership, Member ID, Family ID linkage and the QR Welfare Card are activated only after authorized approval. No membership payment is required.

SURMAI Sakhi and SURMAI Mitra community membership is completely free. There is no membership fee or paid membership renewal. Permanent membership is earned through completion and verification of the required onboarding learning and family/neighborhood tasks, not through payment.

Group Coordinators are appointed separately under SDF’s L-10 independent contractual arrangement; this is not a membership-fee category.

There is no annual membership payment or paid renewal. Active membership depends on continued participation, completion of assigned learning and practical tasks, attendance and compliance with program rules. Dashboard alerts and Coordinator follow-up help members track requirements.

Where required meetings or submissions remain incomplete for two consecutive months, the applicable closure procedure and approved genuine-reason exceptions apply. Membership validity and QR Welfare Card access follow the recorded active status. Service-provider refunds, if any, are governed by the relevant offer terms, not an SWG membership fee.

The Temporary Dashboard is provisional access granted after initial application screening. It displays introductory learning, prescribed family and neighborhood tasks, instructions, deadlines and evidence-submission status.

Complete the assigned learning and both practical tasks, then upload the required photos and/or videos along with the activity description, date and location. An authorized reviewer verifies the evidence, may request clarification or resubmission, and records approval. Only then does the applicant receive Permanent Membership and activation of the Member ID, Family ID linkage, Welfare Card and regular member dashboard.

Evidence must be genuine and submitted with appropriate consent, privacy and safeguarding precautions. There is no membership fee.

SURMAI Sakhi and SURMAI Mitra membership is a free community participation role, not employment. Members learn, complete practical tasks and contribute to their neighborhood.

A Group Coordinator (GC) is separately selected and engaged as L-10 independent contractual personnel, with defined duties, supervision and contract terms. The GC arrangement should not be described as an unpaid volunteer appointment or as an employment guarantee for members.

Update your address and inform your Coordinator through the dashboard. Where SWG operates in India, the Coordinator facilitates transfer to the relevant local group, or a nearby group if the preferred group is full. Your individual Member ID continues under One Member, One ID, One Card.

Notify your GC through the dashboard to record voluntary exit and settle pending responsibilities. To return, submit a request through the GC or Contact SDF; SDF reviews current age and other eligibility, group availability and the recorded membership status, and communicates the steps for resuming participation. The permanent no-re-entry rule applies to closure under the two-month participation rule; voluntary exit is recorded separately.

A Family ID links members of the same household to a shared family record. It helps connect individual participation with household learning, family needs, relevant services and program assessment. Each member retains their own Member ID and Welfare Card.

Family ID connects the household. Member ID identifies the individual member. The Welfare Card supports verification and access to eligible benefits. These work together while keeping individual membership and household information clearly organized.

The approved household profile helps SDF understand social and economic circumstances, family needs and relevant support requirements. This information guides suitable program connections and assessment of family participation and progress. Members provide accurate details and keep relevant changes updated through the prescribed process.

Family ID links the household, while each person’s benefits follow the relevant SDF program, Associate offer or Institutional Partner arrangement. Eligible family members join separately. An agreed offer or facility may cover a child, older person or other eligible family member through the registered member’s card. Check the eligible recipients and access terms listed for that benefit.

Household profiles and Family ID linkages are encrypted and handled for defined program purposes under SDF’s privacy procedures. Appropriate information, consent and authorized access apply, including to details concerning family members who are not SWG members. Associate access is limited to the specified membership-verification details.

Institutional Partners access only the identity, membership-validity and service-eligibility information authorized for the agreed facility. Any additional documents needed for that service follow the stated purpose and applicable consent process. Household profiles and unrelated personal records remain within SDF’s restricted, role-based access arrangements.

A Group Coordinator (GC), engaged under SDF’s L-10 independent contractual arrangement, organizes local meetings, member support, learning follow-up, activity verification, records and communication with the Field/Branch Office. A full group consists of 50 community members and 1 Coordinator.

The GC follows SDF’s approved responsibilities, contract, verification and supervision requirements. The Coordinator is not a separate paid membership category.

GC applicants should be graduates of a recognized university, digitally proficient, locally reliable, available for coordination, and willing to undergo SDF’s prescribed verification and selection. Appointment is through the separate L-10 independent contractual personnel process, subject to the applicable contract and institutional approval.

Free SWG membership does not automatically qualify a person for GC appointment.

GCs facilitate the same learning and practical participation model, while carrying additional duties under their L-10 contractual assignment. Their centrally managed dashboard includes group records, attendance, onboarding task verification, evidence review, meeting activity, support requests and reporting tools, subject to role-based permissions.

GCs receive approved induction, monthly training, expert interaction, Field/Branch Office guidance and designated support channels. They may be nominated for relevant institutional events and capacity-building activities.

Contractual terms and any authorized assignment-related travel, meals or accommodation reimbursement follow the L-10 independent contract and SDF approvals; such support is not a membership entitlement.

Your GC is the first point of contact for learning, meetings, dashboard guidance, activities and member benefits. The GC coordinates further support with the branch office. Urgent concerns, complaints and matters involving the GC can be submitted directly through Contact SDF.

The GC shares the venue, timing and participation requirements through the dashboard and official group channels, including the official WhatsApp group. Branch offices support arrangements where required. Community venues, partner facilities and Coordinator Field Offices, where established, support local coordination.

Meetings last approximately 90–120 minutes. Members review learning, discuss tasks and local concerns, and take part in quizzes, educational games, cultural activities and peer learning. Attendance is recorded digitally. Meetings may also include recognition and distribution of available program support items.

Share your suggestion during a meeting, with your GC or through a dashboard request. The group identifies and understands the need, confirms its relevance, agrees priorities, plans support and reviews the action taken. Members can contribute time, skills, knowledge and local relationships. Specialist needs are connected with appropriate services.

Express interest through the membership application page, or apply as a GC if eligible. SDF reviews the location and guides group formation, verification and onboarding. New locations are prepared through local coordination, training, branch support, safeguarding and reporting arrangements.

Members follow a 12-month learning and practical participation cycle through SUPANSHA® Learning. Topics cover Healthcare & Well-being, Education & Livelihoods, Research & Data Science, and Biodiversity & Eco-care, along with practical topics related to everyday life, family well-being, communication and responsible community participation.

Access assigned PDFs, reading materials and videos through SUPANSHA® Learning using your account. Reading time, video watch time and relevant completion records document engagement and eligible learning points. Your dashboard brings together the relevant participation records.

Appropriate subject experts review content for accuracy, relevance and practical application. Member questions, activity feedback and developments in the subject inform updates. Materials emphasize information that members can understand and use responsibly.

One Topic, One Shared Learning maintains a consistent core message across regions and languages. Examples and activities can reflect local circumstances while preserving the intended understanding and practical purpose.

Each topic includes one predefined family task and one neighborhood task. Members apply the learning, submit the required activity record and discuss their experience with the group. Reflection, repeated practice and follow-up help develop useful everyday habits.

Tasks may address food habits, hygiene, family communication, waste segregation, road safety, kitchen gardens, meditation, children’s learning, environmental care and basic caregiving awareness. Members contribute within their training and, where needed, appropriate professional guidance.

Routine assignments use everyday practices and resources already available to members. If an activity needs additional materials or support, raise the requirement through your GC, official group channel or dashboard request. The GC coordinates appropriate support through the group or branch.

Plan for the monthly meeting, assigned online learning and the related family and neighborhood tasks. Activity time varies with the topic and scope. Your GC communicates the requirements so you can plan participation alongside family and professional responsibilities.

Inform your GC through the dashboard as early as possible. Illness, family emergencies and other genuine circumstances can be considered by the GC or SDF management. When the reason is known to the GC and accepted, additional time is provided for pending learning and activities.

Missing meetings for two consecutive months, or leaving required learning and practical submissions incomplete during that period, results in Welfare Card cancellation and permanent membership closure, with no re-entry under this rule. An accepted genuine reason or approved extension is considered before applying this rule.

SDF communicates membership-closure decisions through official channels. If a decision relies on an incorrect record or overlooks an accepted reason or approved extension, the member can request review through Contact SDF with supporting details. SDF checks the relevant records and communicates the outcome.

Submit the details through your dashboard promptly. The GC or SDF reviews the request against relevant attendance, learning or activity evidence. If a technical problem prevents dashboard access, use Contact SDF.

Monthly reviews connect learning, tasks, meetings and next-cycle planning. Quarterly reviews consider participation, household practice, activities, evidence quality and support needs. Annual reviews consolidate the 12-month cycle, results and lessons for the next year. These reviews support improvement alongside the separate recognition arrangements.

The SURMAI™ Welfare Card is your official digital membership identity. Its QR code supports checks of identity, membership validity and relevant offer eligibility. After onboarding, download it from your dashboard, keep it on your phone or print it.

Use your Welfare Card with participating SURMAI Associates and Institutional Partners listed in your dashboard. Associates include shops, doctors, pharmacies, diagnostic centers, hospitals, restaurants, hotels and professional service providers, including advocates and chartered accountants. Institutional Partners provide facilities such as education, training, healthcare and diagnostics. Each listing explains the benefit, eligible recipients and access terms.

View offers in your dashboard or scan the Associate’s QR code to submit a request. The Associate can accept it through their dashboard or use their own scanner to scan your Welfare Card, verify identity, active membership and eligibility, and apply the agreed benefit. Completed transactions and discounts are recorded, with eligible points credited to both participants.

The card identifies its registered member under One Member, One ID, One Card. Eligible family members join separately. An Associate offer or Institutional Partner arrangement may extend a benefit to eligible family members through your card. Check that listing’s coverage and verification requirements; Family ID supports household linkage.

Eligibility follows active membership, the applicable points criteria and the terms of the specific benefit or activity. Institutional Partner services also follow the eligibility and access arrangements agreed with that institution. Relevant requirements are available through your dashboard. Your GC can help clarify the arrangements.

Points recognize eligible learning, verified tasks, meeting attendance and recorded Associate transactions and eligible Institutional Partner services. Activity-related points are displayed when tasks are assigned. They contribute to benefit eligibility and periodic recognition. Points are used for recognition and do not represent cash or a financial return.

Monthly, quarterly and annual recognition covers Best SURMAI Sakhi, Best SURMAI Mitra, Best SURMAI Associate, Best SURMAI Donor and Best Group Coordinator. Recognition may include certificates, trophies and available gift hampers, according to the relevant points and participation criteria.

Available items may include nutrition, hygiene, FMCG, clothing and other useful daily-use goods that help ease household expenses. Distribution follows the contribution’s purpose, available stock and applicable eligibility. Details are communicated through the GC and official program channels.

Raise the concern through your dashboard, the relevant Associate, Institutional Partner or your GC, with receipts or photographs where useful. SDF reviews matters requiring further attention; Contact SDF provides a direct route where needed. Check product instructions, condition and expiry dates before use.

Institutional Partners provide access to free or subsidized education, training, healthcare, diagnostics and other institutional services through their agreements with SDF. Members view each institution’s available facilities, eligible recipients, coverage and access terms in their dashboard. These benefits form a distinct part of SWG alongside Associate offers and CSR-supported items. The dashboard provides the current facility details for each participating institution.

Institutional Partners have their own dashboards listing the facilities they provide. Members can view these facilities and scan the institution’s QR code to request an eligible service. The Partner can also scan the member’s Welfare Card through its dashboard to verify identity, active membership and service eligibility. The service provided is recorded, and eligible points are credited to both the member and the Institutional Partner under the program’s points system.

Members can seek GC guidance for eligible medical, accident-related, educational or other needs and apply through the assistance tabs in their dashboard. The GC recommends the case for assessment. Verification, approval and available resources determine the support provided.

SURMAI–SURAMYA™ Funds provides direct assistance of ₹1,000–₹25,000 for approved eligible needs. Assistance follows verification, approval and available funds. The available fund position is updated on the website.

Documents may include medical bills, estimates, educational institution notices and other documents relevant to the stated need. Approved support is transferred to the beneficiary’s verified bank account in accordance with the program’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

Eligible needs above ₹25,000 may be considered through SUPANSHA® Crowdfunding. Members can apply through the relevant dashboard tab. Cases are reviewed before fundraising begins, and contributions and utilization are recorded through the platform and campaign arrangements.

Members and GCs may support local communication, blood-donor coordination, referrals and practical family needs. Qualified emergency and medical services provide clinical care. SURAMYA™ Care offers a further connection for appropriate emergency and elder-support needs.

SWG connects participation across nine Targeted Service Areas: Child Development, Adolescent Care, Youth Enrichment, Women Empowerment, Positive Masculinity, Elder Support, Ability Inclusion, Eco-Stewardship and Community Advancement.

Relevant connections include SuPoshan Sewa for nutrition awareness, STAMPING-TB™ for community TB care, DASHMUDRA® Sanskarshala for childhood learning, SURAMYA™ Care for emergency and elder support, SURMAI™ Sparsh for inclusion, and SAMPADA Samvardhan for environmental action. Each program follows its own arrangements and eligibility.

Express interest through the SWG application page. An MoU records the agreed offers, responsibilities and terms. Associates receive dashboard access to manage offers, verify members and record eligible transactions.

Associate participation is free of joining fees and commission. Businesses and professionals contribute agreed benefits through a social-support partnership centered on responsible member service and community contribution.

Associates choose the products or services included and agree their offers and terms with SDF. Contributions may also include professional guidance, training, skill opportunities, referrals, technical knowledge and support for approved community activities, according to expertise and program needs.

Request changes through your Associate dashboard. SDF helps resolve operational concerns and coordinates updates to member-facing information. Where personal circumstances require ending active participation, one month’s notice applies under the participation agreement.

For verification, an Associate can view the member’s name, age, unique ID, photograph, state and city of residence, and card or membership validity. Access is limited to the specified identity and eligibility information; family profiles remain governed by SDF’s authorized-access arrangements.

SDF provides a Social Impact Partner certificate for display at the establishment. Local-authority participation in certification applies where formally arranged. Eligible activity contributes to points and awards. The partnership recognizes social contribution; customer response and business outcomes depend on the provider’s operations and member choices.

It expresses SDF’s continuing relationship with its Associates. Active offers, service commitments and dashboard-managed participation follow the current agreement and recorded participation status.

Service cancellations, refunds and disputes are reviewed by the relevant Associate or Institutional Partner under the agreed offer or facility terms. Members should retain transaction records and receipts and report concerns through the dashboard or Contact SDF.

SWG membership itself is free, so no membership-fee refund or paid-renewal refund applies.

Individuals, philanthropists, businesses, institutions and corporate partners can participate. Every donor receives an identity and dashboard, irrespective of contribution size. “Once a Donor, Always a Donor” reflects SDF’s continuing relationship with its supporters.

Contributions may include money, suitable FMCG products, clothing, hygiene materials and daily-use goods. Agreed support may also cover equipment, learning resources, facilities, capacity building, digital systems, research, documentation and expansion needs. Donors can support approved activities or SURMAI–SURAMYA™ Funds.

Donors may provide a specific grant for an agreed activity, location or program requirement. The intended purpose is recorded so that contributions can be tracked and reported against their approved use.

Consult SDF’s SURMAI Donors and program-support requirement pages for listed needs. Before delivery, coordinate specifications, quantity, condition, shelf life where relevant and logistics through Contact SDF.

Use the donation page or fundraising support page. For a company, institution or other partnership, use Contact SDF, mentioning the activity, location and type of support you wish to discuss.

Your dashboard provides financial and in-kind contribution records, documented utilization, acknowledgments, applicable Form 10BE certificates and relevant grant reports. SDF’s accounting and inventory teams maintain these records. Project-specific reporting follows the agreed grant arrangements, with dashboard access available to donors of every contribution size.

SWG maintains separate program banking, budgets and expenditure records. SURMAI–SURAMYA™ Funds also has dedicated program banking. Program accounts undergo independent Chartered Accountant audit, with relevant reporting incorporated into SDF’s statutory processes.

SWG is designed as a community-led, self-sustaining participation ecosystem, with free community membership, verified learning and local action, Welfare Card participation, responsible Associate and Institutional Partner arrangements, and SDF’s central program administration.

Donations, in-kind contributions and CSR support may strengthen specific activities, but the operating model does not depend on annual membership fees or any single external supporter. Approved budgets, resource management, partnerships and transparent reporting support continuity.

SDF’s leadership provides policy direction and oversight. Program management coordinates implementation and review; branches support local administration and supervision; GCs facilitate group participation. Decisions, approvals, verification and reporting follow responsibilities assigned to the relevant role.

Relevant areas include Health and Family Welfare/NHM, Women and Child Development, School Education and Skill Development, Social Justice and disability welfare services, Urban Local Bodies/Panchayats, Police/Traffic Police, and Forest and Environment authorities. Activities involving these services proceed through local coordination and agreed arrangements for awareness, referrals, learning, inclusion, safety or ecological action.

Contact SDF through the institutional enquiry form, outlining the facilities your institution offers to SWG members. SDF and the institution agree on services, eligibility, responsibilities and access terms through a formal MoU. The Institutional Partner dashboard supports facility listings, member verification, service records and eligible participation points.

Universities, educational and health institutions, research organizations, development partners and technical specialists may support content review, training, evaluation, field learning, documentation and program improvement through agreed arrangements. Institutions can discuss participation through Contact SDF.

Participants follow standards of respect, inclusion, accurate information, confidentiality, appropriate professional boundaries and responsible use of resources. Program relationships serve their agreed community purpose, with protection against discrimination, exploitation and misuse of trust.

People involved in a decision declare relevant personal, professional or financial interests. SDF reviews and records how the interest is managed, including independent consideration or withdrawal from the decision where appropriate. This supports impartial decisions on assistance, benefits, partners and resources.

SUPANSHA® Learning supports training and assignments; SUPANSHA® Findings supports field information, dashboards and program assessment; and SUPANSHA® Crowdfunding supports approved fundraising needs. The dashboard brings together relevant learning, Welfare Card, activity, points and participation records, assistance tabs and request facilities.

Personal information, family profiles, Family ID linkages and member records are encrypted and handled under SDF’s Privacy and Data Protection Policy and Research Ethics Policy. Access follows the relevant role and purpose. Identifiable records remain confidential and are handled separately from analytical datasets, with retention governed by the applicable procedures.

For questions about access, correction, consent or retention of your records, use Contact SDF.

Personal and family information supports authorized program purposes and remains confidential. Only selected activity photographs and videos may be published on SDF’s website and official social channels, with the required consent and safeguarding checks. Members obtain appropriate permission before submitting content involving other people.

Activities follow SDF’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy. Written parental consent is required for children’s participation. Members and GCs follow activity-specific safety requirements and maintain respectful conduct, dignity and appropriate boundaries.

Ask your GC or use Contact SDF for the applicable safeguarding policy and activity-specific instructions.

Activities consider the accessibility and support needs of children, persons with disabilities, older people and others requiring assistance. Coordinators seek appropriate guidance and arrangements to support safe, dignified and meaningful participation.

SDF applies its zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment and relevant safeguarding procedures. Participants can report urgent or sensitive concerns directly through Contact SDF, including matters involving a Coordinator. Relevant details support appropriate review and action.

Specialist services involve appropriately qualified professionals, with members contributing within their training and assigned responsibilities. Specific research activities follow separate participant information, consent and applicable ethics-review processes, distinct from routine membership and participation records.

Use your dashboard for routine requests and concerns. Complaints, urgent or sensitive matters, issues involving a GC and dashboard-access problems can be submitted directly through Contact SDF. Include relevant facts and supporting records for review by the concerned SDF committee.

The process includes recording, acknowledgment, assessment, review and communication of the outcome. Members can track status and action history through the relevant dashboard and receive responses through their registered contact details. For a pending response or an unresolved concern, use Contact SDF with the earlier submission details to request a status update, expected response timeframe or further review by the concerned SDF authority. Reviews protect confidentiality and people raising concerns in good faith; matters requiring specialist or statutory intervention are referred appropriately.

SDF reviews learning, verified tasks, meetings, local activities, service connections and documented benefits alongside evidence of understanding and practical application. Assessment may consider family communication, household practices, inclusion and collective action. Reports distinguish members, activity participation, people receiving support and measured changes, presenting SWG’s contribution according to the evidence.

Records and submitted evidence are reviewed for accuracy, completeness, relevance and duplication. Gaps identified through verification, feedback, complaints or reviews lead to corrective action, assigned responsibility and follow-up. Findings help improve content, Coordinator training and program processes.

With appropriate permission, selected case studies document needs, program responses, experiences, observed changes and learning. They distinguish participant accounts, records and interpretation. These experiences, along with assessment findings and feedback, help improve activities and support.

Use SDF’s official website, published reports and your dashboard. GCs communicate local schedules and relevant changes through official channels. Further program information and institutional enquiries can be requested through Contact SDF.