The SHG leaders,
through formal and informal consultations, urged the
formation of an independent organization that can
defend the rights of women and children, provide
protective mechanisms, and amplify their voices. The
relevance of this demand was great in the absence of
any civil society organisation (CSO) of women,
particularly one focusing on gender justice and
rights of women including sexual and reproductive
health rights (SRHR), operating in the area in which
the above SHGs started to work.
Responding to this grassroots demand, SAHELI was
founded in 2004 as an organization "for women and by
women." Later this motto was changed to Women for
Women. It was formally registered as a
not-for-profit organization in 2008. In recognition
of its credibility and compliances, SAHELI received
registration in 2011 under the Foreign Contribution
Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010, from the Ministry of
Home Affairs, Government of India, enabling it to
receive foreign contributions for its development
and rights-based initiatives. Later, it complied
with all statutory requirements for a registered
charity in India. After a few years, SHELI became an
organisation in full compliance with all statutory
requirements for registered charities (CSOs) working
in India
