Demanding dowry from the bride's family is considered to be a right by many in India. But the Mission's Women's groups (SHGs) are fighting tooth and nail to change this social curse. When asked for dowry (money) member of Mission's SHG, from Boyarmari village, North 24 Parganas, opposed it and walked out in protest. She was supported by the members of the group and they found a better match for her and she got married to the boy who considered dowry a business.
The second instance of the women's role in social transformation is incredible. In Chinsura Village, women members of a Self Help Group helped four brothers in a family to divide their family property in a lawful way by forcing the Police and the administration to intervene when the disagreements were ruling high. These activities of the Women's empowerment movement proves the fact that Self Help Groups are not only instruments to help women in small savings and micro-credits but more profoundly to empower the women to develop a village on the basis of ethical values and social justice.
MICRO
CREDIT ECONOMY - A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL TOOL : Micro Credit Economy is nothing
but a revolutionary, scientific and practical tool of bringing about colossal
socio - economic transformations in the developing countries today. Micro
Credit Economy, as is evident from the name, is a well thought strategy
of mobilizing small amounts of credit, with which the villagers can start
small enterprises. Thereby making the villagers financially independent
and self-reliant - an essential prerequisite in a developing nation like
India.
THE MISSION IS THE CATALYST. FIND OUT HOW?
Rita, Madhavi in business
Rita Sardar and Madhavi Gul both belonging to Mission's Boyarmari Self Help Group are now on the path to help the family with their financial support. So far they were only house wives battling with the demon of poverty. They got Rs.500 each as loan from their own small savings in the SHG A/c in the Gramin Bank and have started trading on Fish. They have already paid back their loans with small interest which again goes to the group fund.
This
concept of the Micro Credit Economy is functional through women's Self Help
Groups (SHGs) popularly known as Lokenath Swanirbhar Gosthis. Now the role
of the Mission here is to act as a catalyst. What the Mission does is that
it approaches individual women and encourages them to save small amounts
every month, say around Rs 15. Of course, encouraging this habit of saving
is in itself a big achievement, considering that most of these families
thrive on measely earnings. A Self Help Group is formed with 12 to 14 such
women. The savings of this group, as a whole is accumulated in the village
bank. The bank of course does not recognise the individuals forming the
group. The bank, in congruence with the national policy recognises only
the identity of the group.Project
SHG replaces money lender’s need
When Amal Ari almost lost his sleep due to the humiliation by the money lender from whom he borrowed Rs.1500.00 to meet the medical bills of his ailing mother, his wife, member of a Mission’s Self Help Group and all other members of the Group helped him out by lending the amount at one tenth the rate of interest charged by the village shylock. This is the foundation of a new era of economic and social transformation which trusts in fellow feeling and love. An example for many in this world.
COMPLETELY DEMOCRATIC BODIES. ADDRESSING VITAL NEEDS!
The Self Help Group has a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer who, after a substantial amount has been accumulated in the bank, decide on how to distribute the loans amongst the members of the group. Every month, the needs of a few members of the group are addressed. These funds are available for internal lending, with which they meet emergencies as well as begin small enterprises. Moreover, there are no hard and fast rules determining the operation of these groups. The groups are treated as democratic bodies who are at liberty to make their own decisions.
Micro-Credit for Poultry Farming
SHG members of Sandeshkhali raised Rs.40,000/-loan from Bank of Baroda to start a poultry farm. This 9 member Group could pool collective savings of Rs.9117/- against which the Bank gave them the loan. The Mission inspires the women folks to be the supportive members of their family so that they can jointly achieve economic emancipation.
MICRO ENTERPRISES - BECKONING SOCIAL CHANGES.
Meanwhile the Mission takes upon itself the onus of conducting regular workshops and training programs on how to start micro entrepreneurial projects. In this way the Self Help Groups generate their own savings, provide loans and thereafter repay the loans successfully.
Having won over the confidence and goodwill of the Banks, who previously had little faith in these villagers. In collaboration with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) the Mission has already established 470 SHGs with 6580 members spread over 400 villages. The commercial banks operating in the villages have given micro-credits to the tune of Rs. 3,20,000 to start income generating projects like duckeries, fisheries, vegetable vending, retail shops, farming, handloom weaving, paper bag manufacturing, homestead gardening etc.
And while Micro Credit Economy is serving as an effective tool of economic emancipation it is also ushering in social transformation in a big way, empowering women to fight against many social evils and the age-old atrocities in the villages. But most importantly, it is giving a tangible form to the cherished dreams of many women by liberating them and giving them the wings to soar higher and higher.
What an example!
The marriage of a young girl of Gohalapota Village was at the point of break down due to lack of a paltry sum of Rs.500. The women belonging to Mission's Self Help Group came forward and shared out of their little deposit in the bank to save this girl from disaster. The girl is married and leading a happy life . This is a proof of the awakening of rural women through the Mission's massive SHG program in all its village projects.
| Project | Total SHGs | Members |
Savings Mobilised |
| Sandeshkhali -I |
212 | 1982 | 15,59,531 |
| Sandeshkhali-II |
16 | 162 | 89983 |
| Hingalganj |
54 | 389 | 2,21,579 |
| Gosaba |
38 |
311 |
1,79,180 |
| Total |
320 |
2844 |
20,50,273 |