From Seller of Labour to Seller of Goods

“I would have ever remained as a seller of labour, if Lokenath Divine Life Mission had not begun SHG programme at our village. It has turned me from seller of labour to seller of goods”, said Smt. Puspa Nath, a 33-year old mother of two daughters and one son and a shop owner at village Kumirmari under Rupmari panchayat of Hingalganj block in North 24 Parganas district. After completing primary standard of education Puspa got married at the age of 20. She belongs to a five-members family. Hailing from scheduled caste resource-poor family Puspa had a dream to become a self-sufficient independent lady. Her life started as a prawn seed collector at Dasa river of North Sundarban. Apart from prawn seed collection, she used herself as an agricultural worker during lean period and managed to get an income of Rs. 500/- to Rs. 600/- per month which was not sufficient at all compared to the hard labour put in scorching sun, torrential rain and the constant touch and intake of saline water of the river.
To change the fate and achieve her dream, Puspa joined Mission’s SHG programme in the middle of year 2001 and started monthly savings at the rate of Rs. 20/- with a determination. The group holds monthly meeting. In one group meeting she expressed her willingness to take a loan of Rs.1500/- for setting up a tea stall and submitted loan application. There are six women in her group. In the next meeting the group considered her application and sanctioned the loan at the rate of interest of 24% per annum. Thereafter, Puspa installed the tea stall on the bank of river Dasa. Within seven months she repaid the loan in full out of profit earned from the business. In the beginning of 2003 she took a further loan of Rs. 1000/- to purchase stationery and cosmetic goods to make the business more diversified. Her husband Sri Mahonto Nath, who is a travelling salesman by profession, also helps her in looking after the business. Now the husband and wife are able to earn Rs. 3200/- per month on an average which is pretty good for her family. At present, many non-risk families in Kumirmari village are evincing interest in the activities of the SHG and want to associate themselves with the SHGs, because they have seen the secret of self help through micro-credit.
(Excerpts from Quaterly Workers’ Education Journal of Central Board for Workers’ Education- March, 2004, Nagpur, Ministry of Labour, Govt. of India).