When they started in 2003 as a small women’s group working in the informal sector, primarily involved in making stuffed/leather toys and handicraft, they had collected only Rs 2,000-3,000. Four years down the line, the Indore-based Srujan Mahila Vikas Sangh, which covers 30 villages in Rau, boasts of assets of Rs 25,000-30,000, including cattle like goats and rams.
With scientific training provided by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, the women?s groups in various clusters of Madhya Pradesh now have insured assets. They buy and sell goats and rams and also participate in the rearing of these animals. Some of the women have also started using these assets to rent tamarind trees and make seasonal profits and have been trained in approaching banks for their financial needs.
As a trickle-down effect of economic empowerment, these 10,000-odd paid members, belonging to about a 1,000 self-help groups, have made sure that their children attend school, says Susamma Varghese, national programme co-ordinator of the pilot project by International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Norway Workers? Education Project. The project, which imparts skill training and capacity building, opening the way for alternate livelihood opportunities, is now being replicated in Madurai,Tamil Nadu. ??When the project started, ILO had set aside Rs 22 lakh for the project sites in Madhya Pradesh. The multiplier effect has raised this figure to Rs 36 lakh now??, Varghese told FE.
The federation organises grameen haats (village markets) and arranges for bank accessibility for these women to expand their business. As far as insurance is concerned, the group has opted for Life Insurance Corporation?s Janshakti scheme with a premium of Rs 100 per annum. ??This gives them cover against death as well as provides education up to plus 2 for two children, maternity and other health benefits”, Varghese said.
Registered in May this year as an independent trade union by the Madhya Pradesh government?s labour department, these women do not stop at entrepreneurship. As part of the training, these women were made aware of the ongoing government schemes like NREGA as well as the Right to Information Act. ??Now, they monitor the functioning of the local public distribution system, like allocation irregularities, price variations and are also involved in ensuring enrolment of all eligible families in the BPL list??, says Varghese.
Initially, these women did face resistance from their families and communities, but once they started contributing to family finances, the resistance has eased.
With guidance from ILO and trade unions, these women, including some elected panchayat members, are now playing a leading role in taking up community issues, like water, power and sanitation. ??Due to their intervention, some village panchayats were asked to put up waste bins for garbage disposal in Indore,?? Varghese added.
