Rural women move towards self-reliance on the strong foundation of self-help groups
Sunday - October 31, 2021 11:36 pm ,
Category : BHOPAL
Bhopal 31 October 2021: Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission is providing sustainable opportunities for the institutional development and livelihood by forming self-help groups for social, economic empowerment of women from rural poor families in the state since 2012. So far, the Mission has formed 3 lakh 36 thousand 521 self-help groups in 45 thousand 135 villages. 38 lakh 31 thousand families have been linked to these groups.
Financial Assistance
The groups are being financially supported by the mission in the form of circular funds, community investment funds, disaster funds and bank linkages. With this amount, their small and big financial needs are fulfilled, due to which they are saved from the debt trap of moneylenders. In the last two years, the target of disbursement of bank loans to the groups for conducting various livelihood activities has been increased manifold to Rs. 2550 crore in this year. Separate interest subsidy is also being provided to the groups along with capital at affordable interest rates.
Opportunities in different areas of business
The state government, while expanding the scope of the work of women self-help groups, has given the experience of running large businesses to the women of the groups by giving them a huge task of operating nutritional food plants. Self-help groups are being supported at every level, in new areas like operation of Didi Café and fair price government shops, sewing school uniforms, operation of procurement centers for purchase of crops, cowshed operation, pasture development, operation of oxygen plant in hospitals, tap water schemes in rural areas, electricity bill distribution work, maintenance of roads, collection of minor forest produce, etc. while giving priority to construction and supply of material like bricks used in construction works. 103 types of small enterprises including sewing, soap, incense sticks manufacturing etc. are being done by the members of the groups to earn extra income along with means of traditional income like agriculture-animal husbandry.
Cooperation in the purchase and sale of products
Aajeevika Rural Marts have been established at the district level in collaboration with NABARD to sell the products of the groups. Sale and purchase of products is being supported through the Aajeevika Mart portal. Aajeevika Bhawan has been constructed at the block level for the use of clusters. A large number of government buildings have been allotted to the clusters for the meetings of the groups and for setting up livelihood activity centers and training centres.
Constant training
Due to continuous training, financial literacy, financial support and guidance given by the mission strong will-power has been generated in the group members to overcome poverty. Today, more than 13 lakh 37 thousand families belonging to groups are working in the state associated with agriculture and animal husbandry based livelihood activities and more than 5 lakh 5 thousand families are working in non-agriculture based small enterprise livelihood activities.
Women are getting new identity
Earlier, women in poor families of rural areas did not get opportunities to do income-oriented activities; their life was confined only to the kitchens and the house hold. Men had a monopoly in deciding on other issues including running the house, income-expenditure, purchase-sale etc. The opportunities given to the women by joining the mission groups proved their worth and helped them establish their own identity. In addition to non-income negligible household chores, now women group members along with their families give their opinion on important issues of village and community development. Their awareness has increased their respect not only at home but also in the village and region. Participation in regular meetings of groups, village organizations, and cluster level associations has increased their understanding and activism. The 13 sutras taught in groups have given them the basic mantra, from which they are progressing continuously. Regular savings, transactions, loan repayment and documentation in group meetings and regular visit to the banks have helped them develop financial literacy and the ability of business management.
Community Development
Women have also played an important role in the field of community development. A tremendous positive change can also be seen on personal and community issues of health, nutrition, education etc. by the participation of women in the Gram Sabha as compared to earlier times. Efforts are being made to remove malnutrition in family and village by planting nutrition gardens in every house.
Cashless transaction
Another important change among other behavior changes of group members is cashless behavior. All transactions of groups are done through cheque or through e-transaction by bank sakhis. This has reduced the chances of financial fraud.
Group members on political positions
Women have also been elected to various political positions due to the new identity that they got by getting the opportunity to showcase their talent through groups. They have also acquired posts like Panch-Sarpanch to Janpad and Zila Panchayat member apart from, important posts in various committees. Today the once shy rural women have changed their identity and express their views fearlessly in front of lakhs of people on stage in large gatherings.
Imparted training in other states
About 6 thousand women have been trained by the mission about low cost agriculture and organic farming. They have established their own identity as Master Agriculture CRP by imparting training not only in their homes, village, district and state, but also in other states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Economic and social empowerment
Economic and social empowerment of women is happening through Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission. There are more than 2 lakh women in the state who are earning a minimum monthly income of Rs 10,000. There are also many such families associated with self-help groups, whose monthly income has gone up to Rs 50 thousand. Lakhs of women have replaced their old dilapidated houses with pucca houses, shops etc., they have bought agricultural land and started a new life and got rid of debt trap of moneylenders.
As far as change is concerned, 76 women members of 26 groups of 19 villages in Udaigarh area of Alirajpur district alone got 176 acres of land, mortgaged for more than Rs 26 lakh, free from the debts of moneylenders in the year 2019. Being financially independent due to rise in their income, the group members resumed their studies and pursued vocational courses like B.S.W. and M.S.W. Along with this, they are educating their children in good school and have also bought two wheelers, four wheelers, agricultural machines etc.
Apart from economic and social empowerment, women are now working against child marriages in their area, raising voice against domestic violence, addiction, monitoring the works of community development, self-employment and employment of unemployed youth of the village as per their interest through various sub-committees.
Taking full advantage of the opportunities provided to self-help groups, women have established their power in the family and community in the rural areas only because of the distinct identity they got from the display of their talent by working according to their potential. Overall, women leading a life in anonymity in the rural areas, confined to their kitchens under the cover of a veil, today have become the identity and pride of their family, village and district – Window to News
