Self Help Groups
Self Help groups
11 am, 13th Sep12….
A speeding military van stops at the door of the Sarpanch’s residence. Two army men come out rushing and walk towards the house door. They are looking for the Village Sarpanch to convey an important message- that a blast is going to take place in sometime and people of certain areas need to be warned. As Varsha, a skinny young woman, her head duly covered, steps forward, the army men give a doubting look and repeat to her that the Sarpanch be called instead. Varsha confidently tells them that she is the Sarpanch herself and she will take care of the situation. They reluctantly show the area map to her and tell that area 318 needs to be warned for a blast. Almost sure that she has not understood, they ask her if she even knows the area they are talking about. Varsha confidently gives them a complete location address of area 318, giving minute details of the place. She also tells them her plan for giving the villagers a heads-up. Obviously shocked, the army men’s faces break into broad smiles and they leave the place, shaking their heads in disbelief.
That’s Varsha for you- the 25-year-old Sarpanch of her village- smart, confident and articulate. “Apratim Shakti hai us mein samajhne ki” is how the women from her “Samuh” sum her up.
Born in a poor Dhobi family, she lost her mother at a very early age. She had to live with her uncle and despite her best efforts; she could not study beyond the ninth grade. She always dreamt of roaming around in God’s great wide world but typically, she was never allowed to go out. She was married off at the age of fifteen and as she puts it- ‘Saare sapne adhure reh Gaye’.
So when she was invited to be a part of a women’s Self-Help Group (SHG), a “Samuh”, she felt the door opened to her her long cherished dream of going out into the world and doing various things. When she was asked to do the book-keeping, she felt delighted that finally she could actually use her education. She said to
11 am, 13th Sep12….
A speeding military van stops at the door of the Sarpanch’s residence. Two army men come out rushing and walk towards the house door. They are looking for the Village Sarpanch to convey an important message- that a blast is going to take place in sometime and people of certain areas need to be warned. As Varsha, a skinny young woman, her head duly covered, steps forward, the army men give a doubting look and repeat to her that the Sarpanch be called instead. Varsha confidently tells them that she is the Sarpanch herself and she will take care of the situation. They reluctantly show the area map to her and tell that area 318 needs to be warned for a blast. Almost sure that she has not understood, they ask her if she even knows the area they are talking about. Varsha confidently gives them a complete location address of area 318, giving minute details of the place. She also tells them her plan for giving the villagers a heads-up. Obviously shocked, the army men’s faces break into broad smiles and they leave the place, shaking their heads in disbelief.
That’s Varsha for you- the 25-year-old Sarpanch of her village- smart, confident and articulate. “Apratim Shakti hai us mein samajhne ki” is how the women from her “Samuh” sum her up.
Born in a poor Dhobi family, she lost her mother at a very early age. She had to live with her uncle and despite her best efforts; she could not study beyond the ninth grade. She always dreamt of roaming around in God’s great wide world but typically, she was never allowed to go out. She was married off at the age of fifteen and as she puts it- ‘Saare sapne adhure reh Gaye’.
So when she was invited to be a part of a women’s Self-Help Group (SHG), a “Samuh”, she felt the door opened to her her long cherished dream of going out into the world and doing various things. When she was asked to do the book-keeping, she felt delighted that finally she could actually use her education. She said to