|
1985 – 2005
|
Empowerment
programmes
|
No. of Womens
|
3668
|
Saving
& Credit Scheme
|
Members
|
1535
|
Savings (Rs.)
|
19,59,000
|
Loan Amt. (Rs.)
|
15,99,000
|
Loan Repayment
|
96%
|
Economic
Programmes
|
Members
|
195
|
Production (Rs.)
|
3,94,75.979
|
Women's earning ( Rs.)
|
93,30,586
|
|
From the outset, women have been at the
center of most of the activities of SEWA-Rural. Several specific
programmes for the women, by women, have been started over the years.
Begun in 1985, the Papad Programme was the first formal venture
of SR in a non-health area. It was started with an understanding that
women from disadvantaged sections of the society need to be empowered
and made aware of their rights and potentials through a multi-pronged
approach, including empowerment and income generation.
In the absence of any local traditional crafts or skill, groups of
tribal and rural women were trained to develop Papad - making
skills, the produce being marketed by SR. After considerable struggle,
a growing number of women now earn around Rs. 50 to Rs. 60 a day, all
at or near their homes. Every year about 60,000 kg of papad are
produced and sold resulting in cash turn over of Rs. 45 lacs and of
this about 20% are earned as wages by women. Some of the older groups
of women now show remarkable understanding and courage in facing
adverse social situations and it is planned to devolve as much power as
possible to the groups.
Lately two more initiatives - Handicraft and Garment Projects -
have been started for the economic betterment of women following
informal surveys and focus group discussion among women about their
needs, skill and potentialities. The Garment manufacturing activity has
considerable potential for growth and expansion in view of large
industrial units nearby requiring uniforms for their workers.
The Savings and Credit programmes for women began in 1987 to
reduce their dependence on money lenders and prevent them getting into
perpetual debt. These women groups as well as adolescent girls serve as
nodal points for initiating discussions on the broader women's issues
like, atrocities on women, alcohol abuse, unwed pregnancies,
reporductive health disorders etc., often in camps
conducted in villages as well as nearby schools. Lately all women
related activities are carried out under aegis of newly promoted SHARADA
MAHILA VIKAS SOCIETY, independent of SR and in which women groups
have all the say in their affairs. Inspite of desirability and
community need, nonavaibility of competent women workers has largely
prevented us from upscaling this much needed activity
|
