|
|
|
Map of Asia |
Email this citationCIAO DATE: 02/03
Micro Intiatives, Marco Solutions: Potential Of Women's Self Help Groups and Their Federations in Advocating And Advancing Their Own Rights
Ranjan K. Panda
December 2000
Abstract
No society and its economy have ever flourished without the substantial contribution of its women members. Both in the social and economic division of labour women dominate the show. In India, where the majority of the population lives in rural areas, it would be more important and interesting to see the role they play in rural India. While agriculture employs 70 per cent of the total working population, it employs as much as 84 per cent of all economically active women. In terms of overall farm production, women are estimated to contribute on an average between 55 to 66 per cent of the total labour. Rural women also play a predominant role in the forest economy, depending on it for subsistence and economic needs. Women's contributions to politics and governance still go recognised. Of late, with the realisation that a country of such a huge size cannot be ruled unless power is decentralised, women's role in grassroots democracy has come under serious scrutiny. As a result, the 72nd and 73rd amendments to the Indian Constitution have paved the way for a more positive role of women in politics. Why are women so poorly represented on the socio-economic ladder when it comes to leadership at the macro level?
This paper explores at a micro level the role the poorest of poor women have played to change the lives and livelihoods of their own families and villages and, in the process, have provided inputs for policy advocacy at the macro level as well. The author, a practitioner Sociologist, draws from his experience in the field and a study of 10 Women's Self-Help Groups to illuminate the reality of conditions at the grassroots level. He combines the results of information already available and the data generated from a field study to elucidate the issues and challenges that confront women as they organise and take on various socio-economic and political issues as organised groups. This analytical combination highlights powerful grassroots institutions that have the potential to change policies and governance patterns in a broader sphere.
The field study for this paper was conducted in ten remote villages of the Sambalpur District in the western belt of Orissa State in India. The sample villages for this paper were selected according to four criteria:
- Population dominated by indigenous communities,
- Remote location,
- existence of Women's Self-Help Groups promoted by an NGO called MASS, and
- Socio-economic and political problems faced by the population. The villages under study are from three Blocks (an administrative jurisdiction set up under the Districts), namely Jujumura, Maneswar and Rengali. These are very small and mostly homogenous villages.
Respondents' profile and situational analysis
From time immemorial, people in the above villages have lived amidst dense forests. Obviously, their economy also depended, until recently, solely on the forests and other natural resources. Minor forest products, which might be minor in the government's terminology, have been a major life support system for them. The richness of the surroundings has always attracted external people and forces that have exploited the forest and other resources in most unsustainable ways. The vast depletion of the forests gradually produced many social problems, as the backbone of this life support system became increasingly weaker. Deforestation was also influenced by the ever increasing population and its consequent needs. The area, which is drought-prone and where no irrigation facility exists, became a hell for indigenous people. Agriculture, which has gradually taken over as the primary occupation, fails to provide even with the bare necessities. Dependence on outside forces has drastically increased over the last few decades.
The major problem
Usury is common in Orissa as in the rest of the country. Although legally money cannot be lent out at more than 24% per annum it is frequently lent out above 100% per annum. In the 'Lal Bangla' system, the interest is 120% per annum (10% per month), and in the 'Charni Kalantar' it is 300% per annum (25% per month; charni : four annas, 25 paise to the Rupee, per month). Though both are prevalent in Western Orissa, where Sambalpur is situated, Charni Kalantar is more common and widespread. The population is seriously indebted.
Women have to pay in various ways for the fault of their men counterparts. Further, they do not have a direct standing in the credit market, either formal or informal. The vulnerability of women in this area is exacerbated by several predominant factors, for example massive illiteracy, rigid and conservative customs and traditions, rampant corruption at all levels of formal sources, integrated operation of local political interests, and many more such factors. In most of the villages where MASS is operative, the regular scarce food situation leaves no alternative for the poor communities than to fall prey to the money lenders. During such scarcity, most of the people approach the Mahajan (the local money lender) for loans to purchase food during the rainy season and to buy seeds, manures, pesticides, fertilizer, etc. during the agricultural season. In return, the money lenders advance money at a staggering rate. The woes of the women are exacerbated by the drug addiction of the men. In addition to doing most of the jobs to keep the family affairs running, the women have to face the evils of torture, harassment and other problems.
When MASS (a local NGO) started motivating the women to form their own groups and fight against poverty and exploitation, the idea caught on quickly. As a result, Self-Help Groups were formed among the poorest of the poor women. Such groups are established with 10 to 30 women from an equal number of families, mostly from a homogenous neighbourhood within a village. Initially these women are motivated through several village and small-group level meetings to form the group and start savings through a handful of rice and/or Rs.5/- per month. The group is trained on leadership, group dynamics, group management, conflict management, record maintenance, and accounts keeping. After six months of savings, the group is encouraged to start lending to its members from its own savings. Loans in kind are used to meet the immediate consumption needs of some members. Cash in hand is utilised for emergency needs such as medical cases. Cash in the bank is used for planned credit needs. The group forms its own rules and regulations so far as charging interest rates on the lent credit, repayment period, purpose of credit, etc. Gradually, as the group gains experience managing credit and savings activities from its own funds, MASS arranges external loan support, the extent of which is determined on the basis of the needs of members and the credit-worthiness of the group. These loans are normally used for productive purposes by the members. Gradually their savings and income start growing. Within three or four years group members get substantial freedom from the clutches of private moneylenders.
A table provided in the paper for the 10 groups studied shows that a total of 185 poor women in groups in existence for an average of 3 years and 8 months have started to have an impact in the area. They have become an integral part of a silent revolution that is now going on in the area. Surely, albeit slowly, these oppressed women are making themselves part of a wider process in savings and credit management.
Federating for empowerment:
The only way out Once free from the exploitative clutches of the money lenders and having gained the confidence of their male counterparts, the women have started expanding their sphere of influence. Federations have started emerging among them to address common issues affecting their lives and livelihood. Their intention to federate provides a clear indication that the women plan to decide their own fate.
Federation has not only helped women to promote their socio-economic activities for themselves and their families, it has also allowed them to begin thinking at a macro level now. Many of them are now very often heard to say that they are no longer "frogs of the wells". Now they can visualise things at a broader level and are hence less prone to exploitation. This very sense of realisation is a major indicator of their empowerment. For almost all the rural women, obtaining and understanding government policies was just a daydream a few years ago. Now, they have started to analyse various government policies that affect them negatively and stand between them and their power to rule themselves and exercise control over their own resources. They are emerging as a strong force to advocate for pro-poor and pro-people policies and actions.
