IDEX Executive Director, Rajasvini Bhansali, is currently traveling in India on evaluation field visits with IDEX partners, and potential catalyst grantees.
Gravis SHG Member with her Daughter
Rahul Mishra, GRAVIS Program Coordinator, shared his journey of working in rural development. He explained that what he learned theoretically in a rural development program was less useful than the practical application of working in 15 villages with their unique conditions, cultures, circumstances and people-led development.
Rahul works with a team of 2 other field workers who employ participatory methods to build trust and relationships with the villages they serve. Natwar, one of the field workers, could have worked in the private sector for a lot more money when he graduated with a MBA. But coming home to his village and getting involved with the women’s self help groups (SHGs) motivated him to get involved in community driven development.
Natwar explained that initially the men in this rural community of Hemapura were reluctant to let the women in their households group together. But after witnessing the success of women’s self help groups; they have begun to create more opportunities for women to participate in the village’s planning processes.
I was able to join a meeting of the Bismillah Self Help Group. This is a group of Muslim women who have saved more than 10,000 rupees in less than a year. They have managed to support each other in buying goats, sewing machines and even send their girls to school. At this particular meeting of the Bismillah SHG, the women discuss their concerns about not being able to recruit a teacher for the girls’ school that they’ve just established.
Bismillah SHG has worked with the local Madrassah (mosque) to offer a room to start this school. But this may not be the best solution. There is some discussion between the SHG members and the GRAVIS field workers about whether or not holding a secular school on the Madrassah premises might give the impression that the school is non-secular. The women suggest approaching the local panchayat (governing body) to ask them to donate land to the budding school. This way the school will be clearly non-denominational. The school would then be more accessible to people from all communities and castes.
There is much discussion amongst the young and old and everyone gets to express their opinion before a decision and a plan is made. A small group of women will approach the panchayat for support.
It’s the first day of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting in Islam. The chairwoman of the Bismillah SHG speaks to us about how all people are one under Allah’s moon and sun. This is what the group celebrates. The women warmly share with us their ritual of cooking special foods to break fast daily.
Over my now sixth cup of chai today, I learn about how the group overcame initial dissensions to build greater unity with each other. They now work together on meaningful projects, both for their homes as well as for the community at large. They talk about sharing crops, water and just as importantly, insights about their children. And so begins that important time of the year and as the sun slowly sets over the desert. I am grateful again to celebrate grassroots action in all its glory.
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