Hope for Vidarbha farm families

[S.Annadana]

AMRAVATI: Nalutai Dhok has gone from being a shy housewife to a symbol of guts and grit. The 40-something semi-literate woman from Dapori Khurdi, 50km from Amravati, initiated in 2006 the first women's self-help group (SHG) in the village, ushering in a tsunami of change and financial independence.

Dhok's SHG, which is involved in giving micro-credit to needy members, inspired the formation of 32 more such groups in the village. They are funded by banks and promote organic farming , vermicompost units and dairy development . Dhok herself has helped supplement her family's meagre farm income and put an end to a vicious cycle of high-interest borrowings.

"Nalutai showed the village women a new path of empowerment by introducing the practice of collective saving and decision-making . The women took it upon themselves to take decisions regarding crop patterns and cultivables. High-cost fertilisers and other inputs were avoided and instead the women started tilling land with organic fertilisers. More women came together and exchanged views and implemented the ideas by themselves. The entire process of collective purchase of farm inputs and the sale of their produce was decided by the women. It was a great change from the days when they were just silent spectators to the misery,'' said Mannatai Suyabhan Warty, a group leader of a local NGO, Apeksha Homeo Society (AHS).

Nalutai, who battled all adversity and opposition from home, is now spearheading the women's movement, which has not only helped reduce hardships for cotton farmers, but has increased confidence among villagers caught in a cycle of bad weather and mounting debt.

The AHS is playing a pivotal role in the village farm development project , an initiative of Nabard, giving hope to disheartened farmers by introducing sustainable and cost-effective measures in farming.

"From a debt-ridden farm family, the Dhoks have turned into innovative farmers. The woman of the house is earning close to Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 annually from the SHG. Nalutai is also an active member of the Apeksha Paraspar Upyogi Mahila Bank, participating in decision-making on farm loan disbursals. It is all a progressive march towards empowerment. With the SHG involved in the bulk purchase of farm inputs, Nalutai saves a significant sum which would otherwise be spent on single purchases,'' said Gajanan Kale, a local activist associated with the AHS.

The Nabard initiative has also triggered a complete social transformation in the village, with youths from Dapori taking a pledge against demanding dowry and saying no to alcohol . "Ever since the SHGs started functioning, we have imbibed the practice of saving. The bank loans to the SHG help us with crop loans, which we would otherwise have taken from private money-lenders . Also, more than 250 youths in the village have pledged never to be party to social ills. In fact, marriages in the villages are conducted in utter simplicity and grace, minus the pomp and huge spending. It has all given a new meaning to our lives,'' said Vishwajit Bakade, 19, from Dapori Khurdi.

In this cotton belt of Vidarbha, alcohol consumption and grand marriage celebrations, sometimes continuing over two days, are among the reasons for distress and rising debt. "We are trying to change all that. In fact, our women have taken it upon themselves to educate the menfolk on the ills of such unproductive expenditure. A compulsive alcoholic was made to unfurl the national flag on January 26 and take an oath to abstain from drinking in the presence of the entire village . Also, girls from our village who get married to men in other villages spread the message of SHGs there. They are creating an awareness and we have observed that it has made the desired impact,'' said Warty.

Senior Nabard official Shankar Dayal Singh said the bank-village farm development programme has not only reduced distress among Vidarbha farmers, but the economic and social changes will leave a long-term impact. "It is a silent revolution in which the women are more assertive and involved in decision-making . Although it is a long-drawn process, the second generation is likely to take off from here and will be more independent and evolved. In fact, the collective assertiveness of women became the talking point when on popular demand from women voters, the Chautala government banned liquor in Haryana only to be returned to power with a thumping majority,'' Singh said.

Nabard's managing director M Karmarkar said that with the success of SHGs in Maharashtra, the bank is considering setting up a federation at the village and district levels, with an NGO assigned the task of providing technical assistance and administrative support to a group of SHGs. "Presently, the NGO 'hand holds' the SHG for two to three years. However, when the federation is constituted it will assist more such SHGs, helping them with paperwork, assessing bank loans and any other such requirements on a long-term basis,'' Karmarkar said.