Recasting Citizenship for Development - File UPI

306 VINALINI MATHRANI AND VANI PERIODI
By April 1997, the foundation was laid. The structure reached roof level
in May 1997 through the efforts of hired labourers. The women dipped
into their savings and the MSK honorarium (Rs 2,000) to continue with
the construction.
At this stage, a controversy arose regarding the roofing. One of the
sangha women was keen on putting an RCC roof, while the others felt
that sheet roofing was adequate. The women also ran out of funds. In
November 1997, the women approached the GP for funds. The GP refused
outright as they felt that the women could use the Samudaya Bhavan for
their meetings. At this stage, the local butcher was using the Samudaya
Bhavan as an abattoir. The women visited the GP a number of times to
get the funds sanctioned. Finally, a resolution was passed, stating that
some money should be released. During this time, three GP secretaries
changed and the resolution got misplaced. In the interim, a JE visited the
village. The women asked him to intervene. He advised them to go to
the taluka panchayat.
Finally, after one year, the GP sanctioned an amount of Rs 32,669,
which was released in 1998–99. The JE was appointed the contractor and
he received the money directly from the GP. The women felt that they
needed additional funds for doors and windows, so they put in a second
application to the GP. In the meanwhile, one of the sangha women had
become active in questioning corruption and had established herself as
an important public figure. The GP members realised that she could
publicise this matter, so in April 2000, they released Rs 25,336 without
any problems. The women tapped the GP funds for SC welfare as well.
The JE hired the women as labourers at the rate of Rs 20 per day. The
husbands also helped in stone breaking and carrying. By the end of 2000,
the structure was built.
Banikuppe: Construction began on 24 October 1993. The women put
in their savings of Rs 35,000. They approached the MLA for tiles. He
agreed to contribute 1,000 tiles. The MSK seed money of Rs 15, 000 and
honorarium of Rs 4,600 were also used for the construction. The women
procured the additional construction material from quarries and scoured
the surrounding area for sand. The rest of the raw material was purchased.
The men played a key role in the technical aspects of construction. The
structure came into being entirely through ‘shramdan’. Based on a roster