Trail Blazers - IFAD

left Kapkot village that evening with a song in my head – a song that Madhvi
I and group sung for me – a song that tells the story of how their lives used to be
and how it is today. They sing about a better life, about being able to buy cows
and goats, and be able to cultivate vegetables. They sing about how they
will save small amounts from their meagre earnings and what they will do with
the money saved. “The money we save today will be useful for us some day…” –
the chorus goes.
Sixty-year old Madhvi Devi is mother of two sons and three daughters. Like any
other wife, mother and grandmother, Madhvi’s chores are endless. “From dawn
till dusk I always have something to do at home,” she smiles, “I had never done
anything beyond.” But all this changed for her the moment she joined Prerna
Self-Help Group as member about five years back. The SHG is promoted by the
Livelihood Improvement Project for Himalayas (ULIPH), Uttarakand..
A person always interested in social work, the SHG gave Madhvi a platform to
reach out in more effective ways than she possibly imagined. ULIPH noticed
her interest levels; her willingness to dedicate time and the way she provided
constructive solutions to issues that plagued the community, and empowered
her with adequate training. The exposures she received and the workshops she
attended moulded Madhvi and she began sharing her experiences with her SHG
members. “The ULIPH project people took me to Molwani village in Pithoragard
District and it was there that I realised that SHGs can make a difference in our
lives,” Madhvi recalls.
The group first began collecting INR 30 (70 cents) as monthly subscription from
its members, then slowly they raised it to INR 50 (USD 1) and now they collect
INR 100 (USD 2). “I maintain the savings register and as of today,” she smiles,
“we have INR 37, 000 (USD 822)!” Prerna SHG has circulated fund worth INR 1,
63, 500 (USD 3633) till date to its members for various livelihood development
ventures. “From starting a restaurant business to buying buffaloes, to sweet
potato cultivation and poultry, our group has benefited through SHG internal
lending,” shares Madhvi.
About a year ago, the village of Kapkot came under the Dhauladevi Block
jurisdiction. The Block headquarters was about 40 kilometres from the village
and the people found it very difficult to go to the Block Office for every problem.
“If we had to make a complaint or requisition or even to apply for any facility, we
needed to travel too long a distance and sometimes were forced to spend a night
out,” Madhvi reveals. She decided that it was time to take the lead and make a
Members of Prerna SHG, Kapkot village now have a Community Centre where they meet
regularly, thanks to money received from the MLA Fund.
change, and so gathering as many villagers as possible, Madhvi marched to
the Dhauladevi Block office demanding that Kapkot village come under Lamgara
Block which was nearer. “It’s been six months now since the block office for our
village has been shifted to Lamgara Block,” Madhvi shares, “and the people are
very happy.”
This was not all! Madhvi lead and motivated her group to act collectively against
alcoholism and forest protection. She had also helped women in her village avail
government benefits and social welfare schemes, and encouraged them to take
micro-insurances. “I have always tried my best to help the women in my village,
especially the poor; Deepti Devi and Basanti Devi are some names that come to
my mind now,” she says responding to a question on the women she had helped.
Deepti Devi’s husband had expired and she was very poor. Madhvi helped her
by first making her aware that she is entitled to the Government widow’s pension
scheme, then helped her fill the required forms and represented her case at the
Block Office. As for Basanti Devi, Madhvi saw to it that Basanti got her old age
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