Women in India Protect Land & Foster Self-Reliance

Ms. Sonia Devi once visited a Self-Help Group (SHG), formed by Manavi and became inspired by the idea of women coming together to work for a better life. She decided to form her own SFG and discussed it with other women in her village. As a result, she was able to mobilize 13 women and a SHG was formed. Most of the members are extremely poor and can barely afford to pay their rent.

Initially the SHG was not able to save more than 25 cents in a month. They jointly decided to charge membership fees to develop a savings fund and now they are able to save approximately $2.50 each month. Most of these members are from the Dalit community. Before the formation of the SHG, the women were selling homemade liquor. None of their children were attending school, and often their daughters were being married between the ages of 10 and 12.

After the formation of the SHG, and support from Manavi, the women discovered new opportunities to improve their income. Many decided to stop selling liquor and start their own small businesses, selling fish, running stalls offering tea and breakfast, and selling women’s clothes. As a result the women are now starting to send their daughter’s to school and some women have also started resisting child marriages. Even the cases of domestic violence have decreased. Before, female members of the family were drinking alcohol but now these women have stopped and have started an anti-alcohol consumption drive among male-members in the village as well.

Thanks to Sonia’s inspiration, women in her village are building their own self-confidence, starting new businesses and are empowering themselves to create a better community.