Case Studies

Visual Changes...

1. By the efforts of education committee...
Jhajhar Ki Pal Education committee raised a demand of Primary school for the first time on 7th may 2003. After that they requested the same in every Gram Sabha and approached Panchayat and block level official several times. In this year school was sanctioned but thereafter the problem was of the appointment of a teacher. Some of the community member and NGO worker again met with Block Education Officer and BDO for appointment of teacher. Committee faced many difficulties during this period but lastly they got success. Now the construction of school has been started in Khara Fala, and guest faculties appointed for the time being.

2. Enrollment Ensured
In village Ubapan of Kolyari Panchayat, the education committee started the home visits to create awareness among parent’s about- child education rights and usefulness of education in their life. After lots of efforts they didn’t s got positive response from some of the Parents. In another meeting, the education committee strictly proclaimed that those who don’t send their children’s to school would not get the facilities of Ration Card from Public Distribution System (PDS). As a result now all school going children’s have got admission in school and 100% enrollment is ensured.

3. Regular Teacher Appointed
In village Venagiya of Gejvi Panchayat there was only one teacher in primary school for all classes upto 5th standard. Teacher was not regularly attending classes. When asked the reason by education committee members, he said that “In this school only one teacher appointed from the beginning, Teacher and children ratio is less. Village Education committee took initiative and they forwarded this case to BDO, BEO, Jhadol.
At last the teacher was transferred to other school and new teacher appointed for Venagiya primary school.

4. Food Security To Self Esteem
(A case study of women empowerment in a watershed project village)
Nakki bai w/o Dinesh Chandra, a resident of Ambavi village, Thobawada panchayat contested for the post of ‘Sarpanch’ in the election and got an emphatic win over other contestants. She acknowledges the role of the watershed works and the support of the SHG women for her win in the election. She recalls that the watershed works were started by the local organization Mahan Seva under CRS project. With the start of the project, the village women were motivated to form group and save money in a SHG. Being a part of the group, she participated in different meetings, trainings, exposure organized by the organization. During the interaction with others she learned the art of speaking and her confidence increased day by day. Slowly she made good recognition in the group and also gained good speaking power. The women of the village being illiterate and shy did not took participation in the programs of the organization however, she continued her contact with the organization and learnt a lot of things from there. The villagers promoted her to contest for the election and so she stood up for the post of Sarpanch. The women of the village took all the responsibility of campaign and conducted meetings, discussions and door-to-door contact in different villages. They talked of the practical measures, which are needed for development of women and villagers.

As a result of the hard work and support from VDC and SHG members, Nakki won the election for the post of Sarpanch. She got 1022 votes in her favour and was far ahead of her competitors.

5. A Success story of a SHG group of Nal Fala hamlet .
The village of Jhajhar Ki Pal in the state of Rajasthan is home to a small population belonging to Bheel Tribal community. The Hamlet of Nal Fala in Jhajhar Ki Pla (Jhadol Block) comprises 25 families. The people of Nal Fala were suffered not only from the extreme poverty nevertheless; they faced many of the same critical challenge typical to a tribal village. These include poor Health and Hygiene, dismal educational opportunities, unproductive agriculture lands, limited sources of safe drinking water and obstinate alcoholism. Nearby mines in the surrounding of Udaipur district allowed for some of the villagers to earn a living through daily wage labor-especially during the non-agriculture season. Even then their earnings through labor and agriculture, making (Tokries), selling fodder, NTFPs were never enough to propel them above the poverty line. Moreover they suffered exploitation at the hands of the moneylenders. Due to this adverse situation, they started to cut the forest for their day to day requirements, but limited resources did not gave support for a long time and consequently began to diminish. The economic security and food security of the villagers were at stake. But the villagers did not resigned to their fate.

The formation of Self Help Group (SHG) in the late 2000 by Mahan Seva Sansthan came as a turning point in the lives of villagers. After some initial hiccups, the SHG movement gained momentum with women saving monthly. Initially they didn’t have the knowledge about the issues and effective solutions of the prevailing problems at village it self. So initially only 5 female's joined the group. Slowly as the time passed, the women have become aware about the importance of SHGs through the trainings, workshops, and capacity building activities, etc. Regular meeting with the representatives of MSS helped them to discuss about the economic aspects other than savings. This inspiration lead them motivate other females to join the group. In this way total families of the Nal fala joined the groups. Gradual increase in the savings builds their confidence and in one of the meeting they decided to stop the alcoholism. In the group they went to all alcohol shops and warned them to stop the selling alcohol. Slowly but surely, a revolution is building in the atmosphere of the village. The male have restricted their drinking habit at some extent. Now each member of the SHG know to sign and some of them are well managing the records, accounts, etc. They take regular meetings by their own and maintain the all registers. They are inspired by these results in initial years. Most importantly, women are now actively involved in household decision-making process.

When asked what was the biggest difference the group had made in their lives, the women Leela Bai replied, "Earlier, we were not really bothered about our natural resources, health, education, Gender sensitivity and equality. But we have seen the strength of working together and working for each other. It helps everyone. There is strength in unity."
This integration of economic and social empowerment is a key aspect of "MSS" efforts to promote integral development.

6. Earning improved
In Kharadi Fala of Nayagoan , one of the functional Self Help Group is linked with the cooperative for collection and sale of the Non timber forest produces such as Gum, Arandi, Tendu leaves etc. in the main mandi (Udaipur market). People have started taking direct benefits of the marketing. It has increased income of the SHG. Through this, they have earned 10,000/- that is value addition in their group. Presently group is planning to buy seeds of Jetrofa (Ratanjot) of worth rupees 10,000/.