MSRLM-Umed....Hope and little blessings....

MSRLM - Umed....Hope and little blessings....

On a hot and sunny morning, on my visit to Nevali village, in Ambarnath Taluka of Thane district, I find over 100 fiesty and enthusiastic women waiting for me. They greet me cheerfully with Umed claps...thrice...clap clap clap..... The Sarpanch, two Panchayat Samiti members and a Zilla Parishad member also join me in the interaction.
Till the previous year Thane was a district under the non-intensive strategy of MSRLM. It has become an district under the intensive strategy now, meaning henceforth it would have dedicated staff to work at the district, block levels and also have community resource person ( CRPs) at the village level. The intensive strategy had just begun to be adapted, however, I found that all the women in this SHGs were familiar with the Dasha Sutras of MSRLM. It was heartening to know that each of them knew the ten sutras, that is- regular meetings, savings, internal lending, repayment of loans, writing books of accounts, Health, Edcuation, participating in Panchayat Raj Institutions, deriving benefits of various schemes of the government and having sustainable livelihoods.
Many of them were eager to share their experiences. They spoke in turns and most of them said that Umed had been instrumental in transforming their lives. They could become financially independent, could open bank accounts and were free from loans at higher rates of interest. They had become more united, helpful, sensitive to each others needs and cohesive as a group. Previously they would never know when Gram Sabhas took place, now they knew about it and participated actively in the gram sabhas. They were also able to adapt various livelihoods like selling sarees, setting up of a kirana shop, improve agriculture, sell vegetables, do poultry business etc.
Apparently their catering services were also extremely popular. Some of them provided Bhaakris ( Indian bread made from Rice, Jowar or Baajraa), some made puran polis 《Indian bread with jagerry filling). I was able to savour the taste and sweetness of the puran polis as the ladies had lovingly made a few for me. It was really touching as they fussed over me while I gorged on the delicious delicacy.
Among the women, sitting quietly was a typical village woman. Out of curiosity i asked her had the mission helped her. Yes was her spontaneous reply. She said she was able to grow vegetables and sell them.The women also shared that on formation of SHGs it was possible for them to celebrate functions like Women's day, Chatrapati Shivaji Jayanti in the village. Umed had begun reaching out to the people here.
With a sparkle in my eyes and a smile on my lips, we went to the next village Mangrul.
The ladies here too were extremely vibrant and enterprising. Some of them had got into Mandap Decoration business. They had taken a loan of Rs.1 lakh from the bank and invested it in buying chairs to give on hire. They had earned Rs.9800 in just one month by renting chairs at Rs.5/- They planned to buy tables and other items to improve their business as mandap contractors. Like the previous group some of them did catering business also.
It was interesting to visit the home of one SHGs which had started poultry business and purchased a unique cage for them.
Manda Vilas Patil and Vilas Patil of Mangrul managed the business well and had cute little chicks adding joy to their lives.
The third village was near the famous dargah of the revered Haaji Malaang in Malaang wadi. Enthusiastic women waited to meet me here also. They too were well- versed with the basics of SHGs, Dasha sutri and sustainable livelihoods.
Shobha Naik is an artist who does baatik painting on cloth, has a good business. She makes dresses, sarees, bed sheets which give her brisk business in the
Konkan Saras and Mahalakshmi Saras. Her products have even made way to Pakistan. She makes many food products including spices and fries.
Shraddha Srinath Bhosale another women said that Umed had given her strength and hope and the very thought that she can come out freely makes her feel good.
Government of Maharashtra has introduced the Asmita scheme where by women and girls can back good quality sanitary napkins at affordable prices. Asmita sale and usage is picking up in Thane district and at least 2 or SHGs in these three villages I visited were trading in Asmita and vouching that it is good. In fact, one of their SHGs, Shri Krupa SHG was to launch vending machine for selling sanitary napkins at Konkan Bhavan in the office Divisional Commissioner, Konkan division.
Twenty-five kilometres away from Mumbai, three villages in Ambarnath Taluka of Thane district, gave me great insights of hope that MSRLM-Umed had brought into their lives.
Lives of the people are certainly getting transformed.
Thanks NRLM and MSRLM-Umed!

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