Women's Day....

Women's Day....

I breezed out of my home today morning like a cool cat. My son and husband smiling at me affectionately making my demeanour calm and composed,. The positive energies endowed by their warm support make me the person I am. That I am a woman becomes secondary. My recognition as an  individual, respecting me for being what I am, accepting my long hours at work, my trying days, mood swings, insecurities and enabling me despite all my flaws so that I feel sufficiently empowered to do my work is a blessing.
Yes, I work for the empowerment of women in rural areas but would that have been possible if I was not truly empowered???
And so even as I stand tall today, my head bows in gratitude to my parents- amma and appa, my family , my friends, all the men and women in my life without whom this could not have been possible.
Gone are the days of radical feminist intellectualism or gross gender inequality which existed. Society has to a large extent transformed itself to accept women as equals in all arenas of life . While cobwebs may still exist as also people who obliterate the true essence of this liberation by being mental slaves to women remaining in servitude, much water has flown over the bridge. Women as harbingers of change is not a myth any more. Whether in their hearth and homes, the corporate world or in all fields of life, women's contribution to society is recognised and acknowledged.
Of course greater milestones may still be there to achieve as also removal of the gender bias in some forums. But by and large one can daresay that equality has come to stay.
And why not with several forums working for that cause. With society learning to value the worth of a girl-child thanks to all the efforts made by our reformers, administrators, government and NGOs,   the days of gross discrimination are certainly a thing of the past.
MSRLM is one such organisation which works for the empowerment of women through community based organisations. The self help groups it forms are to promote social, financial and economic inclusion leading to sustainable livelihoods. Whether enhacing productivity, providing alternative livelihoods or skillimg youth,  the ultimate aim is economic prosperity of the woman so that she finds her true place in society.
MSRLM has over 3.8 lakh SHGs and 40 lakh households in its fold. It essentially works to promote the overall development of the woman, her family and society through 'Dashsutra". These include social aspects of health, sanitation, education apart from inculcating habits of saving, lending, repaying and writing books of accounts. The consistent efforts made for the capacity building of the women has ensured increasing their overall awareness in general and given them the strength to speak on all forums, specifically in the gram sabhas or panchayati raj institutions in particular. That women can speak out their minds and unflinchingly ask for electricity, water, roads or prohibition speaks highly of their growth. This, perhaps is the most satisfying aspect of our journey.
In a patriarchal society and a man's world being born into a good family has been my good fortune. Our family has enabled me to be an achiever in my own right without the discrimination of being a woman. However millions of women in society at large are still victims of physical abuse, domestic violence, sexual deviousness and covert or overt exploitation.
Women's day can be an occasion to highlight such social problems and work towards their eradication from society. It is only when each woman feels secure 24 x 7, when her work as a home maker is recognised, when her looks are not means to market goods at large, when voyeuristic men stop to look at her as an object of  pleasure, when her rights of land and heirship are transcribed on paper, when her voice as an individual is heard on all forums without ridicule, when lip service on one day and back biting women in power on rest of the days cease, when a women's worth as an individual is recognised despite her feminity, only then would we reach the utopian state of gender equality. Everyday and not just a single day would then be a day for every woman.

Gram Vikas Bhavan, Kharghar and The Mahalakshmi Saras Mart.....

Gram Vikas Bhavan, Kharghar and The Mahalakshmi Saras Mart....

Two years ago, I was called by Mr.Aseem Gupta, our techno- savvy and dynamic Secretary to the Department of Rural Development, Government of Maharashtra for a meeting to operationalise and put to use Gram Vikas Bhavan at Kharghar. It was followed by a visit to the place.
One look at the imposing structure, the blue skyline from the open terrace and the green Golf course across the building, my heart was into the hole akin a perfectly hit golf ball and I was ready to putt with the tee.
Holed or souled, I lost no time in accepting the responsibility to operationalise it despite the innumerable questions and doubts raised by my colleagues. The task was stupendous as the building though constructed well was not in use for over a couple of years. However our committee sat together and submitted the action plan immediately.
The onerous task of executing it was given to MSRLM and I was more than happy. Our team made every effort to liasion with the CIDCO authorities who were the architects and as well as executors of the building. We also followed all procedures to procure the services of different agencies for repairs and renovation and within a span of 6 months the structure was ready to use.
There has been no looking back after that with all our training and capacity building programmes shifting to the Gram Vikas Bhavan, now popularly known as GVB. The state of art auditorium has been a witness to many interesting programmes.
Along side the training hall and the beautiful auditorium were 34 galas or stalls for exhibition and sale of products made by SHGs which were also not in use.
The Department of Rural Development and
Umed MSRLM organise the Mahalakshmi Saras every year to provide a marketing platform to SHGs to market their products. However there was a constant demand to have a place where products of SHGs could be kept for sale throughout the year. The unused galas , stalls at GVB appeared perfect for the cause.
We executed a plan to equip and refurbish the stalls with storage and other facilities and launched it ambitiously with the name, " The Mahalakshmi Saras Mart.
Initially SHGs from all districts of the state were provided space there. However logistics and coordination proved to be difficult. So we finally came up with the plan to allocate 21 stalls for 10 days in circulation to each of the 34 rural districts so that they could show case their products. We began with Thane district last week which complained of poor response. A strategy was worked out immediately for adequate publicity which improved the footfalls.
21 SHGs of Palghar district are now there at GVB. I went there to have a look at their products, the sale and find out about the response from the local people and was greeted by the chirpy women who were truly happy to be there. They said the response was good on some days and bad or average on other days but nevertheless they had been able to sell a lot of their products.
Together all the stalls had managed to make a sale of of Rs.14,000 in 6 days which by itself was a great achievement.
The products included hand pounded rice, pulses, millets, rice flour for diabetics, papds, fryums, different types of ecofriendly cloth bags, colourful garlands made of wool, beauty and health products. Two SHGs had been making mouthwatering rural cuisine of rice or raagi bhaakris, veg and non-veg dishes, pooran polis and specially gaavraan chicken. They were even delivering it to the homes nearby.
What stood out among all these products were the hand woven godhadis, cotton quilts in different colours reflecting our age old Marathi tradition. They resonated the vibrant mood of our women from the SHGs of Palghar who happily posed for pictures. Business may not be so brisk every day but they were making a mark, learning how to improve themselves and definitely earning much more than what they would have in their villages. Their excitement on my visit and their innocence in posing for pictures with me was similar to what I felt after the GVB was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Chief Minister.
The Mahalakshmi Saras Mart, may not be a very sought after place now but I am sure it will definitely be buzzing with business some day and make lives of rural women more prosperous and happy.
My mind drifted to thoughts of a very famous poem by Robert Fost, " The Road not taken",. I mulled over it and remembered the lines...."Two roads diverged in a wood, and I....???? I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference"

P.S.- Please do visit the Mahalakshmi Saras Mart at Gram Vikas Bhavan, opposite ISCKON Temple, Sector 21, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 410210....Be the change, feel the difference....
https://g.co/kgs/H9D18K

Kumbh: overflowing joy....

Kumbh: overflowing joy....

My first thoughts regarding Kumbh are certainly cinematic. Those from my generation would possibly never forget brothers and sisters separating nowhere else but at the "Kumbh" in all the Bollywood potboilers. Despite living in Mumbai and staying so close to Nashik, I have never been to the Kumbh there also.
Visit to any holy place as per Hindu legends happens only when the Gods desire or as they say, "bulaawaa aayaa".
This time probably , I was being called by the holy ganges. No wonder, my son and me decided to join my husband for a pilgrimage which he and his fellow bhaktas had planned along with Swami Anantapamanabhacharya , popularly known as APN Swamy.
And so began my wondrous experience at the Kumbh.
I could only be struck by the magnitude of the event even before we reached the road over bridge on the sacred Ganga and Yamuna at Prayaagraaj. A multitude of tents lined along the roads greeted us. And then below the bridge, both the banks of the rivers were dotted with tents.
Our visit was almost towards the end of the Kumbh therefore many of the tents were being dismantled still one could not fail to observe the enormity of the Kumbh.
Another aspect was that this was an Ardh Kumbh which comes once in six years and not the Kumbh which is held once every twelve years in one of the four sacred sites of Prayaagraaj, Nashik, Ujjain and Haridwar. Taking a holy dip and bathing here resulted in purification from all sins .
At night the lighted paths and tents gave the place an ethereal look.
In the morning one could see a surge of people all around with the earnest desire to take the holy dip. We also headed towards the spot we had been called. That we had to undergo quite a few hardships till we finally reached the exact location identified by our Guru hardly mattered. This included getting stuck in a melee of people thronging the pathways to and away from the sangam for over 2 hours, reaching there only to realise that we had to go back to the spot we had originally come from,  taking a boat ride back to the place and walking with the swelling crowds on the river banks to reach the spot where the idol of Swami Desikan waiting for the holy dip. Amidst chanting of mantra we also joined the idol of our revered Acharya in the holy dip and ate delicious prasadam after the nitya aaradhana rituals.
The place was extremely calm with a sense of peace. The arrangements at the Kumbh were so meticulous with no flaws. All aspects whether security and safety, cleaning, sanitation, drinking water, medical aid, announcements, transport were so perfect that one could only be awestruck. Great efforts had been made by the local administration to organise this event.  And then beyond all this was the unfaltering faith of the devotees in the holiness of the Ganga, Yamuna and the sangam. Men , women, children, sadhus steering towards the confluence indefatigably and emerging deep-dyed in spiritual fervour behoved the greatness of the Ganga.
I stood before it in all humility, a kaliedoscope of thoughts, thinking about the origin of the Ganga, its legend, its greatness, the bonds of faith and belief it creates. My own fortune of being part of this wonderful heritage and my probable deliverance and moksha and all I could feel was overflowing joy....

Pragati (Progress)with Saras Aajeevika Mela at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi....

Pragati (Progress)with Saras Aajeevika Mela at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.....

Saras, means something which is the best and excellent, it is not only beautiful but also made with skill. Saras Aajeevika is also the name given to the exhibition and sale of products made by women of the self help groups of NRLM.
NRLM works for the empowerment of women through self help groups. The women who are capacitated through social and financial inclusion leading to sustainable livelihoods produce or create several goods. Providing backward and forward linkages for marketing to these groups is one of the key interventions done by NRLM. The Saras Aajeevika Mela is one such initiative. The Saras Mela which began at Delhi from today will be there till 7th March 2019 at the hall no.7, 10 and 11 of Pragati Maidain.
Delhi is not only a city of connoisseurs but also has patrons visiting various exhibitions. Year after year crowds throng to the IITF or Surajkund Mela or any other crafts mela. They should certainly visit #aajeevika Saras because it show cases unique handcrafted and handmade products made by 700 women artisans. Secondly, there will be a lot of variety as all the states and union territories would be participating in it. The third reason of course would be the fact that most of these products would not be easily available in Delhi.
Twelve groups of women have come from Maharashtra with a variety of products including soaps, cosmetics, textiles, food products, spices, handicrafts and footwear.
Three groups have different kinds of spices that includes a variety of masala and pickles from Kolhapur and Satara. Original Kolhapuri chappals, footwear from Kolhapur. Cashews, Mango pulp, shell items and bamboo handicrafts from Sindhudurg. The oil of kokum from Sindhudurg is worth trying as it heals cracked heels. Another interesting product is the goat milk soap and goat milk cold cream from Wardha which promises clear transluscent skin. Colourful kurtis and nighties would be worth buying.
Ghongdis, which are thick , heavy health friendly blankets would be extremely useful. Though the material maybe coarse it will certainly make your warm in winters and cool in summers apart from driving away all the aches and pains. Delicious chikki different from the north Indian gazak made from groundnut, musk melon seeds and flax seeds and the yummy Bhakar Wadi were most tempting. There are different grains and millet along with bright dry red chillies to zing to your life. Paintings to beautify your house and jewellery to pep up your look. All of this is on display and for sale at Saras Aajeevika.
The women from others states have also brought several interesting products.at the exhibition. 
Kudumbashree, the SRLM from Kerala will set up a catering service for selling delicious food.
A visit to Saras Aajivika mela will therefore not leave you disappointed it has  something in it for everyone. So pick up your bags and rush to shop. What stops you from making yourself and the rural women also happy....Be Saras and Buy Saras....

Woman : thy name is generosity....MSRLM SHGs contributing to Bharat ke Veer Fund

Woman : thy name is generosity....
MSRLM SHGs contributing to Bharat ke Veer Fund

Two decades ago in school we learnt a Hindi poem, " Choti Choti Jal Ki boondein Sagar ko bhar deti Hain, Baalu ki rujj nanhi nanhi sudhar bhumi rach deti hain...".
This poem was a tribute to every small contribution made by the smallest particle on this earth which leads to a bigger world. This Maxim became a true life experience for me when at the call of the Honorable Minister for Rural Development of Maharashtra, Ms.Pankaja Munde, we set out to contribute voluntarily to the noble cause of Bharat ke Veer.
The recent terrorist attack at Pulwama led to the creation of Bharat ke Veer, a fundraising initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. This allows donation upto Rs.15 lakhs from an individual to the Bharat ke Veer Corpus.
An appeal was made to all our officials and staff members to voluntarily and generously contribute to the Bharat ke Veer fund.
This information as an appeal was also communicated to all members of the SHGs, VOs and CLFs of Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission, MSRLM Umed with the request to donate voluntarily as per their mite.
The response we received within 24 hours from the remotest villages from all over the state was phenomenal. Over 3500 cheques amounting to Rs.58 lakhs were received only to reflect the generosity of the poorest.
Handing over this amount to the Hon'ble Hon'ble Minister Ms. Pankaja Munde and from her to the Hon'ble Chief Minister and renowned actor, Akshay Kumar was a befitting tribute to the cause.
MSRLM works for the empowerment of
women through self help groups. Social and financial inclusion leading to sustainable livelihoods is the most important aspect of this program which ensures that the poorest of the poor are included in it.
The women in these self help groups work for a transparent, accountable, sensitive rural society.They had certainly set an example by donating to the cause through the cheques they sent. The stupendous response to the request made by the Hon'ble Minister to contribute voluntarily to the cause, matching it with their generosity speaks words of their stature, their mental strength.
On their way to overcome their own poverty or even out of it, they were connected so strongly with patriotism towards the country that all the  SHGs didnt hesitate to donate generously for the noble cause.
As Hon'ble Minister, Ms. Pankaja Munde, handed over the cheques to the Hon'ble Chief Minister and renowned actor, Mr. Akshay Kumar, I felt reverent to every single woman from the SHGs of MSRLM Umed who had made this possible. Truly every small effort leads to the larger goal.
My head could only bow in gratitude.

Day of love.....Days of love

Day of love....Days of love

Today is the day of love.....Valentine's day.....On second thoughts, does love need a day, a time or an occassion? Isn't it the most sublime of all emotions to be shared profusely and abundantly with everyone.? Wasn't it love we experienced from the time we were in the womb of our mother, cared for and protected? And then after we were born, every second of our lives was filled with unconditional love from parents, grandparents, siblings, family and friends.
Nobody could fall short of fondling us, cootchycooing, keeping us humoured.
As we grew up further whether at home, in school or society, the love continued as we conformed to the norms. When we digressed from them, it was love which brought us back even if we were chided. Such love may not have been vocal or public in display but it carried with it great depths of feelings.
Having studied in a convent I was familiar with the legend attributed to St. Valentine. He had sacrificed his life and become a martyr for the cause of love, to behold the ceremony of marriage and the institution of family. Legend mentions three such saints who worked for the cause. With time, in memory of love and the feelings associated with the martyrdom, people began celebrating Valentine's day on 14th February. It gradually became a day for exchanging love messages, poems and simple gifts such as flowers.
I remember my school days, almost 35 years ago when hardly many knew about this day. We used to celebrate it as a festival of love for all in our convent. Neither did it get converted into week long celebrations of Rose day, Propose Day, Chocolate day, Teddy day leading to promises, kisses, hugs and ultimately to Valentine's day with all the multinational companies laughing their way to the banks.
Essentially what does it take to confess love, a pure mind and heart. And truly speaking can we restrict love singularly to that man-woman relationship? Aren't there so many more relationships which bring out this feeling and engulf us with love? And what about our work or our studies, aren't we passionate about that? So many of us derive pleasure from an assignment completed or well done. Look at our scientists, explorers, sportspersons, engineers, administrators or any professional for that matter, isn't it love and passion for work which drives them? Or an artist who pours his heart to create a thing of beauty? Can love be restricted to one day, one relationship? It is beyond such servitude. It is free, unfettered and uncontrollable and can only give joy. The aberrations may lead to other base feelings which can certainly be overcome because ultimately it is love and hope which gives us the strength to move forward.
For me love is in the air, the water, the light everything which encompasses earth at all times. Even in the darkness one can see and feel love as one reaches out to another to offer help and light a lamp. A feeling which elevates us, inspires us so much, fills us with conviction and confidence needs to be celebrated everyday. So much more to St.Valentine, life and love....

From Tractors, to Mushrooms and explosives : The diverse enterprises of SHGs in MSRLM Umed

From Tractors, to Mushrooms and explosives : The diverse enterprises of SHGs in MSRLM Umed

Imagine a village in which a group of women are empowered enough to buy a tractor and learn to drive it, a village where one woman is a mushroom entrepreneur and another is a group of women working in an enterprise manufacturing explosives. The wonders that MSRLM Umed creates due to the capacity building of women through SHGs is there for us to witness and applaud.
It was extremely heartening for me to see diverse enterprises in Sarvadi village of Karanja block in Wardha district where I had gone for a field visit.
As soon as we reached the village , I met Ms. Rasika from Pardhi village. She was bubbling with excitement. And why not! She and her group had purchased a tractor worth Rs. 4.15 lakhs with the subsidy of Rs.3.15 lakhs they received from the Department of Social Justice, topped with an investment of Rs.60,000 from the CIF. The Secretary of the SHG, Sonu Deshbhratar happily shared that they had made their contribution of Rs.40, 000 too.
She and her group were now a proud owner of a tractor. They would be using it for their fields and also earn money by letting it out on hire. Handing over the keys of the tractor purchased through such convergence gave me great pleasure.
I was then taken to Ms.Aditi Rajubhau Raakas's home. I was taken aback to see a room in her house converted to a mushroom unit. This was an individual activity with an investment of Rs.9,500 with a loan taken from the CIF. She had plucked three harvests by now and made a profit of Rs.29000/-.
She enthused that she has learnt the art of growing mushrooms where seedlings were planted in wet soya husk and covered with polythene which was cut once the mushrooms germinated and started growing. She then collected these oyster mushrooms and sold them wet or dry. Being close to the highway she capitalised on the hotels there. From an investment of just Rs.9500 she would be earning more than ten times that is upto Rs. 60000 or more.
When I went to the office of the Village Organisation in the village, I was in for a greater surprise. From food products to food grains, wooden handicrafts, wollen artefacts, compost and neem oil, many goods to be sold were on display.
Sushila Ambaadas Nihaare , the Pashu sakhi sharing her experience stated that when she joined Umed a couple of years ago she had one sheep. Today she has a flock of 40 sheep. The chicks in her backyard poultry grew from one to six. She also has a cow which gives almost 5 to 6 litres of milk which she sells after consumption. Her economic growth has therefore been good. She is able to earn more than a lakh of rupees from all these avenues. Her services as a Pashu Sakhi to the community also gives her Commission. It has also enabled Pashu Palaks to see a growth in the numbers of their sheep upto 400.
Saarika, the Krishi Sakhi is equally exuberant with the agricultural services she offers. Doubling up as a agricultural guide and a provider of organic manure like neemastra, brahmaastra she earns good money as well as gets a good yield. The food grains and fruits or vegetables are organic and therefore good for health. She says the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana MKSP has been a boon for women farmers.
As a practice , I normally discuss the importance of Dashasutri, the need to maintain and update books of accounts regularly. After doing that I shared the importance of insurance specially the PMBSY, PMJJY and the Atal Pension Yojana. The investment of just Re.1 per month for PMBSY or just about Rs. 30 per month for PMJJY could be a great blessing if due to any unforeseen accident, disablity or death of the person occurs,  the bereaved family could receive Rs.2 lakhs as sum insured. With a commitment from the women that they would work on all aspects of the Dashasutri I left for my last stop in the village.
To my surprise it turned out to be a unit with 17 women working on 17 machines to string wires together for detonators or explosives of the company CDET Explosives based at Pulgaon.
The unit comprises of 35 women from Shram Village Organisation, working in alternate shifts and managed by a Suoervisor, Ms. Netra Ghagre who is the VO President. They earn about 300 /- per day as wages for making bundles of wires and capping them with plugs. These wires are used in explosion of CAD camp which is the 2nd largest storage depot in Asia
(Central Ammunition Depot)
The Supervisor lamented that lack of space hindered their growth or they could have employed many more ladies as there was great demand for this work. However that was something they would have to figure out.
For me the experience that in one small village of Karanja block women were engaged in such diverse activities was encouraging. Also the fact that the  vision of the mission was being achieved could be an example which many more would follow.