Women also form an interest group on their own. People’s Financial Institutions, which is based on the apexing of thrift SHG members into formal cooperatives is entirely built around women. SAMUHA activities also focus on women in other ways: the watershed programmes look into the interests and involvement of women-headed households, and women land owners; SAMARTHYA looks at women With Disabilities; while SAMRAKSHA looks at women infected/affected with HIV/AIDS, women’s reproductive and sexual health, and the organising and protection of sex workers.

Pampa Nagar Mahila Abhivruddi Samstha :
SAMUHA came across a group of former Devadasis from Tavaragera Village who had been given 2 acres of land each as a rehabilitation measure in 1991. Many of these women had not even seen their lands, and all of them because the land had been issued to them as a loan, were defaulters to their local banks.

SAMUHA began to work with the women by helping them come together, articulate their needs and aspirations as a group, and concentrate their impressive determination and strength on organising themselves into a People's Development Organisation. In April 1999, the Pampa Nagara Mahila Abhivruddhi Samstha (PNMAS), Tavaragera, was officially registered. This year, the PNMAS moved to its own office premises. PNMAS has, with support from ICCO, The Netherlands, undertaken small but significant activities that have seen the transformation of their lands from barren, grazing lands to productive agricultural lands; the development of dryland horticulture in 10 half acre plots; the starting of supplementary schooling for their children: the holding of annual functions which are now attended by all the local leaders who also participate in the lunch that is served as part of this function....

The MMVSSN, Tavaragera, was inaugurated in March 2003. In President Muthamma's words: "A women's bank was our dream. Today, it's a dream come true. If this bank is to move forward, every member in each of these 24 villages should participate effectively by depositing the share amount and undertaking loan transactions regularly.”

KEY LEARNINGS:

Women’s sodality has the power to break caste and class barriers.

Formal access to bank funding is seen by the larger society as a significant ‘power’ indicator.

IN THE PIPELINE...

... computer training for adolescents and Nursery Teachers Course for women

... Tie and dye training and marketing as part of an alternative skills strategy.

At age nine, Sharanamma was initiated into the Devadasi system. In the Pampanagara community, it was a family tradition. In 1999, when support from SAMUHA, the Pampanagara Mahila Abhivrudhi Samstha was registered, Sharanamma joined as an organiser for the Dry Land Horticulture programme. Her eldest daughter, in addition to going to school, has joined the tie and dye textile training course.