TRUE EMPOWERMENT...

Few months back when i was doing my usual thing- to flip through the channels, suddenly i stopped to my surprise to watch a tamil-speaking woman on BBC.she was explaining the process of how she had arranged her daughter's wedding without the help from her husband. while i was trying to figure out what exactly the program was all about, the reporter was talking about some concept called SELF HELP GROUPS. till that time , i hardly had any idea about these groups.though the program did not give me the whole idea about these groups, it did throw some light on it.short time after that, to my amazement i was informed by my professor that we were going to a place called Ranipet to do a project on that same Self help groups. till we'd reached that place i neither had any idea of what that place was nor my job .the only thing which kept up my spirits was the thought of meeting those women who are actively participating in those groups.A NGO called thirumalai charitable trust had sponsored our trip and it was for this trust we were doing that project.

In the morning, we were briefed about the whole concept of this self help groups and it's benefits.we were given a small presentation right from the history of these groups to the structure and functions of these groups.i was really zapped to know that these self help groups are making waves in my own state,TN(i was lil guilty that i didn't even know this much about my state:-)). this introductory session itself lasted till evening and then finally my most awaited session arrived. we were divided into two groups to meet the beneficiaries, ie, the members of those groups. there were about 108 groups from that place and it's neighbouring places with totally about 25,000 women participating on the whole. and we had a chance to meet one whole group which had about 25 women.i was really astonished to see those complete "village- bred" women flashing a confident and self estmeed smile on their faces.all these women are into some kind of occupation,though most of them had safely opted to work from home for example, making of incense sticks which does not require much of their time.they were confident in handling both their home and their business.when i asked about their family cooperation, specially from their husbands, majority of them gave their reply by maintaining a "dignified silence".yet i could see the difference that the concept of self help groups have given them.i could feel the true sense of Women Empowerment airing in every moment i spent with those truly confident women.It was a real experience for me.

Apart from those emotional notes, i did see some lapses in this concept.of all those, the major concerned one was that the loans which are lent to these women mainly goes in to meet their personal needs rather than indulging in any of the income-generating activity. if this is not mended, then the main objective of SELF HELP GROUPS goes unnoticed.hope they might change over a period of time.