Saved from Falling in Debt Trap

Group No 68, Village Baika came into existence in August 1998.  This group comprises women of different castes (backward caste and general caste) members are illiterate and have low income because they are involved in low yielding jobs like pottery, agriculture level, cattle rearing.  Some of them are petty cultivators due to scarcity of jobs in local region mail members of their families migrate to other states like Delhi, Punjab and Hariyana etc.  In this backdrops life of women was perpetual struggle due to various reasons like illness ceremonials activities and for sustaining their livelihood they had to approach money lenders.  They always remained in the debt trap of money lenders.

Social activist Ms Neelam gave the idea of formation of group and to make a common pool of fund.  Ms Neelam with some forward looking women took initiative to mobilize women for group. Initially ten women were ready to form one group.  But in nick of time three women, on the provocation of some male members of the society, decided not to join the group. This was jerk to this effort.  However other members did not loose spirit and get three other women agreed to be the members of group.  It was in August 1998 the group took formal shape and named as Kasturba Mahila Mandal group 68.  At present this group has 27 members. Total saving is Rs 60,000 and total loan distributed among members is Rs 55000.  There are three slabs of interest rate for three month is Rs 2, after three months the interest rate Rs 3 and after six months it is Rs 4 per hundred rupees monthly. While money lenders charge Rs 5 as interest on one hundred rupees per month.  This has provided great monetary and mental relief to group members one such story relates to Mrs. Dukhani Devi.  Dukhani Devi is the member of this group.  She bought a piece of land in front of her house. This is pit land.  She took Rs 10,000 from money lender to buy this land.  In ten months this amount with interest turned into Rs 16,000 it was huge amount.  Dukhani Devi had become victim of debt trap laid down by money lender.  She talked about her problem in a group meeting. Group members suggested her to take loan from the group and repay the entire amount of money lender. Group provided loan of Rs 6600.  Rest 10,000 was sent to Mrs. Dukhani Devi by her son who works in Delhi.  Thus total outstanding loan of Rs 16,000 was repaid to money lender in one installment.  Now she is no more in debt trap of money lender. Dukhani Devi so far has returned Rs 8600 to group.  Where she not the member of groups her condition could have been imagined by any one. Group members enjoy a high level of self confidence for it saving of Rs 60,000. Now they are in position to meet any situation like the expenditure at the time of delivery or the treatment of any diesis.  Members are now fully aware about the different aspects of RCH care.

One very significant achievement has been made by the members of the groups.  Members of group have learnt their signature.  Now they are not the user of thumb impression.

Ability to put once signature has given a sense of dignity to them.  Now all members are literate.  Reflecting upon the past performance of the group and its latent potential following finding related to its strength weakness, opportunity and threat have been make.