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Our
Selected Women Empowerment Initiatives |
Case-IV
Turtle Won the Race |
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Background |
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Jui
Bichali village of Bhiwani is situated on the Bhiwani-Pilani
highway. It has all the facilities of a city. Bank, schools,
hospital, power back-up are available along with a big market
which is common for a group of three adjacent villages, including
this one. Due to all this, the residents have a good exposure
to the world affairs and are aware of the various schemes
from which they can derive the benefits. Dolly is an educated
woman who is employed in a public school as a teacher. She
is a woman of today's world. The only limitation she had was
that she was orthopaedically challenged. One of her feet was
shorter than the other, but this did not affect her confidence
in any way. She wanted to achieve more in life. |
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Emergence
of Idea |
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Dolly
got associated with an SHG to secure her future. She played
an important role in gathering women for the group and motivating
them about the long-term advantages of an SHG. As she was
educated, her voice did not go in vain. Her disability did
not come in her way when she went on to motivate the women
for forming as an SHG. Dolly worked hard to strengthen her
group and she made efforts to link her group with a local
bank. She was motivated by the Aseed workers to start her
own work to have extra income. Installation of an Atta Chakki
(Wheat grinder) in her house was suggested. This sort of work
didnot require her to move out of the house and she was able
to do her other household chores as well. Dolly liked the
idea and looked forward for loan from the bank, as the machine
required big investment. |
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Initiation
of Action |
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With
the intervention of field workers and other group members,
Dolly was able to get a loan of Rs. 10,000/-. She started
the work as soon as the machine was installed. She kept her
charges lower than the market rates to attract customers.
She got a good response, which was the only thing required
to keep her confidence level high. She took the work as a
challenge and was all set to prove that despite the disability
she was able to sustain herself and supplement her family
income. With her honest work, she soon won the trust of the
people and poputarity came along. So far, she was catering
to the requirements of the people in her village only. |
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Generation
of Support |
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Aseed
workers motivated her to cater to the market outside her village.
It was suggested that the joint markets of three villages
should be targeted to increase her business. In order to add
quality to her product and improve the packaging, Dolly was
advised to introduce her wheat in packets of different weights,
i.e., 5Kg, 10Kg etc. and ideas for packaging were given to
her. The idea clicked and her wheat packets gained popularity
due to lower cost, good quality and convenient packaging.
She continued her job as a school teacher also, but her entrepreneurial
venture has helped her in keeping her self-confidence high.
She is supported by her group members in her venture and is
confidently handling the responsibilities. |
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Recognition |
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Most
of the women take the plunge in entrepreneurial venture, but
in the case of Dolly there was physical limitation also. But
this did not deter her. This has helped her gain respect from
her fellow women and men in the society. She is playing an
important role in motivating the women in her locality to
take up small entrepreneurial tasks to enhance the family
income. |
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