GIRL CHILD – IV

I think it’s time to write the next Episode on this subject. The third one was about sub-ordination, and tagged on to my Sis. Meena. She had come out with a brilliant poetry depicting the nuances of celebration on the girl attaining the AGE (Maturity). There was plenty of enthusiasm, among the ilanders, which can be felt through the comments and opinions, she had received for that poetry.

Now, having said enough about the plights of GIRL CHILD, in a Male dominated Society, and the ill effects of certain formalities and culture being imposed on Women / Girl Child, I would like to dedicate the episode IV and V, to Women who have excelled in their endeavors, in the same society, against all odds and competition.

Despite the fact that the GIRL CHILD / Women are deprived of their opportunities of equality in our Society, there are Women, who had fought for their achievements and recognition and excelled better than the other gender.

Here I would like to quote a paragraph, which I read in one of the briefings on “Why Men Like Bitches”, by Sherry Argoy,

Quote:

"Today some men like bold women who shows interest, can carry on a little flirting and can take initiative in building a relationship as it takes off their burden. This is also slowly being accepted in our culture," says Dr Vaz.

Manish Munot seconds this opinion. "Nowadays men like women who are smart and intelligent. My wife Shaina is more popular than me but that is perfectly fine for me as we both work hard and try to do our best in respective fields. I strongly feel that everyone has a right to pursue their dreams. I definitely like career women who are independent, confident, and competent enough to handle any situation alone."

Unquote:

Please, mind you, this is not a statement…….but a result of a study……and the acceptance level is very minimal.

This year, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Govt. of India is trying to take the bull by the horns, with their theme: “Survival to Success: Celebrate Her Life”.

Substantiated with Micro – Finance Movement, in rural India, which primarily try to address the empowerment of Women holistically, this will show us the way to treat women not as objects of welfare but as active partners to the road to progress.

This movement has reached the core villages in rural India, such as Nalgonda in AP, Sosopi in Jarkhand, to improve their circumstances both economically and socially and to instill confidence among the women folk that they are no more an inferior sex, by gender.

I want to share some of the success stories of women in today’s life, which I read from the in flight magazine, SWAGAT:

Asmath was forced to quit her job as a teacher, due to her poor health, in 2001. The entire family was literally, depending only on her husband’s income from small clock shop, which had to be shut down, due to lack of business. Her 2 sons were to drop out of school and the husband is finding it too difficult to meet the ends.

In 2004, there was a movement SKS Micro Finance, which Asmath heard about and enrolled herself. Her first micro loan was a modest Rs.8000/- which she used to buy materials to start a Sari business. With hard work and determination, she made it as a successful business and even traveled to Hyderabad to study the latest fashion trends.

She then started an embroidery unit and sold them to the village women, even before the trend is known in the UP market

Now she runs the business with 30 people to deal with volume orders and says” I am extremely happy and proud that I not only improved my situation but involving myself in helping the Society with possible employment”.

Kalabati, Raghunath Nager Slum, Bhubaneshwar, started a business of her own to supplement the income of Rs.40 -50, from her husband as a peanut vendor, and another 40 – 50 from her son (who had been forced to forego his education), who again a peanut vendor.

She availed a small loan from KAS foundation, of Rs. 5,200/-, and bought a TV and a CD Player, which she is lending out to other poverty ridden families, who cannot afford to own a TV. Her income stabled at Rs.3500 per month now, and now she feels stronger to take bigger steps in her life, with a hope to offer better education to all her 3 children.

Aggregating woman like Kalabati, into self – help groups has made them stronger and provided them with some sort of security from which they have greatly benefited.

Dadimo, a native of Sosopi, Jharkhand, with a husband of prolonged illness and a son, who wants to go to school. The family was able to get food only for 6 months in a year, from their own land of about 0.14 hectares.

When PRADAN, offered to set up self help groups in the village she had sniffed the opportunity and become a member. She took a loan of Rs.200/- which she invested in her puffed rice business…….and today her loan is standing at Rs.66,600/-, invested in her shop and improving the crop yield from her land with technical support from PRADAN.

Now she is planning to have another loan to buy bullocks. She is now saving about Rs.100/- per week, and started investing in Post Office Recurring Deposits, and her son was transferred from Village School to the nearby town.

She says, “IF YOU CAN PROPERLY USE THE MONEY AND DIVERSIFY ACCORDING TO THE OPPORTUNITIES, WITH COURAGE, YOU WILL SUCCEED IN LIFE”. (I learnt a lesson today).

The success stories are too long to make it here…….

These stories tell us another one, that:

• Look for and cash in on the Opportunities available next to you.

• Possess a Never – Die Attitude and have abundant confidence to excel in life

• Have the Courage and Determination, which will lead you to the light at the end of the Tunnel, where a colorful horizon is awaiting you.

I would like the ilanders friends who read this blog to pass on this message to the rural folks known to them:

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT TO YOU………INCLUDING MICRO FINANCE…….AND ABUNDANCE OF BUSINESSES TO TAKE ON AS PER YOUR INTEREST AND SKILLS……AND PLENTY …..PLENTY……..OF WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR (Women / GIRL CHILD) LIFE BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY.

Let us March together without gender discrimination, to the road to SUCCESS….