This is a presentation to share the experiences of Arpita Raksit, Indicorps Fellow 2010. She presents her insights into development in India through the lens of women and women’s empowerment.
2. Pre fellowship ideals
• Grameen Microfinance
• Systematic relationship:
• 1.Access to finance
• 2.Investment in goods and
services
• 3.Rise in disposable Income
• 4.Expenditure on
family/community
• 5.Well-Being
• 6.Development
• Income as a means to end
3. Background
Alternative for Rural Movement ‘ARM NGO’
Baliapal, north eastern Orissa
Vision: “Establishment of an equitable social
order …with emphasis on women and children
in the sphere of health education, human
rights, economy and rural leadership”
4. The Project
‘Financial Literacy for Women’
300 Women’s Savings Groups
Where’s the development??
Look, listen, learn
5. Cultural Sensitivity & Relativism
o Participatory Rural Appraisal –
o Exposure visits
o Market research
o Surveys
o Focus group discussions
o Dream mapping
What is development?
8. Limitations
LIMITATIONS
o Lack of vocational training
o Lack of market knowledge
o Time constraints
o Microfinance - eased consumption
rather than promote poverty alleviation
(Gender video)
10. GEETA
Mission: To build a mass movement of social empowerment in north
eastern Orissa by fostering gender equality and creating a means to
propel women and their communities out of poverty
11. GEETA- Structure & Sustainability
•15 female community
RURAL LEADERSHIP
leaders - Change makers
•PWDVA act, Dowry Prohibition
RULE OF LAW act, marriage registration rules
•ARM as Community Service Provider
•Exposure & Education
CAMPAIGNS •Watchdog
•Partnerships: NAWO, TATA Consultancy
Services
RESULTS •Reduction in dowry, violence, divorce.
•Greater equality and respect
•Mindset change
IMPACT •Women’s empowerment
•Sustainable development
12. GEETA- Activities
• 3 day Exposure visit
•Offsite Training
•Stakeholders support
• Media: TV and
newspaper
•Identity- uniform &
badges
•Poster campaign
13. Challenges to Sustainability
1. Transferring ownership
2. Capability of GEETA women
3. Mindset
4. ‘Gender development’- Subjective and not
glamorous
14. Lessons Learnt
****Women’s empowerment is the key to ALL
spheres of development****
o Relativism and non judgement
o Connections, love, service
15. Women at the Core
Example 1:
• HealthReproductive Health Rights
Environment Time & Labour Happiness and
Efficiency Community Service Development
Example 2:
• New plant fertiliser Men and Women pilot test
Diversity Innovation Productivity and Growth
Women gain voice through Ownership Investment
in Sustainable Development
Emphasis the fact that i have thus far been led to believe that leveraging income is the golden ticket to development. I knew i would have to start small, but the formula was easy.
Look listen learn. Interesting time, as i was comparing my ‘theoretical’ knowledge with direct observation. Learnt that development was a lot more complex and i would have to dig deeper. ‘where and how development’ was my overriding question for the first 3 months
Keep going back to the ‘equation’ and how I slowly started to see holes in/didn’t add up
Based on lessons learnt from PRA and a funding opportunity from blue door foundation- set up microenterprises.
Small success are the most valuable-jasna learnt to read numbers. But– after all this, and what i could see as an easy path to follow for the rest of the year– iwasnt satisfied that whatever i was doing would lead to sustainability.
Is a woman earning an income but then passing this on to her husband really symbolic of empowerment over finance and decision making? Can a woman enjoy freedom of thought and action and new found self-worth, supposedly bought through employment when she still has the additional pressure of upholding her household duties? Are families really supporting SHG membership, or do they only support it when convenient for economic gain? In order for the goals of Mission Shakti to be achieved, the two stage process needs to be .
EXPAND THE equation. Promote a just society of scale. Platform for a voice. Rise in collaboration
