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The Basic Health Programme is being implemented in joint collaboration of Government of India and German Technological Co-operation (GTZ) in 26 remote villages of Velhe block of Pune District. The major objectives of the project are -
Vis-a-vis different activities including Self-Help Groups
(SHG) formation, skill training for the SHG members for inc ome
generation, promotion of kitchen gardens, health check-up camps,
mobilisation of people for effective use of Primary Health
Centre's services, community health awareness programmes are
being worked out for the desirable output of the programme.
In all, 400 women are making savings and using them for the
better health of the family through Self-Help Groups.
Around 7,500 population and specially the vulnerable group (Women
and their children under 9 years) are getting benefitted in some
way or the ot her through the project activities.
Kishori Vikas Yojana for adolescent girls was continued in 12
villages. The inherent strength of young adolescent girls in
rural area is channelised through a chain of activities meant for
them throughout the year.
The activities arranged are intentionally chalked out in such a
way that self respect and confidence is built up in the girls.
This is an awareness building programme for women in rural
area of Pune district. Formation of small saving groups was the
beginning of the activity and not the end in itself. The current
year is the fourth consecutive year of the activity and the
results are encouraging.
About 150 saving groups are spread along a stretch of hilly land
of 70 kilometers. We have come into contact with 2800 women in 45
villages through this activity. The concentration varies from 1
self-help group each in 26 villages to 20 saving groups per
village in villages like Kusgaon and Varve. The quality and
strength of the groups is also improving. The women of Sanaswadi
who started by saving Rs.25 per month are now saving Rs. 500/-
per month. They are the decision makers and are intending to
purchase buffaloes. Thus, agro- based income generating
activities is the focus point of t his group. The social
atmosphere of the villages has changed where these women have
started leading the villages and speaking their wishes they
wanted to fulfil so badly for betterment of their families. Being
a member of these groups is a sign of social recognition now.
Various health activities such as haemoglobin tests,
immunisation, awareness programmes etc., are arranged for and by
the members of the groups.
The administration and accounting, day-to-day business is managed
by the local women. Loan s are given through their own savings as
well as through rotating funds made available by sympathisers
like Maharashtra Foundation, U.S.A. The recovery has been above
99%.
The meetings of these groups are held at public places in the
village. For the firs t time womenfolk of the village are seen
prominently speaking in open spaces, with confidence.
In Varve village, 125 women were present for the celebration of
the Republic day cf1 on 26th January 2000. They spoke about their
activities and future plans. They arranged a trip on their own to
Pawas, Ratnagiri, and Ganapati Pule.
On 8th March 2000, 100 women from Kanjale, Awasarwadi and
Sanaswadi celebrated the International Women's day by visiting
Ralegan Siddhi of Shri Annasaheb Hazare. These visits are be
neficial for morale building and motivational training as well as
the leadership qualities are developed in the members of the
group.
JP acts as a partner in the Maharashtra Rural Credit Programme
(MRCP) and Swarnajayanti Rojgar Yojana, which are related to Self
Help Groups.
The Women Empowerment Project is being implemented in 12
villages of the Shivganga and Gunjavani valleys, with the help of
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Hindu
Society of Ottawa- Carleton (HSOC) of Canada.
1200 Women between{ the age group of 15 to 45 are the
participants of this project of 3 years. Objective of the project
is to improve the status of women from selected villages by
increasing their self reliance and economic independence through
education and empowerment. Project activities are categorised as
-
Training of self-employment was given to 500 women of 12
villages . Out of these, 50 have started their adventures in
tailoring, making tomato sauce, preparing rexine bags, opening
vegetable shops, expanding hotels, making candle sticks, etc.
Six hundred patients have taken advantage of eye camps and the
haemoglobin test was carried out for about 500 women.
Groups of leading women have been formed in all the 12 villages
called 'Jijamata Prabodhan Samiti'. Two-day leadership
development camp was organised for 120 women of 4 villages. They
were trained in communicati on skills and leadership
qualities.These would- be leaders of villages organised various
gatherings of village women on taluka level and could gather 900
women in 12 villages throughout the year.
Copyright © 1999-2000 JP.July 23, 2000