An impressive federation of 1,410 women's self-help groups spread across virtually every village in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, funds literacy, health and economic empowerment at the local level
Often, setbacks can spur determined, visionary organisations on to bigger and better things. This is certainly the case with the Mahalir Association for Literacy, Awareness and Rights (MALAR) which started out as a single self-help group (SHG) in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district in 1995. Today, MALAR is a federation of 1,410 self-help groups with 28,000 women members, covering virtually every village in Kanyakumari. In 1990, the Tamil Nadu Science Forum (TNSF), a Chennai-based organisation that uses science to improve the quality of life through programmes in community health, agriculture and micro-credit, realised that education is the key to the country's development. Working in tandem with the Tamil Nadu government, it started up the arivoli iyakkam (literacy movement), with the aim of making rural India literate. In the ensuing years, the TNSF became synonymous with literacy in Tamil Nadu. Its reach was phenomenal -- 200,000 learners in 2,000 villages, and 20,000 teachers. Then, in 1994, the state government abruptly discontinued the literacy movement, citing lack of funds. Thousands of beneficiaries and TNSF volunteers were left stranded. Casting around for a solution, members of the TNSF decided to try a different approach. A group affiliated to the TNSF launched MALAR, a savings-based micro-credit scheme. "We thought of creating a savings structure which would earn some money for utilisation in literacy and other empowerment campaigns," says MALAR activist Franco. The first women's SHG was set up in the district's Kiliyoor block. Conditions for membership included mandatory attendance at weekly meetings and a compulsory saving of Rs 20 per month. Although both conditions initially met with some resistance, "we told them unless you have a regular meeting you won't be able to discuss, you will only be able to transact your money. That won't help," says Franco. Also, Rs 20 per month was a big sum for the women. "It is these same women who have collectively managed to build up a saving of Rs 3.65 crore, with Rs 9 crore in rotation as loans," says Shelin Mary, president of MALAR, with some pride. Each SHG collectively pays Rs 50 per month to the federation as part of a reserve fund; they are repaid after five years, with 12% interest per annum. On savings within groups, members get 12% interest yearly; for loans they are charged 24%. A portion of this interest is disbursed to the federation and towards the village coordinator's salary (a coordinator looks after five to six SHGs and can earn upto Rs 1,000 a month as incentive). Initially, a member takes loans from within the SHG. After six months she can apply to the federation. Through MALAR the women got together in groups of 20 and saved small amounts every week. Loans were advanced to the needy among them. Apart from easy access to credit the groups also help the women start up small enterprises. At first the women took loans to pay off amounts they had borrowed from moneylenders and/or to redeem their ration cards. Later, they set up businesses such as vegetable and fish vending, poultry breeding, pottery, handloom, readymade garments, soaps, jams, masalas and pickles, phenyl, nutrition mixes, paper bags and envelopes. The women of Siluvai Nagar, a fishing village in the heart of Kanyakumari town, hit upon the idea of making ornamental objects out of seashells. "We buy shells in bulk and make garlands, curtains and lampshades, especially during the tourist season," says Rosemary who rakes in a profit of Rs 7,000 during the three months. Economic security and independence, coupled with the power of numbers, has meant that the women have been able to effect changes in their environment as well. In Siluvai Nagar they got streetlights put up in the village. Next on the agenda is getting pattas (official deeds) for their land. Elsewhere, in Ambedkar Colony, the women managed to get a pucca road built in their village, electricity, water and a cremation ground. Pushpa, a SHG member, was elected panchayat president of Ambedkar Colony with the help of her fellow group members. "They printed the notices and made the deposit on my behalf," she says. Filled with confidence and vision that being a part of the MALAR movement seems to inspire in all its members, Pushpa says: "I want to build an overhead tank, a library and get a bus facility to my village." In other villages, women have initiated anti-arrack and cleanliness drives. "MALAR is able to support 40 full-time and 300 part-time village coordinators with the income generated," explains Franco. Another novel feature of the federation is that it offers its members a pension plan. Each member can save Rs 25-Rs 100 every month for 10, 15 or 20 years. Afterwards, they can opt to receive either a monthly pension or a lumpsum amount. Together, the SHGs have disbursed loans exceeding Rs 3 crore to their members, and saved over Rs 1.5 crore over the past five years. After stringent checks, the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) gave MALAR a Rs 15 lakh loan. The bank recently extended another loan of Rs 15 lakh. The Rashtriya Mahila Kosh has also promised a loan of Rs 35 lakh. "Our motive is economic advancement, health and literacy," says Shelin Mary. Certainly, even if one goes by numbers alone, MALAR is right on track. (InfoChange News and Features, November 2003)
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