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CHAPTER-V
GOVERNMENTS INITIATIVE FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF MEWAT
The state of Haryana earlier a part of the composite state of
Punjab came into being in 1966. After its creation as a new state
Haryana made tremendous progress, especially in agriculture sector
over the last 30 years. With the introduction of "Green Revolution"
technology, Haryana became, very soon, the second surplus food
grains producing state after Punjab and one of the fastest growing
state in the country (UNDP, 1997). Consequently, poverty in the state
reduced to 8.74 percent in (1999-2000) according to Planning
Commission.
But the progress made by the state is quite uneven. There is a
regional imbalance in the development made. The southern part of
the state is still backward.· The main cause is that the southern region
is inadequately endowed with natural resources such as climate,
rainfall, land, soil, forest, water availability, irrigation etc. There is Jack
of infrastructure like education, health and transport facilities also.
Mewat, the area of present study, inhabited by a particular Meo
189
community, is a part of the relatively backward southern region of the
state. Lite in Mewat area is facing problems of acute poverty, illiteracy
and ignorance. The area lags behind the rest of Haryana on almost
every yardstick of development indices. The policies of the state
government for Mewat area has had a crippling effect upon the Mea
community, particularly women.
Mewat Development Board:
The government of haryana has constituted the 'Mewat
Development Board' on 16-01-1980 The Mewat Development Board
(MOB) is a policy making board under the Chairmanship of the Chief
Minister, Haryana which has the overall charge of formulation,
implementation and review of the various special schemes in the
area. Under the Chairmanship of the Financial Commissioner
(Revenue}, a State Implementation Committee (SIC) with its
headquarters at Chandigarh was also constituted. Later this
committee is substituted by Implementation Committee (IC)
constituted under the Chairmanship of the Commissioner, Gurgaon
Division with its headquarters at Gurgaon. The Committee is
delegated with full administrative and financial powers for actual
190
formulation, implementation and monitoring of specific schemes for
development of Mewat region.
Mewat Development Agency:
The Mewat Development Agency (MDA) was constituted
on 16th August, 1980 and was got registered as Society under the
Society Registration Act. It is an autonomous body created for the
development of Mewat. The Mewat Development Agency (MDA) is
field office of the Mewat Development Board, having its headquarter
at Nuh (Gurgaon). The object of the constitution of the Board and
Mewat Development agency is to ameliorate the conditions of
poverty, unemployment, economic and social backwardness of this
area which has shown few signs of advancement trend despite the
development programme undertaken during the successive plans. At
the district level it is headed by the Commissioner, Gurgaon Division
as its chairman and a Senior scale LA.S officer as its Chief Executive
Officer. Under the general supervision of the Board, MDA has been
delegated full administrative and financial powers for actual
formulation and implementation of specific schemes. The progress of
scheme is monitored regularly by Mewat Development Agency.
191
The Mewat Development Agency undertakes special
comprehensive schemes for the all round development of the area. lt
formulates specific schemes to raise the standard of living of people
in general and identify beneficiaries belonging to weaker sections in
particular. Special schemes are taken up by MDA under the
additional allocation of the funds made by the State Government.
Mewat Development Agency and_ Its Schemes:
In order to ensure adequate development of this region
infrastructure have been created and basic amenities provided to the
masses in the field of agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, health,
water supply, industries, establishment of Industrial Training Institutes
and Industrial Estate, residential housing colonies, and education etc.
The Mewat Development Board spent approximately a sum of Rs.
43.00 crores on various Development Schemes in the region since its
inception.
A. Agricultural Sector
a.
b.
C.
Agriculture
Irrigation
Animal Husbandry
192
Amount Rs. in Crores
2.65
2.10
1.56
d. Fisheries 0.54
e. Forest 1.37
Total 8.00
B. Industry Sector
a. Industry 6.30
b. I.T.I.'S 1.79
Total 8.09
c. Education 12.54
D. Service Sector
a. Housing 5.66
b. Water supply 3.53
C. Health 1.31
d. Other Schemes 3.50
Total 14.00
Grand Total 42.85 Crores
But limited additionality of resources, inadequate planning
capacity and development focus of line departments to modify their
activities in accordance with Mewat Development Agency directives
193
resulted in the agency having little development impact on the Mewat
area. MDA's efforts to improve infrastructure training and services,
though considerable and well-intentioned have not been of great
benefit to the local population, where facilities have been established,
staff and supplies have been frequenty insufficient, resulting in a
reduction in the credibility of MDA's development efforts.
The increasing difficulties facing the people of Mewat, caused
both Government of Haryana and the people themselves to
reconsider the need for a change .. On the part of the Government
there was a willingness to adopt a more participatory approach to
-development, which fits in well with the increased responsibility for
rural development given to local authorities under the Panchayati Raj.
Economic pressures are also obliging the people of Mewat to seek
alternative ways of increasing agricultural productivity and exploiting
alternative sources of income as well as heightening awareness of
the importance of better education and improved health.
New Thrust to Development (IFAD-MADP)
The Mewat Development Agency has made tremendous efforts
in this backward area and has successfully created infrastructural
194
facilities and implemented several beneficiary oriented schemes for
income generation and social development. However people's
participation in development efforts remained deficient and there still
was great scope for Human Resource Development. The
Government of Haryana has entered into an agreement with the
International Fund for Agricultural Development, (IF AD), Rome, which
is an organ of the United Nations. The agreement was signed on 7-4-
95, for the implementation of a unique area development project
called Mewat Area Development project (MADP). The Project
scheduled for seven years form 1995-96 to 2002 is to the tune of Rs.
70 crores. On 15th November 1995, the MADP was launched. The
Project aimed at overall Socio-Economic Development of Mewat with
special emphasis on active participation of community, especially
women.
The Project Financing Pattern is as follows:
IFAD SHARE 67.1%
Government of Haryana Share
Beneficiaries share
Objectives of Mewat Area Development Project.
The overall objectives of the project were to :
195
a) Improve the economic and social well being of Meo Community
b) Promote gender self reliance on a sustainable basis.
c) Broaden the range of economic opportunities available to the
community, especially women.
d) Establishment of women's groups (Mahila Mandals) actively
involved in community development.
e) Improvement in women's literacy and general health and well
being;
f) Upgrading of 30 private girls schools, improvement in
attendance, training of 300 female teachers from the Mewat
Area.
g) Safeguarding of the potable water supply of 200 villages
Project Strategy and Components:
The project approach is holistic with respect to both economic
and social aspects of development. In a situation such as that of
Mewat, where social indicators are at a particularly low level, it is
considered that economic development cannot and will not take place
on a sustainable basis in the absence of social development. The
project is innovative in its emphasis on social development in the
196
context of and as a pre-requisite for economic development. Attention
is given to broader issues of development such as environment of
women, there by enhancing their potential for contributing to long
term community development, rather than simply facilitating their
involvement in economic activities.
The first step of the project strategy was to give a major thrust
to awareness in order to engender a change in social outlook and
strengthen the urge for development among the target group. Key
actors in this endeavor would be experienced NGOs who would focus
on mobilizing the local community, particularly women and their
development.
The major short - coming of previous well intentioned
government efforts to develop the Mewat area has been identified as
the insufficiency of beneficiary participation in development initiatives.
In order to address this shortcoming, the most important element of
project strategy will be full participation of the Meo community in
project implementation. This will range from selection of activities to
their operation and maintenance.
Another aspect of project strategy is the establishment of close
working relationships between Mewat Development Agency, NGOs,
197
line departments and other official agencies including local banks.
This is essential to ensure effective project implementation with full
beneficiary participation.
Project Components: The project will pursue its objectives
through three components:
Economic Activities : Which would assist the Mea Community to
raise productivity of agricultural enterprises and provide opportunities,
for diversification of incomes through sub-components covering soil
and water conservation, canal irrigation development, arable crops
development, horticulture development, livestock improvement and
training in off-farm activities.
b) Social Development: considered essential to permit the target
group to take full advantage of opportunities for economic
development, this component would focus on community and
women's development with strong emphasis on critical aspects of
education and health including drinking water supply.
c) Project Management : A support component involving minimal
strengthening of existing institutions in order to ensure effective
project execution, this component also includes provision for
monitoring and evaluation of project activities.
198
Component
A. Economic Activities
B.
Soil and water Conservation
Canal Irrigation Development
Arable Crop Development
Horticulture Development
Live Stock Development
Off-Farm Development
Social Development
Outlay (Rs. in crores)
12.62
11.03
2.17
1.77
5.43
8.46
Development Support Communication 1.22
Community Development 11.79
Formal Education 3.16
Rural Water supply 9.20
C. Project Management
Mewat Development Agency 3.20
Project Evaluation 0.14
Total 70.19
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Government initiative for upliftment of women :
Unlike many other states, Haryana is poorly served by private
voluntary organizations working with the poor, there are very few
local or even national Non Government Organization operating in the
state. This situation is no different in Mewat where there is no
effective NGO infrastructure. Six small local NGOs are working in the
area. Their leaders having dedication and determination to promote
development in Mewat, but they are constrained by lack of funds and
technical resources and clear direction. Most of the exiting NGOs
have focussed their efforts on education, including adult literacy,
particularly for girls and women. These NGOs also emphasizes
reproductive health issues and also provides allied services such as
women's general health advice and child care.
Operational NGO's :- The number of NGOs involved in the project
operations have increased. However, only Society for Promotion of
Youth and Masses (SPYM), Mewat Social and Education
Development Society (MSEDS) and Spandana are directly involved
in women and child development efforts and can be reffered to as the
'operational NGO's. Mewat Social and Education Development
200
society (MSEDS) is a local NGO with sharp focus on the poor
households, having a staff with strong commitment to the
development of the Mewat area, and a reasonably good monitoring
system. The staff is committed to the project objectives and are
enthusiastic in responding to the community's needs. The NGO is
working in Punhana and Firozepur Jhirka blocks.
Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM): The NGO
has its headquarters outside the project area at New Delhi to shift
project management responsibility to the project coordinators residing
in the project area. It focus on the poor households in Nagina and
Hathin blocks.
Sapandana and Deepalaya, NGOs are working in Taoru Block.
Sawera and Development Support Team (DST) are working in Nuh
Block
Allarippu and Institute of Development Communication (IDC) are
supporting NGO's. Allarippu has its headquarters outside the project
area; however, most of the field staff live in the project area. It has
programmed to support to other operational NGOs in the area. This
201
organization communicates relevant messages to the felt needs of
the Meo community in the area with its plays and songs focussed on
the themes of SHG formation, -primary education and women
empowerment.
Institute of Development Communication (IDC): The NGO has
proposed to provide the following services to the Project
Management:
a) Preparation of participatory village development plans for the
model villages along with the line departments, MDA and the
NGOs.
b) Provide training to NGOs and project staff on development
communication, convergence strategies, gender issues in
development, and girl child education for teachers.
c) Prepare relevant training resource material for implementation
of village development plans; and
d) Preparation of primary education plan for Mewat with the
assistance of national/state level education research/training
institutions.
202
The Asian Society for Entrepreneurship Education and Development
(ASEED) has started training in tailoring in Ferozepur Jhirka Block.
Though its office is outside the project area, it has established a
modest office within the Block. ASEED has the capacity to expand its
operations throughout the project area and it should provide services
to the entire area to meet the widespread demand from women for
training in tailoring and embroidery, Jute bag, blanket and Durri
making. Number of persons to be trained in one batch is 25.
Sahelis and Rural Nurse:-
Both MSEDS and SPYM have a large number of Sahelies.
Sahelis are social animators selected from among village women by
NGOs and supported by Mewat Development Agency. They perform
the following functions:-
a) Bring about an awakening among the village women for
betterment of their lot.
b) Acquaint themselves with the life and problems of villagers.
c) Discuss the people's problems with concerned persons and find
solutions.
d) Form self-help group and sustain them.
203
e) Educate the people about the MDA schemes and objectives.
f) Create awareness about immunization, sanitation and nutrition.
g) Popularise alternative vocations.
h) Create climate against gender discrimination and casteism.
i) Encourage education, especially of the girl-child.
j) Co-ordinate with various line departments about the people's
needs and problems.
Sahelis have to promote the development fa SHGs for
mobilization of savings, and she would be guided by the NGO to
whom she would be accountable. 500 sahelis are being trained in
community mobilization, group formation, basic communication
techniques, family planning, nutrition, preventive health and hygiene
by the project. They are provided with a bicycle. They should be
involved with all development efforts of the village.
The Mahila Mandals would be formed in each village and
Saheli would be responsible for ensuring that regular meetings are
held and encouraging women to attend. She would also pass on
knowledge obtained from her training in subjects such as health,
hygiene and family planning. The Mahila Mandals of three villages
joined together to form a Markaz organised by a rural nurse. 250
204
nurses are trained for 3 months and supported financially by the
Project, they would also be provided with a moped. The meetings of
the Markaz provide an opportunity for women to interact with women
of other villages, They would be the major forum for campaigns,
organized by the rural nurse, in health, hygiene, adult literacy etc. As
further support to the critical area of women's health, 250 Auxiliary
Nurse Midwives (ANM) are trained and provided with midwifery kits
by the project.
Self Help Groups For Development
The concept of Self-Help Group (SHG) is derived from
principles of co-operation. Self help and Co-operation form the basis
0f the SHG. The economically poor and marginalised communities
havA been dependent on the state in their quest for a better life. Non
Governmental organisations (NGOs) working with marginaUsed
communities living in poverty all over the area have realised the
importance of collective effort by the people, without dependence on
others, for their economic development.
A self help group is a group of people who come together for
pooling their resources and organizing services of their individual and
205
collective development. The member of the SHGs come together on
the basis of a common bond and pool their human, physical,
financial, technical, intellectual and informative resources and use
them for the collective benefit and development of all members and
the community.
A group of women upto 20 can be formed into an SHG. The
women should know one another and should belong to the same
village with equal socio-economic status. The group should have a
name and rules and regulation framed by the members of the group.
The members should decide the amount of regular savings
depending upon their financial capacity, and also all other matters
pertaining to operational and financial aspects of the SHG. A specific
date and time must be fixed for the regular group meeting according
to the convenience of the members. The group should elect three
leaders from among themselves to manage the group affairs and
operate the bank account. The group can open an account in any of
the commercial banks to deposit their savings and to avail loan facility
under the SHG linkage programme. The group must be pooling in
their thrift/savings money for at least 6 to 12 months before beginning
the loaning activity.
206
The group will fix the rate of interest on loans and saving
keeping in view the interest rates charged by local money lenders
and the banks. The group should fix a maximum limit for loaning,
linking it with the savings for security reasons. Initially the group may
keep the thrift loan ratio at 1:3. The regular savings of the group
should be rotated in loaning. All the decisions on loan disbursement
will be taken by the members in the group meeting on the basis of the
priority of the needs of the applicant member. Though loans can be
given for various purposes including crisis credit and consumption, it
is important to encourage members to take loans for income
generating activities. It is the collective responsibility of the group to
ensure the repayment of loans taken from external sources.
A 1vantages:- An SHG can be important for achieving the
economic and socio political empowerment of those in poverty if
appropriate, adequate and timely inputs are provided. SHGs can
bring the following benefits to the people if they are run on the
principles of co-operation through the participation of the people.
SHGs provide opportunities to the poor women
a) To save small amounts
207
b) To provide access to easy, user friendly and cost effective
credit.
c) To fulfill their financial needs for crisis credit and consumption
d) To interact with others in the community on a common platform
and to develop a collective bargaining power.
e) To take up socio economic and political issues, particularly in
relation to gender and human rights, through a collective
format.
f) To mainstream women into the development process by
providing them with access to and control over productive
resources and assets.
g) To take up self employment activities and enhance their
mcome.
h) To learn from others experience and share their experience
with others.
Thrust Upon NGOs:-
1. Operational NGO's will form SHG's. Atleast one SHG will be
formed in each village. The number may go up until all the
target group members are covered under SHGs. Each group
208
will consist of about 20 members. The SHGs will mobilise
savings and hold weekly meetings to discuss their own
agenda. In the beginning SHG can start group loaning from its
own savings at a low rate of interest. As and when group
started handling their money effectively, this will be linked to
banks for financial assistance to fulfill financial needs of the
group.
2. Formation, training, monitoring and documentation in SHG's
will be the task of NGO staff. NGO will work as watch dogs for
the SHG.
3. As the groups become six months old, its performance will be
assessed by NGOs. The format for grading will be designed by
MDA in consultation with NGOs concerned. MDA will verify the
graded group and select for matching grant. This will create
confidence among the members and it will get social
recognition in the village.
4. NGOs can impart training to SHGs in skills upgradation in
different fields.
5. NGOs will identify the off farm activities for skills upgradation
training to SHG members.
209
6. NGO staff will have continuous interaction with villagers to
create conducive atmosphere to undertake community action
programme by SHGs.
7. Co-ordination with official bodies - MDA and Line Departments
8. Establish a close coordination with the Panchayat. Assist in
Panchayat sponsored development programmes.
9. Encourage SHGs to discuss and address social issues like
girls education, health, sanitation, cleanliness etc.
Status of S.H.G's in Mewat
Community and Women's development forms an important
component of Mewat Area Development Project (M.A.D.P).
Especially important is the need to promote gender sensitization and
the development of women who are particularly underprivileged in
Mewat. The efforts of the NGOs have started yielding results and
their presence is being felt in the villages of Mewat. The self-help
groups (SHG's) have become functionally dynamic and the growing
confidence of women in their ability to improve their lives as a result
of these NGO's. Work under this component is being handled by
various NGOs. Till February 28, 1999 there were three NGOs ·
M.S.E.D.S., S.P.Y.M and Spandana -working in different blocks of
210
Mewat. The status of SHGs in Mewat required to be taken for their
improvement at that time was an under:
Table- 5.1
Total number of SHG's and Total members as on 28.02.1999
M.S.E.D.S S.P.Y.M Spandana Punhana F.P.Jhirka Total Hath in Nag ina Total Taoru Total Average
group size Total No. of 70 45 115 57 40 97 39 251 -SHGs Total 1310 685 1995 804 556 1360 508 3863 15.39 Members
Source: MDA, Nuh
If we look at table - 5.1, we will find that till Feb. 28, 1999, a
total of 251 SHGs had been formed under M.A. D.P. Out of these 115
SHGs were formed by MS.E.D.S. in Punhana and Firozepur Jhirka
blocks, 97 by S.P.Y.M in Hathin and Nagina blocks and 39 by
Spandana in Taoru block. No SHGs had been formed in Nuh block till
the end of Feb., 1999.
The total no. of members in 251 SHGs was 3863 with the
average group size of 15.39. Maximum number of members were
enrolled in Punhana (1310) which also has the maximum no. of
SHGs i.e. 70. The least number of members were enrolled in Taoru
(508) which also had the minimum number of SHGs (39). This is
because the formation of SHGs started much earlier in Punhana and
other blocks as compared to Taoru block. Also, the NGO- M.S.E.D.S
211
is local based NGO and the co-ordinator of the NGO is well awared
about the social and economic backwardness of the area.
Table- 5.2
Status of savings and Loans as on 28.02.1999
M.S.E.D.S S.P.Y.M Spandana Punhana F.P. Total Hath in Nag ina Total Taoru Total Average
Jhirka group size Total No. of 70 45 115 57 40 97 39 251 -SHGs Total Savings 499183 207229 706412 132451 155454 287905 101727 1096044 4366.7 Total Account 140000 43400 183400 17500 46411 63911 36200 283511 1129.5 of loans issued Total amount 27730 14525 42255 3200 25521 28721 6735 77711 -of loans repaid Total interest 3059 1170 4229 160 703 863 1650 6742 -collected Total no of 21 7 28 10 13 23 7 58 -groups issuing loans
Source: MDA, Nuh
Table - 5.2 shows the total savings made by the SHGs, the total
amount of loans given, amount repaid, interest collected and total
number of groups issuing loans till the end of February, 1999. From
table we find that a total savings of Rs. 1096044/- had been made by
the 251 SHGs formed under M.A.D.P. The maximum savings of Rs.
499183/- was made in Punhana while the minimum of Rs. 101727/-
was made in Taoru block. If we try to calculate the average savings
per SHG we find that the maximum of Rs. 7131/- per SHG was made
in Punhana and the minimum of Rs. 2323/- per SHG was made in
Hathin. This may be because the SHG members in some blocks do
212
Total SHGs
not belong to the 'core poor' among the families. Table shows that an
amount of Rs. 283511/- had been issued as loans to members out of
the total savings of Rs. 1096044/- which is 25.87 percent of the
sav1ngs. The maximum amount of loans have been issued in
Punhana (Rs. 1 ,40,000/-) while the minimum is in Hath in.
Table- 5.3
Number of SHGs which have received matching grants from MDA as
on 28.02.1999
M.S.E.D.S S.P.Y.M Spandana Punhana F.P. Total Hath in Nag ina Total Taoru Total Average
Jhirka group size No. of 70 45 115 57 40 97 39 251 -
No. of SHGs 18 8 26 5 3 8 - 34 -which got matching grants Amount of 143523 42886 186409 13731 12331 26062 - 212471 6349.14 matching grants received
Source : MDA, Nuh.
Table - 5.2 shows Repayment and interest paid also. An amount of
Rs. 77711/- has been repaid out of the total amount of Rs. 283511/-
issued as loans which comes to 27.4 percent of the total. The
maximum amount of repayment has been made in Punhana (Rs.
27,730/-) followed by Nagina (25521/-) while the least repayment of
loans has been in Hath in (Rs. 3200/-). A sum of Rs. 67 42/- has been
collected as interest on the loans issued. The maximum interest has
213
been collected in Punhana (Rs. 3059/-) followed by Taoru (Rs.1650/-)
while the least interest has been in Hath in (Rs. 160/-)
58 SHGs 9ut of the total 251 (i.e. 23.1 percent) are issuing
loans to members. The maximum figure is from Punhana (21) while
the least is from Fiozepur Zhirka and Taoru (7 each).
Table- 5.3 shows that in order to encourage the SHGs which
are functioning well and to motivate the others to improve their
functioning, the MDA provided matching grants to 34 SHGs at the
Mewat Mela held in December 1999 at Nuh. Besides, two sewing
machines per SHG were provided to the selected SHGs.
The SHGs were selected on the basis of their performance in
terms of regularity of meetings, attendance of members, economic
status of the members, literacy and numeracy, amount of saving,
book keeping, cash handling etc. till the month of February 28, 1999.
Out of the 34 selected SHGs, 18 were from Punhana, 8 from
Ferozepur Jhirka, 6 form Hathin, and 3 from Nagina.
A total amount of Rs. 212471/- was provided as matching
grants by the MDA to the 34 selected SHGs. The maximum matching
grants of Rs. 143523/- was received by the SHGs of Punhana and
the minimum of Rs. 12331/- was received by the SHGs of Nagina.
214
In terms of percentage, only 13.5 percent of the total SHGs
were found eligible for matching grants. However, the SHGs formed
after February, 1999 were not considered for selection. This shows
that a lot requires to be done to make the SHGs sustainable.
In order to strengthen the functioning of SHGs on a sustainable
basis it is necessary that the savings of the SHGs should not merely
keep lying in their bank accounts but should remain in circulation in
the form of loans. It will help the groups to earn interest on the loans
and thereby increase their capital. The organization and functioning
of SHGs in these blocks have gradually started improving the
economic status of the Meo Women. The women perceive
membership of the group as a stepping-stone for their empowerment.
The women members have never participated in any activity
collectively outside their homes in the past and the opportunity for
participating in the group meetings has enhanced their confidence
and self-esteem. The women empowerment efforts would be
sustained by strengthening the existing self-help groups, expanding
their coverage, facilitating linkage with credit institutions and
promoting economic enterprises.
215
Stitching and Tailoring Training for Women :
ASEED - an NGO working in Mewat has started a 6 month
training programme in rotation in stitching and tailoring for women in
the blocks of Gurgaon district. A batch of 25 women is trained a time.
Most of the trainees in the batch are taken from the members of
SHGs. Till march 1999, 8 batches of 25 women per batch have been
trained.
Performance of Mewat Area Development Project:
The Mewat Area development Project (MADP) which was a
seven year project (from 1995-2002) had completed by April, 2003.
The overall performance of the project has been good. It has
following strengths:-
1) The quality of construction work of the irrigation department
was found to be good in respect of the works done by the
Project. 72 villages have been identified as water deficient
villages.
2) The project has mobilized women through SHGs which can be
used as instrument of changes.
216
3) The project has forstered NGOs for community Development
492 SHGs have been formed with a membership of 6703
women.
4) Project management has provided good leadership. Co
operation received from line departments was commendable.
5) 177 Milk producers Co-operative societies have been formed.
6) The project sponsored the training of women for off-farm
activities.
7) Women have shown remarkable increase in confidence level
even in the context of conservative environment. In
credit/savings operations, SHGs are performing well and
repayment of loan stands as 100 percent.
8) About 240 sahelis have been financed by the NGOs for social
development component. But Financial Support was stopped
from 1999 except for those already in position. NGO's engaged
after 1998 were not financed for this component.
Efforts by Government Departments :
Officials from various public departments organize seminar in
different blocks of Mewat. The main objective of these seminar is to
217
provide information to village women on various means of income
generation. As most of the women were unable to take up any
income generation activity for lack of technical information. Through
SHGs women can learn the information on means of income
generation and to increase the living standards of their families and
the area.
Specialist from Animal science provides detailed information on
dairy business as the dairy department with the co-operation of
women and child Development ·Department is encouraging the
women dairy co-operatives societies, under STEP programme. The
main purpose of these societies is that women take care of cattle in
their houses, milk them and give it to their husband for sale, but the
income from milk goes into the hands of male members. Through
these societies, the payment is given to women to improve their
condition. Women are encouraged by this programme and they feel
secure with their income.
Food and Nutrition Department and Experts from Home
Science Collage provided information on fruit and vegetable
preservation. Healthy ways of keeping food clean and nutritious,
various type of nutrition receipes which were cheap and less time
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consuming, told by the officials to the women. Specialist in Home
Science provided information on candle making, bag making,
embroidery and knitting etc. and explained how these skills could be
used for income generation.
In spite of the complicated and complex nature of the existing
social order, the MDA is consistently working through the NGOs and
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) which consists of local rural women. What
is more time consuming for the MDA is the thorough review and study
of any input so that the community with unilateral acceptability comes
forward to provide the required co-operation, to promote their own
upgradation in all avenues of life. The economic, educational and
social environment of Mewat impedes, large scale participation of the
community in development work and thus slows down the pace of
progress. The MDA is trying to overcome these hurdles. After
receiving support from the IFAD, it has tried to focus the attention of
the community on off-farm development enterprises and has made
some headway with the active involvement of some NGOs. The
community is still not adequately aware of the role it has to play and
the old attitude of solely depending upon government functionaries to
deliver the goods is still strong. The MDA, through its various
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training's organized by the Institute for Development and
Communication, Gurgaon, field functionaries of different departments,
interaction with rural women folk, village panchayat members and
religious heads, is striving hard to bring about the desired change in
the quality of life but conservation does not allow a free and
unfavoured arena. The Institute for Development and
Communication, Gurgaon, through various rural person-to-person
contacts is trying hard to reach the most "Unreached" even if the
hurdles are numerous. Street plays, road corner shows and village
get-togethers are being tried with the active and lively support of
"Aiarippu", an NGO. The MDA works to enable the Meos to have a
comfortable and lively quality of life.
The I DC has shot a film on Sahel is which covered villages in
Punhana and Hathin blocks, with the help of MSEDS and SPYM, and
local NGOs. Many Sahelis and others came forward to talk about
their activities and the needs of the area.
Effective implementation of these schemes would enable women to
operate small savings and micro-credit facilities and carryout small
investment in income-generating activities at the village level.
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Recommended