The saving group gave freedom

The women in Pipari did not have the freedom to go outside their homes. Their husbands would question their morality and the community would be back biting.

By Malene Lærke

09. March 2007

Before Dhanasara Pariyar joined the Sagun Women’s Savings Group her life was confined to the four walls in her home. She was not allowed to go outside and see other people.

“I have faced the humiliation that while I was visiting neighbours my husband was questioning my morality. Other people in the community would be backbiting. If I had walked down the road in the community with a man, people would have blamed me and said that I was happy with him and they would question my character,” tells Dhanasara Pariyar.

“I could not go anywhere either and I had no possibility to start my own business,” continues Khalsara B.K, member of the women’s group.

“Sometimes when I had some money my husband would take them by force and spend them all on alcohol. Today he has stopped doing that. He has understood the value of saving up money instead of paying interest for loans and now we always have cash in hand when we have a problem. He has understood the effect of our activities and now I have my freedom,” she tells.

When the 26 members of the Sagun Women’s Savings Group was established in 2003 they had the hope that they could start solving their own problems and that they had the possibility to get help in the time of need.

“At that time we were very shy and we could not even stand up and say our own name. We did not know how to eat and we had no money. We were so back warded and everything was so difficult because the society was only for males and women were not allowed to do anything. We were so confused and helpless,” tells Tula Devi B.K.

The women did not have money to send their children to school and they say they “did not have enough of anything” but if they were in a savings group thing might change for the better. The women had no idea about saving up money and how it could benefit them.

“We had only heard something about saving and we wanted to be able to support ourselves so that we no longer would be parasites,” says Tulsi B.K.

“We thought that by saving up money we could send our children to school like the rich people do and then there would be no difference between them and us. My dream was to be able to send my children to school and that dream has been fulfilled,” explains Radsani B.K., and adds that all children today goes to school.

The 26 members have received training from Dalit Welfare Organisation, DWO about saving and today they each give 30 rupees to the group fund a month. The women have borrowed money for buying a rickshaw, shelter construction, school fee, goat farming and medical treatment. They say that the most significant change for them is the respect they have in the community today and the freedom they now have.

“We are no longer dominated in the community and we get full support from our families and we can go to meetings and work and we even get encouraged. Before this the community would only criticise and back bite,” tells Dhanasara Pariyar.

“Our husbands have become more aware. They have seen that after we have gotten our freedom the family is happier. Before this he had to manage on his own but now we can contribute. That is why they support us. They can see the benefit,” tells Sapana B.K.