Four groups. Same trainings. Same change?

17 groups under GSSK have during the past four years received the same trainings. Ekchhin visited four groups to look at what the beneficiaries got out of all the training they have received and what there were the most significant changes in their communities.

Group 1

Income from vegetables gave self confidence

In Shivashankar Sewa Samuha placed in Hatihawa, ward no. 2 in Taranagar VDC there is no doubt among the 17 members of the group. The vegetable training made an impact for all members.

“The vegetable training was good for business and I no longer have to buy fresh vegetables on the marked. It saves me time that I don’t have to go to the marked and I can make an income on selling the vegetables that my family does not need. The training has been really supportive,” tells Shohavati Yadav.

“Today I can buy school books and clothes for my children from the money I earn on selling vegetables. I can support my family,” says Jamurta Rayadas.

The members of the group practiced traditional farming before that only had a small yield. Today, the members grow al sorts of vegetables like tomato onion, cauliflower, cabbage, radish and potatoes.

“The vegetable training has made us self-sufficient. Before we produced vegetables on a small scale but now we can do it big scale. We have learned to grow vegetables systematically and have become more effective because of the training,” tells Ramrati Rayadas.

Sangeeta Shreebastava adds that the saving and credit training was good for her.

“Income and expenses are the main things in daily life. Therefore, it is good to know how to keep track of the money that comes in and the money there is spent,” she says.

As the most significant change the members of the community has gotten the courage to meet and talk to strangers coming to their village. Before they would hide in their houses waiting for the strangers to leave the village. It was the tradition and by birth the villagers had been used to that others would be superior to them.

“We great them face to face and we have dialogue. We have lost our hesitation and we feel that we are equal to others and we have become proud because today we can manage on our own,” tells Ramrati Rayadas.

The plantation training was not a success. As a member says: why should we get this kind of training if we have no land to plant trees on?

Ramarati Rayadas complains that no allowance is given when going to trainings.

Group 2

Learned to have good manners

The members of Ramjan Sewa Samuha formed the group to eradicate poverty in the community. The members think they have learned two important skills through the training: vegetable farming and community management.

“The community management training has really been the best. We have learned to save and invest our money and how to utilise the money. Most importantly we have eradicated our shyness and we are doing lots of sharing. This is highly positive,” says Shivraj Dhobi.

“The shyness was harmful for our daily life because it kept us away from each other. Now we can share and understand each others problems. We can openly discuss the problems in our community,” he continues.

On the question as to what in the training that made them realise that they had to do things differently, Jalimoon Nisha answers:

“In the beginning we were very traditional people. We would not speak face to face and we would not speak a name. Our nature was like that. After the training we realised what we had to do. During the training we have learned how to sit and walk and talk and what there are good manners. How to eat and so forth. That has really helped us,” he says.

Another important training was the vegetable farming training.

“We are farmers and now we have learned to grow better vegetables and we get a good profit when we go the marked. That money has given relief to me. Today I can grow vegetables systematically and I know how to use fertiliser. Everything is in surplus and many people come to consult with me,” says secretary Shivraj Dhobi.

“The money I earn today from the vegetable farming makes it possible for me to provide money for my children. I can send them to school,” tells Jinnatun Nisha.

“Before I had no work but now I have a skill. Today I have good saving and I have solved my problems,” says chairperson Shehera Gaddi.

The mushroom training and the family planning training however was not useful the group members believe.

“The training was good but I cannot get any seeds to farm mushrooms and it is also hard to find contraceptives. Some of the trainings are hard in practice and are not possible in daily life,” says Abdul Sattar.

Group 3

Vegetables, house and frankness

The members of the Bindashini Sewa Samuha in ward no. 4, Asuraina in Lavani VDC used to be shelterless living under the shade of the trees going from house to house to ask for support.

“We had to eat dirty food we had collected; we were uneducated and had no money for basic needs. We used to dance at weddings and eat the leftovers when the guests had left. Today, instead of begging we have a small scale income. I sell vegetables and after a house wiring training I am called to houses to help out with electricity problems,” tells member Ram Samuh Natuwa.

The vegetable training is mentioned as the training that has had the biggest impact on the community.

“Today I can grow vegetables systematically and earn money because the production is increasing and I can see it is important. I have learned that I used to be uncivilised but today I have become civilised and I have got a lot of confidence in my heart. There is a new openness in the community,” says Sanchit Kohar.

“We could not go the nearby hotel and have a cup of tea. We were hated. If we had tea we had to clean the cup ourselves. We had to stay away from people but today we know we are all equal and we have cooperation with all castes,” tells Molahu Yadav.

The openness and frankness in the community is mentioned as the major change.

“Before we did not know how to talk and eat and we were ashamed when people saw us and we would hide. We could not be frank and open. Today we know we are worth just as much as other people,” tells Janardan Pasi.

The members of the group have begun working on building toilets in the community and another goal is to learn to read and write.

Group 4

“We don’t feel low anymore”

The members of Laxmi Sewa Samuha in ward no. 2, Gulari in Lavani VDC had heard it would be good to be in a group. This has not disappointed them.

“We were unknown about the benefit of being in a group but is has been excellent in every way. We have saving and we can invest and we don’t have to ask for loans. By being self-independent we can solve our problems,” tells treasurer Prabhawati Yadav.

“Some trainings were not useful like vegetable training. I did not learn anything but the poultry training and harvest training was good. Before the training I always lost money on my small poultry farm because I spent too much money on things that was not needed. Now I always have profit and I have been able to share with needy people in the community,” tells Akalmati Kurmi.

The group is a women’s group and the members feel that getting an income has changed their lives.

“We don’t feel low anymore and we are not hated anymore. Before we ran away to hide but today through the trainings we have knowledge and we have made many new friends and we have become frank and bold,” says Prabhawati Yadav.  

How did you become frank and bold though the trainings?

“Now we are respected and we have confidence. We have learned good manners and by being away from our old environment we have learned a lot and grown confident,” says Radhika Pasi.

FACT BOX:

GSSK has provided 17 trainings

• Leadership training
• Group management
• Off season vegetable
• Gender and development
• Live stock
• Animal management
• Civil society
• Micro Enterprises
• Papad chips
• Food grain
• Mushroom farming
• Account management
• Public management
• Public advocacy
• Tree Plantation
• Radio Repairing
• Village Vet nary Health Worker