Village Upliftment Programme 18-Month Update Panapuram, Tamil Nadu, India Village entrance Submitted to: Partex Marking 547 22, Gullspång Sweden By: Hand in Hand India April 2014
Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 1 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
Introduction Thank you for your support of Panapuram panchayat. Please find below the 18-month report covering success stories of people benefiting from Hand in Hand India interventions as well as challenges in implementing the programme.
A Myriad of Opportunities Dry fields lie on both sides of the road leading to Panapuram Panchayat of Mechiri Block, Salem District, Tamil Nadu. Scanty rainfall has added to the woes of the residents of this Panchayat, rendering the landscape, with hardly any groundwater reserves, further depleted. Agriculture no longer brings sustainable income for the people of Panapuram. Weaving and coir industries on small scales have managed to thrive in the Panchayat and are still the source of income for many villagers living in its 16 hamlets. For the rest, alternative sources of income have been very limited for want of skill or money to set up income generating enterprises. Eighteen months ago, Hand in Hand India introduced the Village Upliftment Programme in Panapuram. Since its launch, the VUP has implemented interventions in the areas of self-help group and microfinance, education, health, environment, and IT and governance. The integrated development approach has not only brought out a progressive change but has also laid the path for a better quality of life for villagers in Panapuram.
SOWING THE SEEDS OF SELF-RELIANCE
Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 2 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
Illiterate poor women in rural India have, for long, have confined themselves to the conventional way of life — household chores, working as labourers, or assisting in familybased enterprises. By forming self-help groups and providing affordable microcredit, Hand in Hand India’s self-help group (SHG) and microfinance programme has helped many poor women emerge from a cocoon existence and carve out an identity of their own. For many women, the SHG programme has given them the life of hope, dignity, and choice.
alternative source of income”
“Today I have an
TAMARASELVI’S STORY Age: 45 years SHG: Omkaliamman SHG Family: Husband, 23- year- old daughter who stays at home, 19-year-old son who is pursuing his diploma in Information Technology. Her eldest daughter is married and lives with her husband. Tamaraselvi is married to a weaver. She learnt weaving from her husband. Together, they run their family-based enterprise of weaving silk saris (long unstitched piece of cloth worn by Indian Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 3 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
women). They have two handlooms. They sell their goods to a wholesale dealer who pays them weekly wages. If they stitch ten saris per month, they earn about INR 5,600. A part of the income has to be set aside to buy silk yarns from the neighbouring Mecheri town (where the supply comes from the neighbouring State of Karnataka).
Microfinance loans have helped women like Tamaraselvi improve their economic condition. In recent years, weaving has not brought in a steady source of income for Tamaraselvi’s family. The cost of silk yarns has increased considerably. The rate drops marginally only during the monsoons. As the room where the looms are set up are not adequately lit by natural light, the couple relies on electricity to work effectively. This poses the second problem. The power supply is quite erratic and they suffer from long duration of power-cuts. The increased cost of raw materials and the irregular power supply have had a major impact on production, thereby leading to reduced income and poor economic condition. Once, the couple had reared cattle to supplement the family income. However, dire economic needs forced them to sell the cattle. Ten months ago, Tamaraselvi decided to make use of the microfinance loan made available to SHG members through the VUP to look at alternative means of livelihood. With the help of a loan of INR 10,000, Tamaraselvi bought a cow and a calf. The cow yields about ten litres of milk a day. The milk is sold at a rate of INR 21 per litre. Every day, about INR Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 4 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
50 is set aside for buying the cattle-feed and other expenses for the maintenance of the cattle. The cow has now given birth to another calf. “Thanks to the loan, today I have an alternative source of income. I am also able to pay back the loan in easy instalments. With two calves, the prospect of expanding my enterprise too has grown,” says Tamaraselvi. At the veterinary camp organised through the VUP at Panapuram, her cattle were de-wormed and given immunisation doses. She found this very beneficial. THAVAMANI’s STORY Age: 35 years SHG: Srimurugan SHG
my life can get better”
“There is now hope that Family: Husband, five children — eldest is 18 years old and works, her daughter who has completed grade 10 stays at home and helps household chores, the remaining children are studying. Thavamani’s family used to run a coir-making enterprise for long. With increasing cost of coir bales and with the expanding family, they found it extremely difficult to sustain the enterprise.
Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 5 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
A few years ago, they wound up business. Thavamani’s husband started working in a stone quarry earning about INR 400 per day. However, work was not regular. Thavamani started working as a daily-wage labourer in another coir enterprise. She would earn about INR 130 per day. However, the job had its hazards. The harsh coir would often bite into the workers’ palms and would take a few days to heal. When Thavamani heard of the self-help group formation drive by the VUP, it piqued her interest. The possibility of loans at nominal interest rates made Thavamani decide to join the SHG. Five months later, she availed of a loan amount of INR 10,000 with which she bought about ten bales of coir from neighbouring Sooramangalam. From each bale, they made about 140 bundles of coir thread which was then sold at INR 15 per bundle. However, as the entire work is done manually, she has to pay daily wages to the labourers who help her. While this has resulted in her getting only a marginal profit, Thavamani is hopeful about the future possibilities. “I feel hopeful. It is a relief to know that there is now a group I can fall back on during times of emergencies. There is now hope that my life can get better,” says Thavamani. JAGADAMBAL’s STORY
Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 6 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
income.”
“I have a new source of Age: 25 years SHG: Star SHG Family: Husband, two children, parents-in-law Jagadambal’s family depends solely on the daily wages she and her husband earn – she as an agricultural labourer and her husband as a tractor driver. However, they could never be assured of work every day. If lucky, sometimes they managed to earn about INR 5,000 per month. The family needed a more reliable and consistent source of income to cater to their basic needs. With this in mind, a year ago, Jagadambal availed of a loan of INR 10,000, under the VUP initiative, and used it to buy a cow and its calf. She gets about 14 to 16 litres of milk which is sold for about INR 24 to 25 per litre. Setting aside around INR 2,000 per month for the cattle’s feed and maintenance, the family is now able to have a reliable source of income from the cattle rearing enterprise. Jagadambal is also happy about the veterinary camp organised under the VUP at Panapuram. “Normally we will have to walk two to three kilometres to have the immunisation done for our cattle. If we call the doctor, we have to pay up to INR 200. So the camp was very useful to people like me,” says Jagadambal. Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 7 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
But that is not all for Jagadambal. She enrolled herself in the tailoring skill training programme organised under the VUP free of charge for the women in Panapuram. She now plans to avail of a loan to buy a tailoring machine. She hopes not only to get orders from her village, but also to mobilise about 15 women who underwent the tailoring training and start a tailoring unit that can undertake export orders. “Today, our family gets a steady income and we hope for more income generation in the near future. I am very grateful to all those who gave us this helping hand,” says Jagadambal.
“I have a second chance for a better life.” THE RiTE TO EDUCATION
According to the Government of India’s Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, every child, in the age group of 6-14, has a right to full time elementary education. Yet many children, especially in rural India, are out of school. Where on one hand, poor economic conditions force children to drop out and take up odd jobs; on the other hand many children are first generation learners and need additional academic guidance. Through the Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 8 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
Village Upliftment Programme, Hand in Hand India’s Child Labour Elimination Programme addresses this academic lacuna by setting up Children’s Learning Centres or CLCs and Transit Schools. While the former caters to children in the primary school, the latter (started based on the need) is meant for those who have not cleared their Grade 10 examination. CHITRA’S STORY Eighteen-year-old Chitra stopped her studies in 2012 when she failed to clear the tenth grade board examination. She had failed in English, Math and Science. Though her entire family including her college-going elder brother and school-going younger sister urged her to try again, Chitra gave up all efforts to study. She remained at home and the family married her off when she turned 18. It was during this time that the VUP mobiliser met with her and told her about the Transit School initiative set up under the VUP at Mecheri town. Chitra was again reluctant to join. The mobiliser, however, did not give up. She spoke to Chitra’s family. Soon, after being persuaded by her husband, Chitra joined the Transit School sometime back. She attends classes every day from 9 am to 4:30 pm, six days a week. “The Transit School teacher takes the classes very well. I am able to understand the subjects. I hope to clear the papers this year and study further,” says an optimistic Chitra. HELPING FIRST GENERATION LEARNERS
Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 9 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
Saraswathi, the Headmistress of the Government Primary School in Kudiraikaranpudur village of Panapuram is happy about two VUP initiatives – the setting-up of the Reverse Osmosis unit in the school and the Children’s Learning Centre. “The children used to drink water from the tap; this was quite hazardous to their health. This RO unit has been a blessing to these children. They can drink clean and safe water now,” says a relieved Saraswathi. “98% of these children are first generation learners. The evening tuitions taken at the CLC have helped these children strengthen their foundation, and they are able to complete their assignments independently,” says Saraswathi. DEEPA’S STORY Deepa is nine years old. She hails from a very poor economic background. Her parents work as daily-wage labourers in the brick kiln and are illiterate. Deepa studies in grade four. She has been finding it difficult to read or write Tamil and was struggling with other
“I enjoy attending school.”
subjects as well. Thanks to the CLC classes, today, Deepa is able to read and write Tamil reasonably well. She is no longer overwhelmed by school and has settled quite well, much to the relief of the teachers and her parents.
WEB OF OPPORTUNITIES
Bridging the urban-rural digital divide, the Citizens’ Centre Enterprises are helping rural communities reap the benefits of the digital age. The social component of this initiative
Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 10 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
focuses on promoting grass-roots level democracy in villages. The Citizens’ Centre not only helps spread e-literacy in the village but also provides a gamut of services, including online bill payments, photocopier, internet service, to name a few. While the Government offers several welfare schemes for the underprivileged, many remain ignorant of it. The Citizens’ Centre not only spreads awareness of the various welfare schemes but also facilitates the process for the poor. Empowering rural communities with access to information and technology, the Citizens’ Centre is spearheading the IT revolution in rural India. THE CITIZENS’ CENTRE
happy with this opportunity. “
“Villagers are very Priyadarshini, an undergraduate in Business Administration and a diploma holder in Computer Applications runs the Citizens’ Centre (CC) at Panapuram. She takes classes between 4pm and 6 pm every weekday. Besides taking e-literacy classes for children, she also helps people fill up online applications, especially for Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission examination. Tenth and twelfth grade students also throng the CC to check their board examination results. At the CC, forms are also issued to apply for ration card, old age pension, etc. A small library helps the
Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 11 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
students browse through books as they wait for their turn at the computer. “The students make use of the e-literacy classes. Almost all the students who have come here have never had any exposure to computers before. They are so excited and there seems to be a lot of eagerness to learn it. On the whole, villagers are very happy with this opportunity,” says Priyadarshini.
HEALTH FOR ALL Basic health care services continue to elude large parts of rural India. Many villagers have to travel a long distance to visit the nearest medical facility; this often means forgoing a day’s wage, a factor which prevents villagers from seeking immediate medical attention. The health interventions of Hand in Hand India focuses on making health care services accessible and affordable to the rural population. Attention is also given to sensitise villagers on basic health and hygiene, malnutrition, anaemia, and other health concerns which are often neglected by villagers. TRAINED TO BE HEALTHY Kousalya, Sudha, Chitra, Maheshwari and many others from different SHGs are gathered under the pipal tree to listen to the health mobiliser, Selvi. Today, she is telling them about the symptoms of anaemia – a commonly found problem in many Indian rural women. The women, unaware of the problem, mostly dismiss the feeling of tiredness without a second thought. So involved are they in their primary role as caregiver to the family that they often neglect their health. During the health trainings organised under the VUP, women are made aware of the risk in developing such an attitude.
Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 12 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
“The health training has increased our awareness of personal hygiene.” Mageshwari belonging to the Periandichiamman SHG says, “Today I include greens thrice a week in my diet. I never used to include them before, though they are readily available in the village. I also wash my hands with soap before cooking, before feeding my children; I trim my nails and also train my children on cleanliness and self hygiene. Many of us are now considering availing of the government subsidy to construct toilets in our households. We have indeed been made aware of many things that we have neglected. We are grateful for this training.”
Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 13 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
“I cannot imagine how I survived so long without a toilet.” ENDING OPEN DEFECATION Only about four houses in hundred have toilets at Panapuram. Open defecation has been a way of life for the majority of people at Panapuram. Evidently, women are the most affected. According to 50-year-old Thangamma, “Women need the cover of dark to venture out to answer the call of nature. There is always a fear of insects and our own safety. As inconvenient as it may be, we had no choice. We were quite ignorant about the subsidies that the government has been providing for toilet construction. Being a part of an SHG (Star SHG), I learnt about the importance of constructing toilets in individual households through the health training programmes organised for us. Besides this, the mobilisers too constantly approach us and motivate us to construct toilets, emphasising the fact that having a toilet at home was not a luxury but a necessity. So when we decided to construct our new house, I had no doubt in my mind that it will definitely include a toilet. Today, after using the toilet at home, I cannot imagine how I survived so long without a toilet,” says Thangamma. CHILD-FRIENDLY CENTRE An Anganwadi or government-run day-care centre in a village is a boon for villagers as they can leave their toddlers there while they go to work. Unfortunately, most anganwadis paint a
Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 14 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
gloomy picture. Barren walls and absence of play material leave the toddlers in an uninviting ambience. Through the VUP, Hand in Hand India renovates the anganwadis to make it a more child-friendly centre. Vallarmathi, a teacher in one of the three anganwadis at Panapuram (government-run day-care centre for mother and toddlers), says, “The anganwadi wears a fresh look after it was painted. There are more detailed pictures adorning the walls now according to the syllabus followed here.”
GREEN GUARDIANS
Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 15 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
“I have my own garden.” A poor environment has a profound impact on people’s health. Simple measures can go a long way in ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment and preserving the natural resources of a place. Through a combination of effective solid waste management practices and natural resource management projects, Hand in Hand India is striving for greener pastures. Villagers are encouraged to segregate waste, reduce the use of plastics, and keep their environment clean. INSIDE ALAMELU’S GARDEN Through the environment intervention, villagers have been encouraged to start kitchen gardens in their backyard. The sapodilla and coconut saplings given to Alamelu are welcome entrants in her backyard. “I never had these trees before. I was very happy to receive these saplings. I look forward to enjoying the fruits in the future,” says Alamelu. TAKING THE VUP INITATIVES FORWARD The Village Development Committee or VDC of Panapuram, formed under the VUP, consist of 15 members including the Panchayat President, ward members, SHG members, etc. They meet Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 16 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org
every month. In Panapuram, the VDC has been responsible in organising extensive awareness on the importance of construction individual household toilets. In one of the villages, Keelkoppam, the VDC was responsible for deepening the well and providing adequate pump and motor connections. This has benefitted about 50 to 60 households in the neighbouring area. The members are motivated to continue with the responsibility of taking care of the basic needs of their Panchayat, even after the VUP period.
CHALLENGES -
Water scarcity is an acute problem in this panchayat. Construction of toilets and using them effectively is very challenging due to the water scarcity.
FURTHER PLAN OF ACTION -
Strengthening Village Development Committee Social audit exercise Working towards sustainability mechanism
FUTURE REPORTS & INDIA CONTACT We look forward to submitting the final 24-month report October 2014. If you have any questions, please contact sandip.mookerjee@hihindia.org or +91 9500041800. Thank you for your generous support to Hand in Hand India.
Address: Hand in Hand, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little 17 Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01 E-mail: info@hihseed.org • Web: www.hihindia.org