The Hindu : Parties, communal bodies `hijack' SHG concept

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 08, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Parties, communal bodies `hijack' SHG concept

By J.S. Bablu

THRISSUR AUG. 7. The overdose of politics and entry of communal organisations in the efforts to form and run Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Neighbourhood Groups (NHGs) have threatened the very concept and collective spirit for which these informal set-up were formed.

Political parties, being aware of the vast potential of these SHGs and NHGs in mobilising people, had set its eyes on `intruding' into these set-ups from the very beginning. The CPI(M), which spearheaded the People's Plan Campaign in which the formation of such groups were also part of the Plan, had from the very beginning seen to it that these groups were packed with persons owing allegiance to their ideology.

`Kudumbasree', a women based participatory poverty eradication project launched by the State Government with the financial support of Nabard and the Central Government, had been by and large free of politics in the incipient stage thanks to the efforts of some non-political officials, though the CPI(M) had tried to push through its men in the various committees of the project at the grassroots levels. The feeder organisation of the party for women, All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), was very active in SHGs and NHGs and tried to push through its agenda there. The CPI(M)'s efforts were mostly covert in nature without attracting much publicity. There are many SHGs that were registered as societies packed with pro-Left persons.

When the UDF came to power, the Congress also started to implement its political agenda in the `Kudumbashree' project. The CPI(M) tried to oppose this tooth and nail as it feared that the move would erode its dominance in the sector. A recent example was the alleged attack on a woman panchayat president at Vadanappilly in the district during a meeting for the formation of Area Development Societies (ADS) in the ward level. The Congress woman president tried to call off the meeting sensing that a Congress victory was not possible for the panel for the ADS. A group of Youth Congress and DYFI workers were waiting outside the meeting venue. In the ensuing scuffle, the president got herself admitted to the hospital alleging that DYFI workers had beaten her up. In another incident, a meeting to select the chairperson for co-ordination of panchayat-level `Kudumbashree' project was deferred by a month due to differences and was again disrupted when it was held a month later. The disruption for the second time was over the alleged move to select a woman who was not a member of the `Kudumbashree'. These two incidents are just micro-level examples of the overdose which would only serve to stifle the concept of SHGs and NHGs. The KTDC chairperson, Padmaja Venugopal, has shown active interest in mobilising SHGs and had planned to form SHGs through the Rajiv Gandhi and Priyadarshini Study Centres.

Communal organisations have also entered into the fray of late. The entry of VHP, RSS, certain Christian and Muslim organisations all with parochial agendas and with their inclusive agenda portend a dangerous trend that will emerge in the field. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has been encouraging its members to penetrate into NHGs and SHGs in places where they have a strong presence. According to sources, the VHP-dominant SHGs and NHGs have been emerging the most in Pala in Kottayam district and in Mohama in Alappuzha district and in several other parts of Central Travancore. In fact, the VHP is concentrating its SHGs in Central Travancore areas and their focus on SHGs is for consolidating their base in these areas. The RSS too has been covertly encouraging its members to involve in SHG groups in areas where they have considerable influence. Several Church-based organisations have also engaged in mobilising SHGs.

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