The Hindu : SHG helps her stand on her own feet

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

SHG helps her stand on her own feet

By Syed Muthahar

TIRUCHI JUNE 22. Tragedy struck Valarmathi (26) of Edamalaipattipudur here one after another. Born into a poverty-stricken family, she lost her father at a very young age and was brought up by her mother Jothi, who could afford her education only up to class VIII.

Valarmathi's husband deserted her after the birth of a daughter. Even as she was trying to eke out a living, selling vegetables and flowers, the woman was maimed by a speeding train six years ago. She returned home in despair after undergoing treatment for about two years.

But the self-help group concept has brought about total transformation in her. A six-month training programme in sculpturing and painting, conducted by the District Rehabilitation Office for physically and visually-challenged, led to the formation of the `Imayam SHG' and kindled hope in her.

Four men and 11 women from among the participants formed `Imayam' (an apt name to scale new heights), thanks to the District Collector, K. Manivasan, and the District Rural Development Agency Project Officer, M. Manohara Singh. They evinced a keen interest in every activity of this SHG and provided all assistance.

The District Rehabiliation Officer, A. Joseph Xavier, helped five of the participants obtain a bank loan of Rs. 3,000 each, including a government subsidy of Rs. 1,000.

The SHG members make sculptures and other ornamental articles on their own premises and market the products from their shop in the new DRDA-SGSY complex on Bharathidasan Salai here.

On learning about her plight, the Collector provided from his discretionary funds a sewing machine to Valarmathi who earlier underwent tailoring training at a Balvadi at Asur. She prepared readymade dresses and sweaters. Valarmathi was also good at making greeting cards and knitting plastic wire baskets.

``All these activities, however, brought me only a meagre income with which I could not manage my three member family, including my mother. Only after the formation of the Imayam SHG, did I start gaining confidence. This concept created hope in me that I too can stand on my own legs. Other SHG members have a similar feeling,'' said Valarmathi.

At present, Valarmathi is able to concentrate only for three hours a day on making sculptures. ``Moving from one place to another is time-consuming what with my having to walk with artificial legs. Moreover, I am not able to sit for hours together.''

When contacted, Mr. Joseph Xavier said the District Rehabilitation Office, with the support of the district administration and the DRDA, recently organised special exhibitions in a few educational institutions to market the products made by members of the women SHGs. It has planned to arrange shortly for student visits to the SHG shops in the SGSY shopping complex.

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SHG helps her stand on her own feet