Sakshi Education
By Srirangam Sriram, Sriram's IAS, New Delhi.
At the time the first nationwide lockdown was announced by the Government of India due to the rising coronavirus cases, the country witnessed a dearth in masks and sanitisers caused due to panic buying and confusion. At the same time, millions of Indians had started migrating back home after losing their livelihoods in big cities. Amidst all this, hundreds of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across India rose to the occasion to help the country fight the pandemic, and also employ people who lost their jobs. As per a report by the Ministry of Rural Development, over 132 lakh masks were produced by 14,522 SHGs, involving 65,936 members in 399 districts (across 27 states) in a single fortnight from March 15 to March 30.
In the following months, over two lakh women had been involved in producing close to 10 crore masks across 27 Indian states. In fact, they have also helped in the production of over three lakh litres of sanitiser, and about 50,000 litres of handwash. SHGs in India are supported by the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). Launched in 2011, the NRLM has scaled the SHG model to almost the whole of India.
Most of the SHGs did not depend on tailoring for their livelihood in the pre- pandemic times. However, they rose to the occasion to stitch masks and make up for the increasing dearth.
SHGs had the help from NGOs. PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action), a non-governmental organisation that is actively working to solve the rural poverty of India, also worked closely with women groups to train them in the different aspects necessitated by the pandemic.
Because of the training sessions, these SHGs became proactive in making masks, sanitisers, handwash, and PPE kits, irrespective of their primary skillset. While production was in place, the lockdown posed restrictions on transportation. For this reason, the SHG workers voluntarily stepped out to distribute these kits. Rajasthan resident Jehra Bibi of Nari Shakti Mahila Sangh (an SHG) is one among them.
While women were not technology savvy before, the situation has made them familiarise with WhatsApp and conference calls as the primary medium of training and awareness.
Megha Mandali is a cooperative of 1,000 tribal women farmers in Tapi district in southern Gujarat. During the lockdown, the cooperative conducted WhatsApp training sessions for its members (most of them who are first-time mobile users) on the precautions taken during the pandemic, taking care of older people, gender-based violence, and mental health.
Since people were afraid to step out amidst the pandemic, and banks situated far away, people, who wanted to withdraw money to ensure some financial security, were left in a difficult situation, SHG members went from door-to-door, assisting the distressed people.
In the following months, over two lakh women had been involved in producing close to 10 crore masks across 27 Indian states. In fact, they have also helped in the production of over three lakh litres of sanitiser, and about 50,000 litres of handwash. SHGs in India are supported by the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). Launched in 2011, the NRLM has scaled the SHG model to almost the whole of India.
Most of the SHGs did not depend on tailoring for their livelihood in the pre- pandemic times. However, they rose to the occasion to stitch masks and make up for the increasing dearth.
SHGs had the help from NGOs. PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action), a non-governmental organisation that is actively working to solve the rural poverty of India, also worked closely with women groups to train them in the different aspects necessitated by the pandemic.
Because of the training sessions, these SHGs became proactive in making masks, sanitisers, handwash, and PPE kits, irrespective of their primary skillset. While production was in place, the lockdown posed restrictions on transportation. For this reason, the SHG workers voluntarily stepped out to distribute these kits. Rajasthan resident Jehra Bibi of Nari Shakti Mahila Sangh (an SHG) is one among them.
While women were not technology savvy before, the situation has made them familiarise with WhatsApp and conference calls as the primary medium of training and awareness.
Megha Mandali is a cooperative of 1,000 tribal women farmers in Tapi district in southern Gujarat. During the lockdown, the cooperative conducted WhatsApp training sessions for its members (most of them who are first-time mobile users) on the precautions taken during the pandemic, taking care of older people, gender-based violence, and mental health.
Since people were afraid to step out amidst the pandemic, and banks situated far away, people, who wanted to withdraw money to ensure some financial security, were left in a difficult situation, SHG members went from door-to-door, assisting the distressed people.Published date : 21 Nov 2020 12:30PM
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