Swanirvar Gosthir Milan Mela A dream, a pledge and fulfillment An initiative to collectivize the women in DS-I GP, Sagar Island Back Ground Presently Paribesh Unnayan Parishad (PUPA) is working with active support of Self Help Groups in Dhaspara Sumitinagar I Gram Panchayet (DS I GP) to uplift the quality of life and livelihood of the poor, vulnerable and downtrodden people under livelihood development project of integrated coastal zone management, West Bengal (ICZM). In this project we are focusing specially on women self help groups( SHGs) to collectivize them for institutional development, collective initiative in income generation activities and participation in infrastructural development including planning and implementation to improve the quality of life of the communities of DS I GP. PUPA has always tried to involve the women groups in various activities to improve their capacities and build self esteem among them. Already, some women groups restructured their groups and selected new leaders to mobilize other members of the groups and start a new journey to discover the venture. Initiative of SHG Meet: In this position, PUPA is trying to collectivize the all SHGs with active support of SHG leaders of DS I GP under a roof to start a collective journey of 152 SHGs including 120 women Groups, 24 mixed groups. As per dream, PUPA discussed with SHG members for a meet, where they will share their views and celebrate with each other regarding social, political and economic empowerment of the women and also a day for amusing of the women. The basic objectives of this meet will be to celebrate the respect, appreciation and love towards women of DS 1 GP, Sagar Island and to celebrate women s economic, political, and social
achievements and arouse within SHG women a sense of self esteem. So we had several discussions with the SHG women to organize a day long meet of the SHGs. 40 50 leaders of SHGs came together to assemble a meet. After 3 4 meetings, they confirmed a date for SHG meet on June 8, 2014 at Mahendraganj high school. They also selected a name for the meet Swanirvar Gosthir Milan Mela. A core team of Meet SHG women finalized and divided in various group to manage the whole day programme. The best thing of this event will be the women participation and willingness to take responsibilities for success of a work. Besides, SHG women also exhibit their work and skills in various stalls in the event. In this gala event, PUPA is helping the SHG women in various works to make the event a grant success. The SHG women will supervise the whole event. The details committees of management are given below: Overall management: Indubala Jana ( Ma Halima SGSY) Sagorika Das (Nari Sakti SGSY) Reception team: Reba Majhi (Basanti SHG) Annapurna Das (Samajkalyan SGSY) Lipika Giri (Janakalyan SGSY) Shefali Patra (Pritilata SGSY) Commentators: Lipika Giri (Janakalyan SGSY) Shefali Patra (Pritilata SGSY) Game management team: Shefali Patra (Pritilata SGSY) Maina Baidya ( Ma jamuna SGSY) Namita Rauth( Ma Bishalaxsmi SGSY) Anima Patra( Bhagini Nibedita SGSY) Kalpana Das (Laxminarayan SGSY) Drawing team: Supriya Pramanik (Sonar Bangla SGSY) Anusua Patra (Ma Sitala Swanirvar Gosthi)
Sampa Khatua (Ma karunamoyee SHG) Gouri Ghosh Go as you like management team: Namita Mandal (Vidyasagar SHG) Chandana Sardar ( Matangini SGSY) Kalpana Das( karunamoyee SHG) Rina Jana ( Netaji Suvas SGSY) Food management team: Sima jalobibhajika group Nibedita SHG Prantik Mahila SHG Matangini SHG Saradamoyee SGSY Drinking water management team: Anima Das ( Jibon Sathi SGSY) Panchami Bor (Sabuj Sathi SGSY) Bakulrani Das (kalimata SGSY) Bibekananda SGSY Tea management team: Mamatamoyee SHG Tiffin management team: Anita Das (Balaka SGSY) Pranati Das (Balaka SGSY) Debjani Manna (Basanti Mahila SHG) Stage management team: Sankari Bayn ( Babasaheb SHG) Rekha Sardar ( Matangini SGSY) Maina Baidya ( Ma Jamuna SGSY) Madhuri Das (Saradamoyee SGSY) Cultural programme committee: Shefali Patra (Pritilata SGSY) Malobika Maity ( Srima SHG) Sankiri Giri ( Nagraj SHG) Paroma Bhunia (Ashar Alo SGSY)
Preparation of bunch of flowers for guests: Matangini SGSY Siddikiya SGSY Ma Jamuna SGSY Inauguration and Sports The Programme was inaugurated at 8 AM in the ground of Mahnadraganj High School with presence of Panchayet Pradhan of DS I. The day was started with sports activities for the SHG women. It was really surprising that near 700 women participated in sports including old women. The lunch of the all SHGs were initiated by the Food management team of SHGs Sima jalobibhajika group, Nibedita SHG, Prantik Mahila SHG, Matangini SHG and Saradamoyee SGSY. After the lunch the Drawing competition started with the SHG women. During this session we found some creative women, who will take lead to do some creative activities in upcoming days. Besides a discussion session was held on income generation activities of the SHGs and cluster development. Some SHG members suggested some good proposal, which will help in future. All SHGs agreed to start some income generation activities to take a loan from group and some groups assured that they will start some group business. We had a discussion on cluster development. Some SHG members suggested that there is cluster in all villages, but those are not visible to all. So may SHG members take initiatives to revive the all clusters. It was finalized that regarding these issue, we will talk with SHG Supervisor of Sagar black and know the updated status. Some SHGs exhibits their creativities regarding painting, stitching, handmade craft and others in various stalls. Three SHGs gave stall on garments and nursery. PUPA also displayed various SHG based activities, photos of various work, banner, rule and regulations of SHGs etc in various stalls.
Cultural Programme The cultural programme was inaugurated by the honorable MLA Sri Bamkim Chandra Hazra. In his speech, He focuses on collectivization of the SHGs and group level income generation activities. He also mention that livelihood always lead the empowerment. The cultural programme was furnished with the creative dance, song and recitation of the SHG women. The main focus of the programme was a drama Janmo holo Abhisap by SHG women. The SHG women performed in various characters to give a social massage about the Caste System. Near about 1000 SHG members gather in this meet and started a new venture in their life. Programme Schedule: Swanirvar Gosthir Milan Mela, June 8, 2014 Time Programme 8 AM Opening of Meet 8.15 AM 1 PM Sports for SHG women 1 PM 2.30 PM Lunch 2.30 PM 4 PM Discussion on income generation activities of the SHGs and Clusters development 2.30 PM 3.15 PM Drawing competition 3.15 Pm 4 PM Go as you like 4 PM Inauguration of the cultural programme Inaugurate by Sri Bamkim Chandra Hazra (MLA Sagar) 4.10 PM 4.20 PM Welcome to guests 4.20 PM 4. 45 PM Speech of the guests 4.45 PM 5 PM Dance by SHG members 5 PM 5.30 PM Prize distribution 5.30 Pm 8 PM Cultural programme by the SHG members 8 PM 9.30 PM Drama Janmo holo Abhisap by SHG women
9.30 PM End speech with thanks *** Stalls on various SHG based activities, photos of various work, banner, rule and regulations of SHGs etc. Expected outcomes: The SHGs will able to prepare the Annual plan of the SHG activity. Information sharing within SHGs regarding Income generation activities Start the process to formation of Cluster at sansad level and Federation at GP level. Capacity building to organize a gala event by the SHG women, which will help the implement the Income generation activities (IGAs) Enhance the creative side of the SHG women and expose in front of society Collectivize the all women under a roof Mobilize the other groups (without 152 SHGs) and motivate then to join in this venture One day amusing for the SHG women Celebrate the respect, appreciation and love towards women of DS 1 GP
Coverage in Anandabazar patrika on 11 June in North and South 24 PGS page From SHG members:
Sagorika Das (Nari Sakti SGSY) Swanirvar Gosthir Milan Mela give a platform to us! I am really happy to be a member of core committee of this mela. Now we are getting the confidence that we can do anything, even a big meet. In upcoming days we will start the process of federation as per discussion in Mela. Hope SHG women of DS I will be the biggest inspiration for the Sagar island in future. Lipika Giri (Janakalyan SGSY) I am really happy to be act as a commentator! It was my dream This mela give me a scope to fulfill my dream. Dayal Da (PUPA Staff) help me lot, how to modulate the speech and commentary. It s a platform of fulfillment of the women of DS I. Chandana Sardar ( Matangini SGSY) If we organize this kind of meet in every year, then we are able to motivate the SHG members to be self independent and work towards for their development. They are not aware about their capacity. Even I don t know what I can don t with my ability. But the PUPA staff helped me lot to identify my capacities. Now I am able to speak confidently and started a group business of garments. I am trying to motivate my group to some with our own abilities. In Mela, we give a stall of garments. Maina Baidya ( Ma jamuna SGSY) We are feeling very proud for this mela. I invited all people of my village Gobindapur. Near 150 SHG members came from Gobindapur. We performed in various progarmme sports, cultural, drawing etc. One of senior member aged above 60, performed a dance in cultural programme. It s a big motivation for us to something with our own capacity. Manjura Begam ( Siddikiya SGSY) The staff of PUPA motivate us to start some business. They gave us various ideas to start small business which will center in our village. We started stitching, production of vermicomposting, poultry, and nutrition garden. We also exhibit our work and production in a stall. I am really thankful to all PUPA staff.
Name of the NGO: PARIBESH UNNAYAN PARISHAD (PUPA) Contact Person: Dr. A. Misra Contact Number: 9002497090 Address: 8/1 B, Raipur Road, East, Kolkata 700 032, West Bengal. Email: amargram.pupa@gmail.com amargram_pupa@rediffmail.com