Enhanced Economy for Women
Life is no more what it used to be for the women of Makrahar Village Development Committee (VDCs) 1 and 9 in Butwal. In the past three to four years, their lives have changed. After saving and credit groups were formed, the women there have become more independent and more confident. The groups have now formed the Parichit Saving and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd. in Makrahar VDC- 9.
In 2005, mindful of the low economic condition of the people of Makrahar VDCs 1 and 9, World Vision initiated a Micro Enterprise Development (MED) programme in their village. Trainings in rearing buffalo, cows, pigs, goats, in poultry farming, and in mushroom and off-season vegetable farming were conducted for women of the area, after which different saving and credit groups were formed. In the beginning members deposited Rs. 5-10 every month in these groups.
Members of the group were able to avail themselves of loans easily in their respective groups. Meena Nepali, of Makrahar-9, who is a mother of a Registered Child (RC) of World Vision Butwal ADP, belongs to Laxmi Samudayik Samuha. She has received training in poultry farming, took loan and now has 400 chickens. The chickens are ready to be sold in two months and fetch Rs. 20-25 thousand. "After learning about poultry farming and doing this business my life has changed a lot. I have been able to support my family, my children. I don't have to look up to my husband financially, as I earn well enough and have been able to send my boys to boarding schools and live a better life than before. I can provide much better life to my children than before," she says.
The communities of Makrahar 1 and 9 have become economically self-supporting and have set an example to other communities. The residents of the area say that they had to go to other villages to buy milk to feed children and for other purposes but now there are many households who are rearing buffalo and cows, so much so that because of the increase in the production of milk there, a dairy to which they supply milk has been set up in the village.
Jog Maya Gurung of Makrahar-1 says, "At present I have 23 pigs in my farm. Before, the community people didn't even touch pigs as per their custom, but now, seeing the economic benefit of it there are many of them who have been rearing them. The trainings we acquired have really helped us improve our economic condition, making our and our children's life better, as we can fulfil their demands and send them to better schools for education."
The shareholders of Parichit Cooperative say that the whole community has benefitted from WVIN's initiative. "We could not even have a conversation with others. We women used to stay inside home and do household chores or work in our farm. But now we all handle different businesses. We can now face people and talk to them. We have become more confident and more mature. We have become independent and no longer have to ask for husband's support financially. Instead we can take care of many expenses at home, be it medical expenses or children's expenses, for which we are very grateful to World Vision," stated Meena Khatri of Makrahar-9, a member of Laxmi Samudayik Samuha. The members of the group also said that now the attitude of members of their family, relatives, and neighbours has changed towards them. Few years back, no one would give them loan but now there are people who are willing to give them money when they need it. They are more respected.
"We have realised how everything changes when one becomes economically strong and how the whole community changes. We were considered economically weak and poor, but now we are financially strong enough to open a Cooperative," shared the members." With the inception of the Cooperative these women hope to take larger sum of money so that they can expand their business.
This Cooperative has developed its own rules, regulations, and policies for the implementation of micro-finance at field level. It has been mobilising the community delivering a service to the poor, and initiating transformational development through micro-finance and livelihood activities. WVIN has also provided several courses on Cooperative management to enhance their capacity and leadership development. The communities of Markrahar VDC are very enthusiastic about the formation of this Cooperative and expecting more support in income generation and livelihood. In the days to come, this Cooperative is planning to introduce further facilities and benefits for their members and clients.