village upliftment programme 18-month update vasanthanadai ... · kancheepuram, kancheepuram...

Address: Hand in Hand India, SEED Trust Training Centre, Nasarathpet Village, Opp Pachayappa’s Men’s College, Little Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District 631 503, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +91-44-420 293 60 • Fax: +91-44-272 693 01E-mail: [email protected] • Web: www.hihindia.org

Village Upliftment Programme

18-Month update

Vasanthanadai, Tamil Nadu, India

Submitted to

Pharmarelations AB

Submitted By

Hand in Hand India

August 2020

Introduction

Tailoring Training to the villagers


Thank you for your support of Vasanthanadai Panchayat. Please find below the 18-month report

covering successful stories of people benefiting from Hand in Hand India’s (HIH India)

interventions as well as challenges in implementing the programme.

Empowering people

Vasanthanadai is situated in Anaicut block of Vellore district in Tamil Nadu. Eighteen months ago,

HIH India introduced the Village Upliftment Programme-VUP in the panchayat. Since its launch,

the VUP has implemented interventions in the areas of self-help-group and microfinance, and

Child Labor Elimination Program (CLEP). The integrated development approach has not only

brought out a progressive change but has also laid the path for a better quality of life for villagers

in Vasanthanadai Panchayat.

Women Empowerment and Job Creation

Poverty affects women and children the most. Illiterate poor women in rural India have, for long,

confined themselves to the conventional way of life — household chores, working as labourers,

or assisting in family-based enterprises. By forming self-help groups and providing affordable

microcredit they are now away from the web of poverty in Hand in Hand India’s self-help groups

(SHGs) and microfinance programme has helped poor women emerge from a cocoon existence

and carve out an identity of their own. With the backing of the microfinance programme, women

have received business training, and enterprise creation initiatives and marginalised women have

emerged as change agents in their communities. Based on the need, Hand in Hand India also

conducts skill training to self-help group women. For many women, the SHG programme has

given them the life of hope, dignity, and choice. Women receive microfinance loan to create and

strengthen their family based enterprises and some women were linked with banks to receive

loans.

A Petty Shop Crafted The Path For A Big Dream!


Life has never been a bed of roses

for many. Saraswathi, aged 48 is

no exception to this phrase. She

was born in a family, who

struggled a lot to make ends

meet. Hailing from

Vasanthanadai, this ambitious

woman is an example of how

strong will and determination can

lead to success. She lives with her

husband and two children. Her husband

is engaged in farming, which does not yield much to run the family. This was a crucial time for

her since she had to take care of her two children. So she decided to think outside the box and

look for ways to generate some additional income. Being an active member of Bhavani SHG of

Hand in Hand India, she was able to avail a loan of INR 30,000 to start her own petty shop. Now,

she makes about INR 15,000/- per month through her petty shop enterprise. She sells all types

of essentials that come as a blessing in disguise for the village people, who otherwise had to

travel far to buy things. Being an empathetic person, she gives credit to those in need.

With a thankful heart, Saraswathi says, “I never thought I could run a shop on my own. I was

skeptical at first; nevertheless I was determined to give it a try. Now, I am satisfied that I can

support my husband in some way. I have plans on expanding my petty shop in the future. I am

grateful to Hand in Hand India for this timely support”

Saraswathi in her petty shop


Small Investment Big Profit – The success story of Ranjani

Ranjani, aged 48 is a hardworking woman who hails from Vasanthanadai village. She belongs to

Muthumani SHG of Hand in Hand India. Just like every other woman in the village, she relies

solely on her husband’s income for running the family. Her husband, Sankar is a retired army

serviceman. The pension amount that he received was insufficient to handle the sudden

expenses the family had to incur. To cope with the increasing expenses, Ranjani had to think of

other ways to yield some income to support the family. To put her plan into action, she decided

to start backyard poultry farming. She availed a loan of INR 30,000 for starting her own small

chicken farm. Her hard work finally paid off as she was able to gain an income of INR 20,000 by

selling meat, chicken and eggs on a seasonal basis.

When asked about her amazing journey, Ranjani replies, “I was just like everyone else, cocooned

within the four walls of the house. But then, I wanted to do something different and took this

path to gain success. I owe my heartfelt gratitude to Hand in Hand India for aiding me in my

time of need”

Ranjani in her poultry Farm


Sowing the Seeds of Fortune

It is an undeniable fact that the

women of today are chartering

unknown boundaries in a quest for

success. Being a tough survivor by

nature, women have always

succeeded in everything they put

their mind and heart into. One

such motivating story of

transformation comes from the

village of Vasanthanadai. Mohana

Priya, 35 years old is an active

member of Myna SHG of Hand in

Hand India. Her husband, Palani is a farmer by profession. Both faced a lot of hardship as the

income generated could not suffice the growing needs of the family. Having two children to

take care of, Mohana Priya wanted to lend a helping hand to support her husband. It was at this

time, she seeked help from Hand in Hand India and availed a loan of INR 50,000 for cultivating

jasmine flowers (50 cents). She now sells jasmine flowers for INR 30 to 40 per kg and makes INR

5000/month. The amount she gains from the yield has helped her run the family smoothly

without any hassle.

With a joyful heart, Mohana says, “Life had been difficult for our family as we did not get the

anticipated income through farming. Now, with the support of Hand in Hand India, I am able

to yield a profitable income through flower cultivation. I warmly render my gratitude to the

organization for their valuable and timely support”

Mohana Priya in her Jasmine Field


Leveraging Income through Goat Rearing

Vanitha, aged 28 is an inspiration

to other women in her village.

She is an active member of

Vazhaga Valamudan SHG. Unlike

others who rely on their

husbands for support, she

decided to be different and lend

a helping hand to him. A humble

mother of three children, Vanitha

had experienced many hurdles in

her life. Her husband, Selvamani

works as a daily wage labor. With

the amount in hand, it was a herculean task to support the family. To make things better, she

availed a loan of INR 30,000 from Hand in Hand India for buying four goats. She takes good care

of the goats by feeding them only the best food. She sells the goats to nearby vendors for meat

and other purpose. Through this, she makes about INR 7000 to 10000 based on the demand

from the buyers. She plans on starting her own goat farm in the future and earn a profitable

income.

“Life is tough when you have a big family to support. Earlier, it was difficult for us to run the

family as my husband could make only a small amount from the labor work. Now, with the

support of Hand in Hand India, I am able to support my husband and my family. I thank them

for aiding me in my time of need”

Vanitha with her goats


Financial Gearing through Cow Rearing!

Sumathi (38), who belongs to

Vasanthanadai village, is a member

of Myna self-help group run by Hand

in Hand India. She lives with her

husband, Elumalai who is a farmer

by profession. Due to seasonal

changes, the yield was less which

resulted in low income. Since the

family cannot rely on the meagre

amount for support, she decided to

step in to support her husband. With the timely help from Hand in Hand India, she availed a

loan amount of INR 30,000 for buying a cow. Now, she has a cow, which she handles with love

and care. She provides only the best feed to ensure that the cow is hale and healthy. By selling

milk to nearby villages and milk stores, she makes about INR 5,000 per month.

“We struggled a lot during the early stages of our life. Due to unfavorable weather, the yield

was not stable. The amount we gained was just enough to handle our basic needs. The loan

from Hand in Hand India came as a blessing in disguise. I owe my gratitude to the entire team”

says Sumathi with a warm smile on her face.

Income Generation through Pickle Business

There was a time when rural women were confined within the four walls of the house. Now,

the scenario has changed and they have set foot in the path of becoming an entrepreneur.

One such motivating story of change comes from the village of Vasanthanadai. Indira (55) is a

living example of how a woman can be of great support to her husband. In the early days, both

Indira and her husband, Kumar suffered a lot to run the family. They were making meagre

income through a small pickle sale. Indira decided to go one step further and start her own

enterprise. Being an active member of Working Women’s Self Help Group, she availed a loan

Sumathi with her cow


of INR 30,000 to start her own

family-based enterprise. She started

making pickles and sold them in

large numbers to the people in her

village, army soldiers and others

nearby. On an average, she sells

about 10 to 25 pickle bottles.

Through this small enterprise, Indira

makes about INR 20,000 /month. She says, “We faced a lot of hardship during the early

stages of business. Now, with the support of Hand in Hand India, we are able to gain a

steady income and support our family. I plan on doing a wholesale pickle business in the

near future. My sincere thanks to the organization for lending a helping hand in time of

need!

Sewing her Way for a Fruitful Future!

Poverty and pain has been the part

and parcel of life for the poor.

Unprivileged rural women, who

solely rely on their families for

support are no exception to this

phrase. Stuck within four walls, they

have no window to the outside

world. Lakshmi, aged 34 was leading

such a life, relying on others for

support. She comes from a family of

poor financial background. Her husband, Vadivel is a mason by profession, who works very

hard to earn a decent wage. The amount he gets as income was never enough to handle the

expenses of the family. Lakshmi, taking the current situation into account decided to turn a

new leaf. She became a part of Olivilakku SHG of Hand in Hand India, which organized

Lakshmi while stitching cloths

Indira while preparing pickle


different activities for supporting vulnerable women in the village. Through this, she came to

know about the tailoring training course conducted in her village. She actively participated and

completed the course in flying colors. After completion of the training, she bought a machine

and started stitching clothes from her home. Now, she happily earns about INR 3000 per

month based on the orders she receives. “I have always wanted to provide everything for my

two children, but I couldn’t do anything. Now, I can support my family and provide a

comfortable life with the amount I earn. My heartfelt gratitude to Hand in Hand India for the

training”

When Rural Flour Mills Echo the Sound of Success!

“Where there is a will, there is a way”. Saraswathi (39) lives by this example. She hails from

Vasanthanadai and is an active member of Vennila SHG of Hand in Hand India. Her spouse,

Ramalingam grinds flour and sells it for making a considerable income. This could never suffice

the expenses of the family as it kept piling up. Saraswathi decided it was time to make a

difference and support her husband to gain additional income. In order to kick-start her career

dream, she availed a

loan of INR 40,000

from Hand in Hand

India and started a

mini flour mill. Her

determination and

the will to succeed

paid off! Now, this

energetic woman

makes INR 10,000 by

grinding Wheat, rice, and chilli. When asked about her transformation, she happily replies, “I

have always wanted to support my husband with his regular chores. Since I have studied only

till 6th, I could not go for work outside. Now, I am supporting my husband with the amount I

Saraswathi in her mini flour mill


get through the flour mill. I have plans for purchasing new equipment and expanding my

enterprise. My sincere thanks to Hand in Hand India for this change”

Leveraging Income through Tailoring

Jayamary, along with her husband

and two children hails from the

charming village of Vasanthanadai.

She is 37 years old and is an active

member of Vazhga Valamudan SHG

of Hand in Hand India. Her husband,

Karunanidhi is a plumber by

profession. Her husband could not

support much to run the family as

his income was based on the orders

he received. This being the case,

there were times when they had to struggle to cope with the sudden expenses that hit hard. It

was at this juncture, Jayamary came to know about the tailoring training conducted by Hand in

Hand India. Seeing a way out of the misery, she actively took part in the training and learnt all

the basic things related to tailoring. On completion of the training, she started stitching clothes

from home and gained income. Now, she earns about INR 2500 per month, which may increase

based on the orders in the future.

“Earlier, I was dismayed since I could not help my husband. Seeing him struggle to run the

family really bothered me a lot. So I decided to take up the tailoring training and support him,

even if it’s a little that I could do. Now, I feel happy that I am able to lend a helping hand to my

husband. I sincerely thank Hand in Hand India for providing the training and changing my life”

says Jayamary with a thankful heart.

Jayamary stitching cloths in her home


Child Labour Elimination Programme-CLEP

"Making a “Child Friendly Panchayat” is the primary focus, where all 6 to 14 year old children are

in school. Hand in Hand India creates awareness on Child Rights and child protection. Also trains

School Monitoring Committee (SMC) members on Right to Education (RtE) and monitoring 100%

children enrollment in school, providing quality education by the teachers and general function

of the school. Hand in Hand India works with such committees and provides them capacity

building training for regular and effective functioning.

Awareness camps are conducted using programs like rallies, street plays, dance and theatre

workshops, poster campaigns etc., to motivate the community to minimize child labor,

strengthen education, and regularly send children to school."

Students Friendly Safe Mode Urinal System’ installed by Hand in Hand India through

Village Upliftment Programme

Background

The Government Middle School at Vasanthanadai

panchayat of Anaicut block in Vellore district, Tamil

Nadu, India accommodates 200 boy students. The

school had two urinal spaces in the same ground as

that of the school premises. Both the spaces were

not conducive for urinating as they were

constructed with only four walls covered and no

sinks were installed as separate urinals. The

students were

un-hygienically urinating in the covered walls without any

basic facilities. Even their shoes were covered with droplets

of urine, which created a lot of discomfort. Students

hesitated to use the urinal due to unhygienic conditions.

Unhygienic Urinal space used by the students


Due to this, many students fell sick which was noted by the School Head Master, who

expressed the difficulties of the students to Hand in Hand India.

Hand in Hand India’s initiatives

The unhygienic situation faced by the students was observed by Hand in Hand India’s Village

Uplift Programme (VUP) team as they

were working in the panchayat through

VUP Sweden funding. The team primarily

initiated the process after discussion with

the school headmaster, management

committee and the students.

They provided inputs on making

'Students' Friendly Safe Mode Urinal

System' and the students who

volunteered themselves actualized it

with the tuned support from Hand in

Hand India’s VUP team.

Low-cost urinal tanks were constructed

from disposable water cans with the

support of school students, teachers and

the villagers.

The students are now relieved

from the unhygienic practice

created at the urinal space as the

same space has been turned into

a more hygienic one.

Initiation of installing urinals by the students

Installing urinals by the students

Completion of the installation of Urinals by the students


A local newspaper, ‘Dinamalar’ has captured the below innovative method in its daily coverage

on 21st July, 2019.

Challenges and lessons

Community gathering was a great challenge faced by the HiH India’s staff members but

forthcoming month’s people integrated and realized the values of HiH India’s

interventions.

Village families require more than one livelihood opportunities for their subsistence as

their major livelihood options are seasonal and become risky.

FURTHER PLAN OF ACTION

- Strengthening Cluster Level Network (CLN)

- Social audit exercise

- Working towards sustainability mechanism


FUTURE REPORTS & INDIA CONTACT

We look forward to submitting the 24 month report in January 2021 and the final 30-month

report in July 2021. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] or

+91 9500041800. Thank you for your generous support to Hand in Hand India.

mailto:[email protected]

village upliftment programme 18-month update vasanthanadai ... · kancheepuram, kancheepuram...

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