Seema’s Struggle for Self Respect ….

Introduction -

Seema Walmiki of age 32 years old from Walmiki (manual Scavenging) community lives at Shivajinagar, Dehuroad Cantt., Pune with her husband and 03 children, 02 son & 01 daughter of age 13, 11 & 09 respectively. She has studied up to 4th standard and her husband is illiterate. They both do work of cleaning streets to earn their livelihood. She came in contact to the project in the month of May 2016.

Situation before -   

Since Seema is from Walmiki community she always has to be under pardha (to keep face covered) whenever she steps out of home. In such situation she used to work of cleaning buildings. Every day early morning before 6 am she has to get up and prepare food and her children to send them in school and then leaves home to do the work of cleaning.

Since Seema was full of self-respect she always wished that she do not want to do work of cleaning. But due to the pressure of her family and society she has to do this kind of work. Like other community women she wanted to do something else that would give respect for her.

 She approached Sadhana an NGO that works for women's empowerment for  help. Sadhana explained the project that how this project is helping women to enable themselves to live their life with dignity. She started visiting again and again and learned about the self-help group. She was encouraged to form self-help group of women doing some occupation in the area where she stays. This was one activity in the project to form occupational group.  Seema made up her mind that if she wanted to come out of this situation then I have to do the things differently and she formed 01 occupational group named ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’ self Help group. She is the president in the group. In 

the SHGs training when discussed about the livelihood opportunities and different business that women can do it. She expressed her wish to start business of selling jewellery.

Sadhana’s Intervention -

Along with the information, training & encouragement Sadhana supported her with seed capital of Rs. 25000 to start her business.  With the help of money she received from organization and addition to some of her deposits she purchased jewellery items from Delhi as she is native of Delhi and few items from nearby local market in Pune. Initially she started selling from her home only. She was further suggested to visit in the communities and develop contacts with other SHGs and increase your sale. She also realized that & started selling her product by visiting different communities and sell the product door to door. This was going very heavy for her to do as she couldn’t give time at home and children.

This created lot of conflict among them. Her husband does not want her to do the work of selling jewellery after doing cleaning work till 12.30 pm.  But Seema was getting much more interest in doing her business as she was getting good response. She does not want leave this opportunity so she involved her mother in the business and decided to share the profit.

After knowing the use of technology for marketing, Seema purchased smart phone and started communicating through what’s app. She could send pictures of her products on what’s app and book the orders. She got good response and started receiving more order. But it was getting very difficult for her to move and fulfil the orders. She realized that if she learns to drive she can increase her mobility and increase the sale. She first thought what the society would say if she drive two- wheeler. But since she wanted to establish her business she didn’t bother what people would say and decided to purchase the two- wheeler.

To increase the mobility and deliver the product on time she purchased two-wheeler for herself. It was very difficult for Seema to take this since her business was increasing she made best utilize of it and increase her products. Now along with the jewellery she started selling dress materials (clothes). All her customers of jewellery products also buy dress material. In this way Seema could increase her sale and thus increased her income.  Today she takes order on phone and delivers the products on two- wheeler at very ease and less time. Her timely service is appreciated by the customers.

Impact :   A young woman who used to do work of cleaning and earn Rs. 1500 per month now she earns Rs. 10000 to 12000 per month. She is very happy for herself that she could do something different in her life. She could fulfil all her children's need and also have saved money for her children up to Rs. 70000.  She expressed her view that I could not study more but I want my children to study and save her children from getting involved in the work of cleaning.  The last but not least impact seen is that the husband who was first opposing her to do the business is now in full support to Seema. So this had made not only Seema happy but the whole family.