The *CADIP-I Project in the district of Bankura in West Bengal had reached all the villages in Mejia block including Ranipur, in 2003. It brought awareness among the people on different aspects of leprosy, disability and on the rights of the disabled.
As the project programmes progressed, it enhanced many among them beat their limitations. The following sketch from Ranipur is made after a short visit to the village and spending a few hours there with some of the primary beneficiaries of the project. It is a summary of the immediate physical impact of CADIP in Ranipur. A brief profile of Ranipur, Three Self Help Groups and some of its members are introduced here. (Philipose)
Ranipur village is 35 kilometers away from Bankura (where TLM has a base). Though it is only three kilometers from the NH 62, the village depicts all the features of a typical interior and backward Indian village. The village beside the long stretch of paddy filed, has more than 300 households and many more adjacent settlements. Beyond the village a few kilometers away there is a railway line on which coal wagons run frequently.
It is at the back yard of two sponge iron factories and a thermal power station in Durlavpur. To add to the dark smoke they emit, there is a ‘black’ coal market thoroughfare through the village, making the mud road blacker. However, CADIP project in this village have enlightened lives and ignited initiatives. The project in the district is completed. It influenced individuals, transformed families and the community, and continue to influence communities around.
“All the children go to school now; we are able to go to hospitals and can afford buying medicine. The mortality in the village has reduced greatly. People are able to spend on buying house hold items and improving the facility of their homes” said Uttam Mandal, in response to the inquiry on the impact of CADIP in Ranipur.
The coming of CADIP staff here has brought in a lot of changes to the village and well-being to many of them who were otherwise marginalized. The movement which caught the flame with a handicapped individual in the village is still permeating. The impact of the first awareness meeting conducted in the village by CADIP is still growing and spreading to other villages, transforming lives.
Awareness programs were conducted at the village and at the primary school. No children are hanging around the village without going to school as seven of the dropouts were re-admitted to their old schools. Several disabled in the village had already received Disability Identity cards while it is under process for others.
Antenatal meetings were arranged and genetic counseling given. Polio vaccination in the village had a very good track record. Eighty cataract operations were done out of which thirty-five were in the last camp alone. At press time, arrangements were underway for another eye camp. Twelve leprosy cases were identified by the staff and volunteers. One of them with foot drop problem was waiting for reconstructive surgery in the local hospital.
Three children received educational grants – CTY - and were very excited about studying as much as they could. Four students referred to and were being trained at the Vocational Training Center at Bankura.
A couple (one of them disabled) was united in marriage through the intervention of the staff and volunteers.
Two individuals were helped in finding industrial jobs through awareness on the reservation quota available for the disabled. They got the job at the sponge iron factory nearby.
Two self employments were initiated through the counsel of the staff and through financial assistance by well-wishers. One of them is a dress material vendor and the other runs a video hiring shop.
Three Self Help Groups started here during the project were running very successfully, improving the lifestyle and living condition of the people. A low-cost housing under the CBR programme had been built for one of the villager very close to the central village of Ranipur.
The CADIP volunteer in the village is actively involved in spearheading this movement of transformation in the village beyond the borders and time limits of the project. He had already motivated two more volunteers who are self motivated to carry on the good work they have started.
Read more about the 3 SHGs in Ranipur and meet some of their members
Self Help Groups
1. Proyas
The Bengali word proyas means ‘effort or to try’ and it is personified in the members of the Self Help Group at Ranipur. The group was formed in 2005 during the CADIP project in Ranipur. Out of the ten members, five are physically challenged, two leprosy cured persons and the other three below poverty line. Initially the group met regularly twice a month for internal learning and contributing a small amount of Rupees 50 per month. The members in spite of their limitations continued to encourage and support one another. Some of them were experienced in making Bel Mala (chains and necklaces made of beads dug from the shell of wood apple). Bel Mala has cultural and religious connotations and is popular in West Bengal and other Northern parts of the country. Others in the group too learned the skill, realizing the scope of marketing it. Though the work did not need much investment it required labour and time. The group procured a loan of Rs.15,000 from a nationalized bank and advanced it to the needy members who invested their time with wood-apple shells and made needles and thread their friends.
Sunil Vadyakar and Montu Mondal are two members from Proyas SHG.
Sunil Vadyakar, the president of the SHG is a Leprosy cured person who had been given to begging. Motivated by CADIP programmes in the village he was willing to give a try. Sunil’s life is a good illustration on what community based rehabilitation can do. He can make Bel Malas and also weave baskets. He took an advance of Rs.5,000 from the group and bought a bicycle too. Depending up on the demand in the local market, he makes either of them. In a day, spending part of his time he can make three or four bamboo baskets; each will fetch him Rupees ten at a wholesale rate. He has a son who is studying in class five and he has received educational grants through the ‘Catch Them Young’ programme. Sunil is happy today that he said bye to begging and he bought his bicycle that carries his bamboo baskets.
Montu Mondal, another member, was identified as a victim of leprosy at the awareness rally conducted at the beginning of CADIP initiatives in the village. Three years ago he had taken general treatments from different hospitals including the Medical College for numbness in his hand and on the leg. He had ulnar paralysis on one hand and foot-drop on the left side. Uttam the volunteer who identified the sickness from the symptoms, had referred him to the Public Health Center for treatment. He is waiting for a reconstructiv e surgery at the nearby hospital or at TLM Purulia Hospital which is about 3hours journey from the village. Montu and his wife have a son and a daughter who are studying 12th and the 7th standards respectively. They both received the CTY study grant from TLM through the CBR. Both of them are interested in further studies.
2. Swami Vivekananda Swanirwar Dal
All the 10 members of the SHG are disabled physically but proved that they are able to make a living and help one another. Thanks to CADIP which brought them together. The group which was formed in 2005 has been meeting regularly and they contributed monthly Rupees 50. One member of the group died a couple of years ago and his wife is member in his place. Being made aware of the privileges of the disabled, all of them had acquired Identity cards which give them several opportunities including free bus and train passes.
The group had taken a loan of Rs.24,000 from a bank and were able to pay back most of it. At report time, they had a bank balance of Rs.10,000. The members take individual loans from the group and pay it back monthly with an interest of Rs.2 percent for every month. This is a good revenue to the group. Most of them are engaged in Bel Mala making.
The leader of the group, China Bhai has a small business of selling rice. She buys paddy and process it at home and sell the rice to the villagers. Pinky Banerjee, another member is a class 10th pass and is busy making Bel Malas of all kinds. The necklaces she makes will cost between Rupees 15 and 30. She is also learning tailoring and planning to set up a tailoring place in the village.
3. Netaji Self Help Group
Netaji SHG in Ranipur was started in 2005, following the awareness program and community based rehabilitation orientation given by the CADIP team. The group has seven members; among them six are disabled and one below poverty line. The members are involved in making bel malas (necklace), curtains, table clothes and pillow covers decorated with bel beads, skillfully made from the dry shell of wood apple.
While a good necklace fetch about Rs.30, a curtain or table cloth will be sold for Rs.400 to 500. The products with the bel beads have religious significance in several parts of the country and therefore a good market. The group is planning to buy a shop in the town to open a small showroom.
The SHG used to meet every fortnight and the members contribute of Rs.50 per month. After six months of the inception, they were able to take a loan of Rs.15,000 from a nationalized bank. After due repayment, they had taken Rs.25,000 and the next time Rs.40,000. The group had a liquid asset of Rs.90,000 including Rs.50,000 as bank balance.
“The group is doing well”, says *Uttam, the group leader. “We are able to help and encourage one another. Everyone is motivated and their life is improved now”. Asking about some visible changes, Uttam responded, “Our children are better dressed now. We can afford going to hospitals when we are sick. Some of us have bought TV sets and some replaced their black and white with colour.”
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*CADIP: Community Awareness and Disability Impairment Prevention, an awareness and advocacy project conducted in ten districts in two phases.
*Uttam, the volunteer’s story is featured earlier: More than a Volunteer/ Volunteer can Venture
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