More than 2000 women came by bus, tractor, bullock cart and on foot to CRUSADE’s Merattur training centre for its annual self-help group members’ celebration.  The day was opened by Mrs Rita Raj, the Secretary of MANUSHI, a NGO in Cuddalore District.  Mrs Raj had attended a similar CRUSADE event two years ago and commented on the growth in numbers and the impact of CRUSADE on women’s confidence.

The SHG members sang and danced. Sengazhuneermedu village performed a drama on the theme of domestic violence and men’s addiction to alcohol.  Then a women’s cultural group, Sakthi Kalai Kuzhu from Dindigul in southern Tamil Nadu put on a programme on themes of women’s empowerment .

Jothi Ramalingam, CRUSADE’s Secretary writes in his latest report that more self-help groups are being formed and that their financial strength is gradually increasing.  The groups now have Rs.1.4 million (£20,000) in their common funds which members can use for economic programmes.  Groups are now beginning to get their accounts audited and arrange loans from banks themselves.

One problem is that many of the dalit self-help groups have very few literate members.  Unless the groups can keep their own records they will remain dependent on CRUSADE for key functions.  Gandhigram Rural University reviewed CRUSADE’s past literacy programmes and trained nine volunteers to start a new project.  About 150 women enrolled in the nine new centres that have been set up.

There has been progress too in CRUSADE’s women’s health programme.  Mr Ponniah, who has wide experience of community health work with NGOs, is assessing the communities’ heath problems to develop a long-term health strategy.  CRUSADE organised an alcohol and drug awareness programme which 40 women attended.  It also arranged a free eye camp with support from the Tulsi Trust and Sankara Nethralaya.  Seven people had cataract operations and CRUSADE will ensure that they get spectacles.

Five SHG members from one group have an agreement with a firm in Chennai to produce candles, now they need loans to buy machines and initial raw materials.  CRUSADE has identified a growing interest in jute bags as people have become more aware of the environmental impact of plastic bags.  Four women received training with a firm in Chennai and CRUSADE is seeking support from the National Bank for Rural Development to run another training programme at Merattur.

As mentioned in a previous edition of Village Matters, AVI provided an emergency loan of £7000 for a housing programme.  This, together with loans totalling Rs170,000 (£2450) from the self-help groups’ common funds has enabled 23 women to build new houses – most of which have now been built. From January 2002, the women have been repaying the loans into a special fund, which will then be available for others to use to rebuild or improve their homes.  Support for this special initiative is always welcome!

A Dutch agency, Wilde Ganzen, has provided a grant of £5,700 towards the cost of building a new office/training centre in Sholavaram.   CRUSADE bought a small plot of land there with previous AVI grants and can now complete and equip the centre because of a large donation made by one of our supporters after her husband’s death.

AVI has agreed to help CRUSADE raise £94,000 over the next three years to enable it to more than double the number of SHGs under its wing to 500 (with 8000 members) and provide another £18,000 for the revolving funds which are essential for the sustainability of the programme.  All offers of support are welcome!