Fistful of grains: women SHG’s novel initiative helps MP's poor

In a dual fight against hunger and unscrupulous moneylenders, a group of women of Sakdi village in Sondwa block -- 250 kms west of Indore – collect fistfuls of grain in every meeting of the gram sabha and donate it to widows and underprivileged.

Updated on: Feb 5, 2014, 21:02:42 IST

Hindustan Times | By Ritesh Mishra, Indore/Alirajpur

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The fist is not always the manifestation of fury.

In a remote village of Madhya Pradesh’s Alirajpur district, it is the symbol of compassion and the desire to help the needy.

In a dual fight against hunger and unscrupulous moneylenders, a group of women of Sakdi village in Sondwa block -- 250 kms west of Indore – collect fistfuls of grain in every meeting of the gram sabha and donate it to widows and underprivileged elderly people of the village.

“We formed a self help group (SHG) and women members donate a fistful of grain every month. When we collect more than 50 kg of grains, we donate it to widows or elderly landless residents of the village who have no source of income. The idea is that no one should sleep hungry in the village,” said Parvati Shankar, a resident of Sakdi village.

The SHG was created under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).

NRLM CEO ML Belwal floated the idea of SHG and Sondwa Block in Alirajpur district was chosen as a “resource block” for this.

“The idea (behind the initiative) is to get rid of moneylenders and make the villagers financially stable. It is now successful in the villages of the block,” claimed Belwal.

Along with the fistful of grains, each woman member of the SHG also collects Rs 10 per meeting.

They have started a “bank” through which they are now helping the poor and deprived of their village and also lending money to women for small trades.

There are also other villages including Gulvat, Rosiya and Kulvat, where this novel idea is working well and people’s dependence on moneylenders has ebbed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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