*Women rise up to poll challenge * * - Self-help groups aid candidates at grassroots level* ARTI SAHULIYAR NGO members discuss campaign issues for the civic polls on Thursday. Picture by Hardeep Singh
*Ranchi, March 20:* Self-help groups (SHGs) of women in the capital are living up to their reputation. In Ranchi, some housewives have formed SHGs to lend financial support to local women candidates in the civic polls and to canvass votes. Breaking away from the usual aim of SHGs, which is income-driven, these groups are trying to capture power at the grassroots. Four to five groups have been created in several of the 55 wards in Ranchi with 10 per team. The members, along with the woman candidate concerned, are going from door-to-door seeking votes. One such new committee, called the Ram Vikas Mahila Samiti, is even collecting Rs 10 per household to meet the poll expenditure of candidates unable to come up with the money. The canvassing does provide a refreshing change from the usual election paraphernalia of fancy cars and mass campaigning. The SHGs promise to be fruitful long after the elections are over. "The project has taught us to be financially independent," said one who does not want to lose that taste. The women candidates are grateful to the SHGs. Jagrani Kujur is even relieved to get help from the housewives and teachers in her locality. The candidate for mayor's chair from ward 35 said the help of SHGs was better than receiving any from politicians. "We thought of roping in these ordinary women for help as they would devote time to help without any vested interests," she added. Chintamani Tirkey from Lower Chutia, who is in the race for mayor, said: "These women took up the initiative to support me. They decided that they wanted someone from their locality to represent them, solve their problems and generate employment." The head of a SHG in Lower Chutia, Savitri Devi, was candid is accepting that not all husbands were supportive of their idea. "Initially we were hesitant to support Chintamani as we felt it would be a waste of time. Moreover, our husbands were not supportive. But after consulting with other housewives in our locality we came to the conclusion that Chintamani is capable of being the mayor. We have known her for 20 years," she said. "The civic polls have given us an opportunity to be independent, which we would not have otherwise got. It has made us understand that if a woman decided to do something in life, she can do it," said Savitri Devi. -- website: www.freewebs.com/epgorissa
