'The most important thing we've developed is courage'

Why did you form the GVMS?
Women need remunerative work so they can be economically independent and take better care of their family's needs. We want to learn new things, this contributes to our development. We got the idea after observing the work of the BKS. While the BKS has done a lot, many problems specific to women remained unsolved. Most important of these was our desire to learn some gainful occupation that remained unfulfilled. That's when we decided to form our own organisation.

How has the Sangha changed your lives?
The most important thing we've all developed is courage. We are not afraid of men, of outsiders, of speaking up in meetings or of officials any more. We can stand up for our rights.

But have you gained anything materially?
We got the forest department to sanction a nursery recently. We have shown we can raise nurseries. The forest department buys our saplings. Earlier, they would just throw a few rupees at the nursery workers, but we changed that. Each woman got four quintals of rice as payment this year. Now, we are planning to set up our own private nursery. Some women are learning tailoring and we will get the government to give us sewing machines soon.

How have the men reacted to your activities?
We are perhaps not very popular, at least we were not so initially. But now they have understood our power, and they see that we are working for everyone's good, so they don't interfere.

A major achievement is the total ban on drinking alcohol. We don't tolerate drunkards and we don't allow anyone to spend money on liquor even outside the village. Only two men have not changed their drinking habits, but they stay outside the village most of the time.