A benefited class giving back something to the society
Says Kanchan Parulekar winner of Sarda Equal Opportunities Award on her work for rural women ……Dhanya Nair
Says Kanchan Parulekar winner of Sarda Equal Opportunities Award on her work for rural women ……Dhanya Nair
She is 57-year-old and counting, but age has not deterred her from carrying on with the work that means the most to her. Kanchan Parulekar left her cushy job as a bank officer in Bank of Maharashtra to give a fresh lease of life to underprivileged women from rural pockets of Maharashtra. In 1992, she started Swayamsidda, an organisation to enable marginalised women transcend barriers of poverty and illiteracy and build a better world for themselves and subsequently improve the community they are living in through specific self-help groups, keeping in mind the peculiarity of a place and community. Despite several success stories, Parulekar does not think she is doing something humongous. In Mumbai to receive the Sarda Equal Opportunities Award for her contribution, she said her work is just a benefited class giving back something to the society.
Q: How and when did you start your work?
Parulekar: I was born in very humble settings. Though my father and mother did not have much of their own, they gave a part of their earnings to some social cause; naturally the habit got instilled in me early on. At the age of 13, an MP from Kolhapur, Dr V T Patil adopted me and took charge of my education. While I was growing up, my parents and my foster dad taught me that the privileged class should give something back to the society. Hence, after completing my education and donning several roles like teacher, bank clerk and bank officer, I started working for the upliftment of rural woman. The work truly satisfied me and I knew this is what I have always wanted to do.
Parulekar: I was born in very humble settings. Though my father and mother did not have much of their own, they gave a part of their earnings to some social cause; naturally the habit got instilled in me early on. At the age of 13, an MP from Kolhapur, Dr V T Patil adopted me and took charge of my education. While I was growing up, my parents and my foster dad taught me that the privileged class should give something back to the society. Hence, after completing my education and donning several roles like teacher, bank clerk and bank officer, I started working for the upliftment of rural woman. The work truly satisfied me and I knew this is what I have always wanted to do.
Q: Why did you choose to work for rural women?
Parulekar: Needless to say, women across communities are just known as the weaker sex. In rural areas, gender bias is of a different paradigm. There is absolutely no education, no awareness and hence they feel that it is alright to be treated as secondary bodies. I wanted to make them self-reliant. Through non-formal education, we tapped their potential and created a way they can use their hidden talent for their benefit. All this, we did without completely changing their family life. We started our programme first in Kolhapur city before moving on to villages like Radhagiri, Chongad, Gaganbhawda all in Kolhapur.
Parulekar: Needless to say, women across communities are just known as the weaker sex. In rural areas, gender bias is of a different paradigm. There is absolutely no education, no awareness and hence they feel that it is alright to be treated as secondary bodies. I wanted to make them self-reliant. Through non-formal education, we tapped their potential and created a way they can use their hidden talent for their benefit. All this, we did without completely changing their family life. We started our programme first in Kolhapur city before moving on to villages like Radhagiri, Chongad, Gaganbhawda all in Kolhapur.
Q: Could you elaborate on this process?
Parulekar: Each village, each community is known for their particular natural resource. Similarly, each woman is good at something. Keeping these two things in mind, we started different self-help groups. Women, who were good at pickle making, were trained in that further; we also encouraged them to market their own goods. This further boosted their confidence. We trained them in nursery, contract and community farming, mushroom cultivation and so on. The idea was motivate them to get rid of any kind of dependency.
Parulekar: Each village, each community is known for their particular natural resource. Similarly, each woman is good at something. Keeping these two things in mind, we started different self-help groups. Women, who were good at pickle making, were trained in that further; we also encouraged them to market their own goods. This further boosted their confidence. We trained them in nursery, contract and community farming, mushroom cultivation and so on. The idea was motivate them to get rid of any kind of dependency.
Q: Did you face opposition from male members of the family, community?
Parulekar: When women bring in money to the family through their sweat, they are automatically welcomed and respected. Hence, the men actually supported their women. Also, our programmes did not force them to cut on family time. Not only that, we taught them how to utilise the earned money. In any case, we dont want to start age-old gender fights. Women and men can actually work together for a better family, a better society.
Parulekar: When women bring in money to the family through their sweat, they are automatically welcomed and respected. Hence, the men actually supported their women. Also, our programmes did not force them to cut on family time. Not only that, we taught them how to utilise the earned money. In any case, we dont want to start age-old gender fights. Women and men can actually work together for a better family, a better society.
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-benefited-class-giving-back-something-to-the-society/435831/
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-benefited-class-giving-back-something-to-the-society/435831/2