Self-help groups in ladakh have helped women transverse difficult periods. These groups are havens for women as not only have they opened livelihood opportunities for them, but have also made them self-dependent
Few of us work as labourers in leh and few run hotels in Debring when the leh-Manali road opens up during summer. During winter, when the road closes, we move back to leh”, said 37-year old Tsering lanzom who belongs to one of the many nomad families from Kharnak, Changthang region of ladakh, who have now moved to leh. The nomades are drawn to better opportunities for earning a living and for educating their children. Kharnakling colony in Choglamsar village that is close to leh has a bustling community from Changthang.
However, during winter, it is difficult to find work even in leh. lanzom is thankful that she can keep herself employed during the lean winter months when the demand is low. lanzom is a member of Debring Tsogspa, a self-help group initiated by women settled in Kharnakling.
The SHG is engaged in weaving traditional carpets or tsugdn, says lansom. She added, “All members of the group gather in one place; some of us spin wool, others weave tsugdn. Demand is for pairs of carpets and over a period of two months, we are able to weave roughly nine pairs of carpets. This fetches us Rs40,000.”
SHG has enabled women traverse difficult periods. Tashi Chonzom, from Nyoma, was pregnant when she got divorced. She had no source of income and was worried about her child. Fortunately, things turned around when she joined an SHG in her village and learned the art of carpet weaving. She started earning and regained faith. With a radiant smile, she said, “In summer, I work as a labourer with the Army. With my earnings, I can educate my child and dream of a better future.”
The Indian Army has a sizable presence in ladakh. This has opened livelihood opportunities for the local community such as manual labour, transport and a market for daily goods.
For Chonzom Zangmo, 40, who belongs to the nomad community, the move to leh was to be with her three children who were studying in the city. Zangmo too combines work as a labourer in the summer with spinning wool during winter months. She too is a part of the SHG. She believes that working in a group increases productivity; enthusiasm and fuels output.
Echoing the sentiments of many women, Zangmo said, “Although you do not completely become self-independent, you feel good that you don’t have to depend on your husband for money”. One of the biggest benefits she says is the loan facility for SHG members at zero interest. loans are also available for women outside the group, but for them, interest is charged.
Even though they function for three months, SHGs speak of a growth story in ladakh. lakzos Tsogspa an SHG in Mudh village, Changthang, has come a long way since its formation in 2007 with 13 women. Member and former President Tsering Yangdol, 54, recalls with a sense of pride how they began with a contribution of Rs10 from each member that grew to Rs50. Involved in carpet weaving; now the SHGs savings have bolstered with the sale of carpets.
Besides giving women another option to earn their livelihood, SHGs have helped revive traditional craft of the region which includes carpet weaving. Although some women inherited the skill from their parents, many picked it up at the centre itself. Shashi, a SHG, formed in 2010, in Chuchot village, actively promotes a variety of local handicraft at the district and State-level.
With increased earnings, women are able to contribute to social and cultural life of their community. Sometimes women are also able to donate from their savings for various purposes in the village which includes the restoration of monasteries. Several SHGs take steps to keep water bodies clean; promote practices to protect fragile ecology. They also work to raise awareness on issues of health and hygiene in the community.
Interestingly, the first Women SHG was established in ladakh in 1995, under the Watershed Development Programme, nearly a decade later than in other regions of the country. These have proliferated since and have been facilitated by a number of NGOs and Government agencies.
In a region that battles extreme weather conditions and poor access, SHGs are havens for women collectives to learn and share, earn an income during lean winter months and contribute to social and cultural affairs of the community.
Moreover, a number of stakeholders have taken interest and have jumped into the fray. For instance, SHG lakzos Tsogspa, caught the attention of leh Nutrition Project that provided the group with a weaving machine at a subsidised rate.
SHGs holds out a promise for the region, its women and the community at large. Ishey Paljor, Project Executive Director, lNP who has been a witness to its growth said, “SHGs have not only made women self-dependent, but have also empowered them. It has given them confidence.”
like hundreds of women in SHGs across ladakh, she sees great hope not only for their individual lives, but to protect and celebrate the wonderful traditions of this fascinating land.
(Charkha Features)