Real Change in Indian Villages

Tomorrow I have the chance to teach to a group of people who have affected real change in villages throughout the area. They have gone in to help create a series of programs that allow men and women to do things in their own communities. This is real community action at play. One of the leaders, a social worker named Anbu, is a skilled worker and therapist.

The program helps to create self help groups; micro finance programs; mediation, community development. This is the kind of program that we teach about in university but here it is in action. Essential the Village Action Group has found a way to take the theory and show that it can, in fact, be done

A simple example is finding ways to do micro financing which is an idea created by Prof. Yunnis in Bangladesh. If the local moneylender is allowed to flourish, he will charge a rate of 90% per year. This leaves the borrower in a no win, dependency situation. If, instead, you can create small loans and charge rates that are typical of the banks, then you create room for progress. The projects can be entrepreneurial in nature or help a community with clean drinking water.

The VAG is also helping families address difficult topics such as domestic violence and the rapidly growing problems of alcoholism.  I am impressed with the way that they can bring groups of villagers together to talk about difficult issues that may not have been addressed otherwise. An example is relating to each other while breaking down the still present caste barriers.

The program connects villagers with health care service and increase environmental awareness.

They are also trying to work with the psych social issues that can be so profound here. This region of India has one of the highest suicide rates in the country. Thus, they are bringing counseling into the picture.  Anbu has told me of some of her work which is quite skilled and reflective of the best principles of social work – respect for the client; empowerment; patience; availability; communication and a view to how the client will take long term ownership of her life.

This is how real social change occurs in communities. VAG doesn’t own the change – it facilitates it. The communities come to own it. They take on leadership.  They now work with some 80 villages and hamlets.

The program is now almost 30 years in the making. Quite revolutionary, when you think about it, particularly in rural India where traditions can hold on. When I was here last year, I was told a story about a small project in a village nearby where children come to play and do homework, The project leaders had managed to spruce up the building. The landlord wanted a new high rent or to take the building back. Young men from the village got together to force the landlord to allow the project to continue.

I am excited to have been invited to give a workshop to these amazing people who are having profound impacts on so many villages. More after the training day on Saturday!