Woman empowerment and entrepreneurship - together - are a sign of intensity and achieving independence. For, there are lot of challenges a woman has to still face; for example, striking a work-life balance chord in the perceived corporate culture scenario. Coming to rural India- there are many young faces - which are making a difference to the society today.
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Some of them have achieved success through their unprecedented talent, while others have made their mark by their contribution to the upliftment of the society, or just to meet their own ends. Whatever be the channel of success, it has definitely given Indian rural society an edge. Today, we share with you an exemplary effort of a 53-year-old woman in Southern India who has inspired many women in her village, and the community at large.
When it comes to the rural community of India, the common perception of a lady doing the usual household chores incessantly is the image. Extend our perception to many women in India facing the flak of their husbands; unfortunately even violence and abuse are not unusual at all. Now, cut to an image of a 53-year old, who after many years of struggle and then, hard work, has made her way to achieve modest means for her family. Yes, she has a television, a fan, a bed - all that was unheard of in her poverty-stricken village. She has in fact lifted her whole village out of poverty - backed by an incredible story of wit and courage.?
Shanta¡¯s dynamic personality, coupled with her unmatched drive and ability of persuasion, is a story to be shared. For, she may not necessarily like being called a role model, but that doesn¡¯t negate her instrumental role in inculcating confidence among the women in her village. Or to say, bring a perceptional shift in the mindset of people, residing in small villages. Her story has inspired many in her neighboring villages - and yes, she has been making efforts to bring about this change elsewhere as well. ?
Her spirit of entrepreneurship and character can be accepted by the mere fact that she took up a government job (voluntarily), at a time when she was stuck in poverty. This job only reimbursed her with her bus fare from the village to the office. She had been poor in her own life, and her marriage only made her poorer. She has two children, and of course, it would have been a challenge to make ends meet. However, her living conditions did not deter her from picking a job - which gave her no salary at this hard juncture of life. Perhaps, her destiny was awaiting her!
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This decision of her life speaks volume about her character, considering that she perceived it to pave the way for gaining exposure - beyond her family and the community. Yet, it is bold, as she had been residing in a village where a woman was not even allowed to use their husband¡¯s surname. She was supposed to be confined to the four walls of her home; however, it was her extreme poverty which drove her to pick up this no-salary job.
Once the decision was taken, there was no looking back for Shantha. Her first enterprising break came when she learned about a micro-finance opportunity- to create a women¡¯s self-help group. The idea was to have a member base - where each woman contributes an equal amount of money; in turn, backed by an equal funding from the bank. This whole effort is still working towards helping the women-based group to do business, as at that time. The loans were given at a subsidised rate, to be repaid over a period of time.?
However, it is not that Shantha had an easy way out suddenly. Convinced with the idea, she approached other women in her villages to come out and contribute. This was no way a cake walk. She knocked at their doors many times, to contribute meager amounts. This was a hard task in a poverty-stricken village community. Yet, Shantha inspired many women by sharing ideas with them on how to save money over the next couple of years.?
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Her first enterprising idea was to buy cows and sell milk. Then in 2009, she got her first big break. Still working in the government office, she learnt about a company looking to outsource their business for packaging their manufactured products. She used the same micro finance group model to rent a space and start this big business.?
While she was inspired to drive her own village out of poverty in the beginning, her story today has inspired many more to follow the path. She now plays a supervisory role in creating many more self-finance groups. Stretching her enterprising imagination a step forward, she has been helping other women in surrounding villages to join the mission. She helps the illiterate women in filling up the bank forms, with a noble intention of helping other women set up their own micro-finance groups.?
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