CHAPTER-V

GOVERNMENTS INITIATIVE FOR

DEVELOPMENT OF MEWAT

The state of Haryana earlier a part of the composite state of

Punjab came into being in 1966. After its creation as a new state

Haryana made tremendous progress, especially in agriculture sector

over the last 30 years. With the introduction of "Green Revolution"

technology, Haryana became, very soon, the second surplus food

grains producing state after Punjab and one of the fastest growing

state in the country (UNDP, 1997). Consequently, poverty in the state

reduced to 8.74 percent in (1999-2000) according to Planning

Commission.

But the progress made by the state is quite uneven. There is a

regional imbalance in the development made. The southern part of

the state is still backward.· The main cause is that the southern region

is inadequately endowed with natural resources such as climate,

rainfall, land, soil, forest, water availability, irrigation etc. There is Jack

of infrastructure like education, health and transport facilities also.

Mewat, the area of present study, inhabited by a particular Meo

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community, is a part of the relatively backward southern region of the

state. Lite in Mewat area is facing problems of acute poverty, illiteracy

and ignorance. The area lags behind the rest of Haryana on almost

every yardstick of development indices. The policies of the state

government for Mewat area has had a crippling effect upon the Mea

community, particularly women.

Mewat Development Board:

The government of haryana has constituted the 'Mewat

Development Board' on 16-01-1980 The Mewat Development Board

(MOB) is a policy making board under the Chairmanship of the Chief

Minister, Haryana which has the overall charge of formulation,

implementation and review of the various special schemes in the

area. Under the Chairmanship of the Financial Commissioner

(Revenue}, a State Implementation Committee (SIC) with its

headquarters at Chandigarh was also constituted. Later this

committee is substituted by Implementation Committee (IC)

constituted under the Chairmanship of the Commissioner, Gurgaon

Division with its headquarters at Gurgaon. The Committee is

delegated with full administrative and financial powers for actual

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formulation, implementation and monitoring of specific schemes for

development of Mewat region.

Mewat Development Agency:

The Mewat Development Agency (MDA) was constituted

on 16th August, 1980 and was got registered as Society under the

Society Registration Act. It is an autonomous body created for the

development of Mewat. The Mewat Development Agency (MDA) is

field office of the Mewat Development Board, having its headquarter

at Nuh (Gurgaon). The object of the constitution of the Board and

Mewat Development agency is to ameliorate the conditions of

poverty, unemployment, economic and social backwardness of this

area which has shown few signs of advancement trend despite the

development programme undertaken during the successive plans. At

the district level it is headed by the Commissioner, Gurgaon Division

as its chairman and a Senior scale LA.S officer as its Chief Executive

Officer. Under the general supervision of the Board, MDA has been

delegated full administrative and financial powers for actual

formulation and implementation of specific schemes. The progress of

scheme is monitored regularly by Mewat Development Agency.

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The Mewat Development Agency undertakes special

comprehensive schemes for the all round development of the area. lt

formulates specific schemes to raise the standard of living of people

in general and identify beneficiaries belonging to weaker sections in

particular. Special schemes are taken up by MDA under the

additional allocation of the funds made by the State Government.

Mewat Development Agency and_ Its Schemes:

In order to ensure adequate development of this region

infrastructure have been created and basic amenities provided to the

masses in the field of agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, health,

water supply, industries, establishment of Industrial Training Institutes

and Industrial Estate, residential housing colonies, and education etc.

The Mewat Development Board spent approximately a sum of Rs.

43.00 crores on various Development Schemes in the region since its

inception.

A. Agricultural Sector

a.

b.

C.

Agriculture

Irrigation

Animal Husbandry

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Amount Rs. in Crores

2.65

2.10

1.56

d. Fisheries 0.54

e. Forest 1.37

Total 8.00

B. Industry Sector

a. Industry 6.30

b. I.T.I.'S 1.79

Total 8.09

c. Education 12.54

D. Service Sector

a. Housing 5.66

b. Water supply 3.53

C. Health 1.31

d. Other Schemes 3.50

Total 14.00

Grand Total 42.85 Crores

But limited additionality of resources, inadequate planning

capacity and development focus of line departments to modify their

activities in accordance with Mewat Development Agency directives

193

resulted in the agency having little development impact on the Mewat

area. MDA's efforts to improve infrastructure training and services,

though considerable and well-intentioned have not been of great

benefit to the local population, where facilities have been established,

staff and supplies have been frequenty insufficient, resulting in a

reduction in the credibility of MDA's development efforts.

The increasing difficulties facing the people of Mewat, caused

both Government of Haryana and the people themselves to

reconsider the need for a change .. On the part of the Government

there was a willingness to adopt a more participatory approach to

-development, which fits in well with the increased responsibility for

rural development given to local authorities under the Panchayati Raj.

Economic pressures are also obliging the people of Mewat to seek

alternative ways of increasing agricultural productivity and exploiting

alternative sources of income as well as heightening awareness of

the importance of better education and improved health.

New Thrust to Development (IFAD-MADP)

The Mewat Development Agency has made tremendous efforts

in this backward area and has successfully created infrastructural

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facilities and implemented several beneficiary oriented schemes for

income generation and social development. However people's

participation in development efforts remained deficient and there still

was great scope for Human Resource Development. The

Government of Haryana has entered into an agreement with the

International Fund for Agricultural Development, (IF AD), Rome, which

is an organ of the United Nations. The agreement was signed on 7-4-

95, for the implementation of a unique area development project

called Mewat Area Development project (MADP). The Project

scheduled for seven years form 1995-96 to 2002 is to the tune of Rs.

70 crores. On 15th November 1995, the MADP was launched. The

Project aimed at overall Socio-Economic Development of Mewat with

special emphasis on active participation of community, especially

women.

The Project Financing Pattern is as follows:

IFAD SHARE 67.1%

Government of Haryana Share

Beneficiaries share

Objectives of Mewat Area Development Project.

The overall objectives of the project were to :

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a) Improve the economic and social well being of Meo Community

b) Promote gender self reliance on a sustainable basis.

c) Broaden the range of economic opportunities available to the

community, especially women.

d) Establishment of women's groups (Mahila Mandals) actively

involved in community development.

e) Improvement in women's literacy and general health and well

being;

f) Upgrading of 30 private girls schools, improvement in

attendance, training of 300 female teachers from the Mewat

Area.

g) Safeguarding of the potable water supply of 200 villages

Project Strategy and Components:

The project approach is holistic with respect to both economic

and social aspects of development. In a situation such as that of

Mewat, where social indicators are at a particularly low level, it is

considered that economic development cannot and will not take place

on a sustainable basis in the absence of social development. The

project is innovative in its emphasis on social development in the

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context of and as a pre-requisite for economic development. Attention

is given to broader issues of development such as environment of

women, there by enhancing their potential for contributing to long

term community development, rather than simply facilitating their

involvement in economic activities.

The first step of the project strategy was to give a major thrust

to awareness in order to engender a change in social outlook and

strengthen the urge for development among the target group. Key

actors in this endeavor would be experienced NGOs who would focus

on mobilizing the local community, particularly women and their

development.

The major short - coming of previous well intentioned

government efforts to develop the Mewat area has been identified as

the insufficiency of beneficiary participation in development initiatives.

In order to address this shortcoming, the most important element of

project strategy will be full participation of the Meo community in

project implementation. This will range from selection of activities to

their operation and maintenance.

Another aspect of project strategy is the establishment of close

working relationships between Mewat Development Agency, NGOs,

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line departments and other official agencies including local banks.

This is essential to ensure effective project implementation with full

beneficiary participation.

Project Components: The project will pursue its objectives

through three components:

Economic Activities : Which would assist the Mea Community to

raise productivity of agricultural enterprises and provide opportunities,

for diversification of incomes through sub-components covering soil

and water conservation, canal irrigation development, arable crops

development, horticulture development, livestock improvement and

training in off-farm activities.

b) Social Development: considered essential to permit the target

group to take full advantage of opportunities for economic

development, this component would focus on community and

women's development with strong emphasis on critical aspects of

education and health including drinking water supply.

c) Project Management : A support component involving minimal

strengthening of existing institutions in order to ensure effective

project execution, this component also includes provision for

monitoring and evaluation of project activities.

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Component

A. Economic Activities

B.

Soil and water Conservation

Canal Irrigation Development

Arable Crop Development

Horticulture Development

Live Stock Development

Off-Farm Development

Social Development

Outlay (Rs. in crores)

12.62

11.03

2.17

1.77

5.43

8.46

Development Support Communication 1.22

Community Development 11.79

Formal Education 3.16

Rural Water supply 9.20

C. Project Management

Mewat Development Agency 3.20

Project Evaluation 0.14

Total 70.19

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Government initiative for upliftment of women :

Unlike many other states, Haryana is poorly served by private

voluntary organizations working with the poor, there are very few

local or even national Non Government Organization operating in the

state. This situation is no different in Mewat where there is no

effective NGO infrastructure. Six small local NGOs are working in the

area. Their leaders having dedication and determination to promote

development in Mewat, but they are constrained by lack of funds and

technical resources and clear direction. Most of the exiting NGOs

have focussed their efforts on education, including adult literacy,

particularly for girls and women. These NGOs also emphasizes

reproductive health issues and also provides allied services such as

women's general health advice and child care.

Operational NGO's :- The number of NGOs involved in the project

operations have increased. However, only Society for Promotion of

Youth and Masses (SPYM), Mewat Social and Education

Development Society (MSEDS) and Spandana are directly involved

in women and child development efforts and can be reffered to as the

'operational NGO's. Mewat Social and Education Development

200

society (MSEDS) is a local NGO with sharp focus on the poor

households, having a staff with strong commitment to the

development of the Mewat area, and a reasonably good monitoring

system. The staff is committed to the project objectives and are

enthusiastic in responding to the community's needs. The NGO is

working in Punhana and Firozepur Jhirka blocks.

Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM): The NGO

has its headquarters outside the project area at New Delhi to shift

project management responsibility to the project coordinators residing

in the project area. It focus on the poor households in Nagina and

Hathin blocks.

Sapandana and Deepalaya, NGOs are working in Taoru Block.

Sawera and Development Support Team (DST) are working in Nuh

Block

Allarippu and Institute of Development Communication (IDC) are

supporting NGO's. Allarippu has its headquarters outside the project

area; however, most of the field staff live in the project area. It has

programmed to support to other operational NGOs in the area. This

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organization communicates relevant messages to the felt needs of

the Meo community in the area with its plays and songs focussed on

the themes of SHG formation, -primary education and women

empowerment.

Institute of Development Communication (IDC): The NGO has

proposed to provide the following services to the Project

Management:

a) Preparation of participatory village development plans for the

model villages along with the line departments, MDA and the

NGOs.

b) Provide training to NGOs and project staff on development

communication, convergence strategies, gender issues in

development, and girl child education for teachers.

c) Prepare relevant training resource material for implementation

of village development plans; and

d) Preparation of primary education plan for Mewat with the

assistance of national/state level education research/training

institutions.

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The Asian Society for Entrepreneurship Education and Development

(ASEED) has started training in tailoring in Ferozepur Jhirka Block.

Though its office is outside the project area, it has established a

modest office within the Block. ASEED has the capacity to expand its

operations throughout the project area and it should provide services

to the entire area to meet the widespread demand from women for

training in tailoring and embroidery, Jute bag, blanket and Durri

making. Number of persons to be trained in one batch is 25.

Sahelis and Rural Nurse:-

Both MSEDS and SPYM have a large number of Sahelies.

Sahelis are social animators selected from among village women by

NGOs and supported by Mewat Development Agency. They perform

the following functions:-

a) Bring about an awakening among the village women for

betterment of their lot.

b) Acquaint themselves with the life and problems of villagers.

c) Discuss the people's problems with concerned persons and find

solutions.

d) Form self-help group and sustain them.

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e) Educate the people about the MDA schemes and objectives.

f) Create awareness about immunization, sanitation and nutrition.

g) Popularise alternative vocations.

h) Create climate against gender discrimination and casteism.

i) Encourage education, especially of the girl-child.

j) Co-ordinate with various line departments about the people's

needs and problems.

Sahelis have to promote the development fa SHGs for

mobilization of savings, and she would be guided by the NGO to

whom she would be accountable. 500 sahelis are being trained in

community mobilization, group formation, basic communication

techniques, family planning, nutrition, preventive health and hygiene

by the project. They are provided with a bicycle. They should be

involved with all development efforts of the village.

The Mahila Mandals would be formed in each village and

Saheli would be responsible for ensuring that regular meetings are

held and encouraging women to attend. She would also pass on

knowledge obtained from her training in subjects such as health,

hygiene and family planning. The Mahila Mandals of three villages

joined together to form a Markaz organised by a rural nurse. 250

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nurses are trained for 3 months and supported financially by the

Project, they would also be provided with a moped. The meetings of

the Markaz provide an opportunity for women to interact with women

of other villages, They would be the major forum for campaigns,

organized by the rural nurse, in health, hygiene, adult literacy etc. As

further support to the critical area of women's health, 250 Auxiliary

Nurse Midwives (ANM) are trained and provided with midwifery kits

by the project.

Self Help Groups For Development

The concept of Self-Help Group (SHG) is derived from

principles of co-operation. Self help and Co-operation form the basis

0f the SHG. The economically poor and marginalised communities

havA been dependent on the state in their quest for a better life. Non­

Governmental organisations (NGOs) working with marginaUsed

communities living in poverty all over the area have realised the

importance of collective effort by the people, without dependence on

others, for their economic development.

A self help group is a group of people who come together for

pooling their resources and organizing services of their individual and

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collective development. The member of the SHGs come together on

the basis of a common bond and pool their human, physical,

financial, technical, intellectual and informative resources and use

them for the collective benefit and development of all members and

the community.

A group of women upto 20 can be formed into an SHG. The

women should know one another and should belong to the same

village with equal socio-economic status. The group should have a

name and rules and regulation framed by the members of the group.

The members should decide the amount of regular savings

depending upon their financial capacity, and also all other matters

pertaining to operational and financial aspects of the SHG. A specific

date and time must be fixed for the regular group meeting according

to the convenience of the members. The group should elect three

leaders from among themselves to manage the group affairs and

operate the bank account. The group can open an account in any of

the commercial banks to deposit their savings and to avail loan facility

under the SHG linkage programme. The group must be pooling in

their thrift/savings money for at least 6 to 12 months before beginning

the loaning activity.

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The group will fix the rate of interest on loans and saving

keeping in view the interest rates charged by local money lenders

and the banks. The group should fix a maximum limit for loaning,

linking it with the savings for security reasons. Initially the group may

keep the thrift loan ratio at 1:3. The regular savings of the group

should be rotated in loaning. All the decisions on loan disbursement

will be taken by the members in the group meeting on the basis of the

priority of the needs of the applicant member. Though loans can be

given for various purposes including crisis credit and consumption, it

is important to encourage members to take loans for income

generating activities. It is the collective responsibility of the group to

ensure the repayment of loans taken from external sources.

A 1vantages:- An SHG can be important for achieving the

economic and socio political empowerment of those in poverty if

appropriate, adequate and timely inputs are provided. SHGs can

bring the following benefits to the people if they are run on the

principles of co-operation through the participation of the people.

SHGs provide opportunities to the poor women

a) To save small amounts

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b) To provide access to easy, user friendly and cost effective

credit.

c) To fulfill their financial needs for crisis credit and consumption

d) To interact with others in the community on a common platform

and to develop a collective bargaining power.

e) To take up socio economic and political issues, particularly in

relation to gender and human rights, through a collective

format.

f) To mainstream women into the development process by

providing them with access to and control over productive

resources and assets.

g) To take up self employment activities and enhance their

mcome.

h) To learn from others experience and share their experience

with others.

Thrust Upon NGOs:-

1. Operational NGO's will form SHG's. Atleast one SHG will be

formed in each village. The number may go up until all the

target group members are covered under SHGs. Each group

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will consist of about 20 members. The SHGs will mobilise

savings and hold weekly meetings to discuss their own

agenda. In the beginning SHG can start group loaning from its

own savings at a low rate of interest. As and when group

started handling their money effectively, this will be linked to

banks for financial assistance to fulfill financial needs of the

group.

2. Formation, training, monitoring and documentation in SHG's

will be the task of NGO staff. NGO will work as watch dogs for

the SHG.

3. As the groups become six months old, its performance will be

assessed by NGOs. The format for grading will be designed by

MDA in consultation with NGOs concerned. MDA will verify the

graded group and select for matching grant. This will create

confidence among the members and it will get social

recognition in the village.

4. NGOs can impart training to SHGs in skills upgradation in

different fields.

5. NGOs will identify the off farm activities for skills upgradation

training to SHG members.

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6. NGO staff will have continuous interaction with villagers to

create conducive atmosphere to undertake community action

programme by SHGs.

7. Co-ordination with official bodies - MDA and Line Departments

8. Establish a close coordination with the Panchayat. Assist in

Panchayat sponsored development programmes.

9. Encourage SHGs to discuss and address social issues like

girls education, health, sanitation, cleanliness etc.

Status of S.H.G's in Mewat

Community and Women's development forms an important

component of Mewat Area Development Project (M.A.D.P).

Especially important is the need to promote gender sensitization and

the development of women who are particularly underprivileged in

Mewat. The efforts of the NGOs have started yielding results and

their presence is being felt in the villages of Mewat. The self-help

groups (SHG's) have become functionally dynamic and the growing

confidence of women in their ability to improve their lives as a result

of these NGO's. Work under this component is being handled by

various NGOs. Till February 28, 1999 there were three NGOs ·­

M.S.E.D.S., S.P.Y.M and Spandana -working in different blocks of

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Mewat. The status of SHGs in Mewat required to be taken for their

improvement at that time was an under:

Table- 5.1

Total number of SHG's and Total members as on 28.02.1999

M.S.E.D.S S.P.Y.M Spandana Punhana F.P.Jhirka Total Hath in Nag ina Total Taoru Total Average

group size Total No. of 70 45 115 57 40 97 39 251 -SHGs Total 1310 685 1995 804 556 1360 508 3863 15.39 Members

Source: MDA, Nuh

If we look at table - 5.1, we will find that till Feb. 28, 1999, a

total of 251 SHGs had been formed under M.A. D.P. Out of these 115

SHGs were formed by MS.E.D.S. in Punhana and Firozepur Jhirka

blocks, 97 by S.P.Y.M in Hathin and Nagina blocks and 39 by

Spandana in Taoru block. No SHGs had been formed in Nuh block till

the end of Feb., 1999.

The total no. of members in 251 SHGs was 3863 with the

average group size of 15.39. Maximum number of members were

enrolled in Punhana (1310) which also has the maximum no. of

SHGs i.e. 70. The least number of members were enrolled in Taoru

(508) which also had the minimum number of SHGs (39). This is

because the formation of SHGs started much earlier in Punhana and

other blocks as compared to Taoru block. Also, the NGO- M.S.E.D.S

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is local based NGO and the co-ordinator of the NGO is well awared

about the social and economic backwardness of the area.

Table- 5.2

Status of savings and Loans as on 28.02.1999

M.S.E.D.S S.P.Y.M Spandana Punhana F.P. Total Hath in Nag ina Total Taoru Total Average

Jhirka group size Total No. of 70 45 115 57 40 97 39 251 -SHGs Total Savings 499183 207229 706412 132451 155454 287905 101727 1096044 4366.7 Total Account 140000 43400 183400 17500 46411 63911 36200 283511 1129.5 of loans issued Total amount 27730 14525 42255 3200 25521 28721 6735 77711 -of loans repaid Total interest 3059 1170 4229 160 703 863 1650 6742 -collected Total no of 21 7 28 10 13 23 7 58 -groups issuing loans

Source: MDA, Nuh

Table - 5.2 shows the total savings made by the SHGs, the total

amount of loans given, amount repaid, interest collected and total

number of groups issuing loans till the end of February, 1999. From

table we find that a total savings of Rs. 1096044/- had been made by

the 251 SHGs formed under M.A.D.P. The maximum savings of Rs.

499183/- was made in Punhana while the minimum of Rs. 101727/-

was made in Taoru block. If we try to calculate the average savings

per SHG we find that the maximum of Rs. 7131/- per SHG was made

in Punhana and the minimum of Rs. 2323/- per SHG was made in

Hathin. This may be because the SHG members in some blocks do

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Total SHGs

not belong to the 'core poor' among the families. Table shows that an

amount of Rs. 283511/- had been issued as loans to members out of

the total savings of Rs. 1096044/- which is 25.87 percent of the

sav1ngs. The maximum amount of loans have been issued in

Punhana (Rs. 1 ,40,000/-) while the minimum is in Hath in.

Table- 5.3

Number of SHGs which have received matching grants from MDA as

on 28.02.1999

M.S.E.D.S S.P.Y.M Spandana Punhana F.P. Total Hath in Nag ina Total Taoru Total Average

Jhirka group size No. of 70 45 115 57 40 97 39 251 -

No. of SHGs 18 8 26 5 3 8 - 34 -which got matching grants Amount of 143523 42886 186409 13731 12331 26062 - 212471 6349.14 matching grants received

Source : MDA, Nuh.

Table - 5.2 shows Repayment and interest paid also. An amount of

Rs. 77711/- has been repaid out of the total amount of Rs. 283511/-

issued as loans which comes to 27.4 percent of the total. The

maximum amount of repayment has been made in Punhana (Rs.

27,730/-) followed by Nagina (25521/-) while the least repayment of

loans has been in Hath in (Rs. 3200/-). A sum of Rs. 67 42/- has been

collected as interest on the loans issued. The maximum interest has

213

been collected in Punhana (Rs. 3059/-) followed by Taoru (Rs.1650/-)

while the least interest has been in Hath in (Rs. 160/-)

58 SHGs 9ut of the total 251 (i.e. 23.1 percent) are issuing

loans to members. The maximum figure is from Punhana (21) while

the least is from Fiozepur Zhirka and Taoru (7 each).

Table- 5.3 shows that in order to encourage the SHGs which

are functioning well and to motivate the others to improve their

functioning, the MDA provided matching grants to 34 SHGs at the

Mewat Mela held in December 1999 at Nuh. Besides, two sewing

machines per SHG were provided to the selected SHGs.

The SHGs were selected on the basis of their performance in

terms of regularity of meetings, attendance of members, economic

status of the members, literacy and numeracy, amount of saving,

book keeping, cash handling etc. till the month of February 28, 1999.

Out of the 34 selected SHGs, 18 were from Punhana, 8 from

Ferozepur Jhirka, 6 form Hathin, and 3 from Nagina.

A total amount of Rs. 212471/- was provided as matching

grants by the MDA to the 34 selected SHGs. The maximum matching

grants of Rs. 143523/- was received by the SHGs of Punhana and

the minimum of Rs. 12331/- was received by the SHGs of Nagina.

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In terms of percentage, only 13.5 percent of the total SHGs

were found eligible for matching grants. However, the SHGs formed

after February, 1999 were not considered for selection. This shows

that a lot requires to be done to make the SHGs sustainable.

In order to strengthen the functioning of SHGs on a sustainable

basis it is necessary that the savings of the SHGs should not merely

keep lying in their bank accounts but should remain in circulation in

the form of loans. It will help the groups to earn interest on the loans

and thereby increase their capital. The organization and functioning

of SHGs in these blocks have gradually started improving the

economic status of the Meo Women. The women perceive

membership of the group as a stepping-stone for their empowerment.

The women members have never participated in any activity

collectively outside their homes in the past and the opportunity for

participating in the group meetings has enhanced their confidence

and self-esteem. The women empowerment efforts would be

sustained by strengthening the existing self-help groups, expanding

their coverage, facilitating linkage with credit institutions and

promoting economic enterprises.

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Stitching and Tailoring Training for Women :

ASEED - an NGO working in Mewat has started a 6 month

training programme in rotation in stitching and tailoring for women in

the blocks of Gurgaon district. A batch of 25 women is trained a time.

Most of the trainees in the batch are taken from the members of

SHGs. Till march 1999, 8 batches of 25 women per batch have been

trained.

Performance of Mewat Area Development Project:

The Mewat Area development Project (MADP) which was a

seven year project (from 1995-2002) had completed by April, 2003.

The overall performance of the project has been good. It has

following strengths:-

1) The quality of construction work of the irrigation department

was found to be good in respect of the works done by the

Project. 72 villages have been identified as water deficient

villages.

2) The project has mobilized women through SHGs which can be

used as instrument of changes.

216

3) The project has forstered NGOs for community Development

492 SHGs have been formed with a membership of 6703

women.

4) Project management has provided good leadership. Co­

operation received from line departments was commendable.

5) 177 Milk producers Co-operative societies have been formed.

6) The project sponsored the training of women for off-farm

activities.

7) Women have shown remarkable increase in confidence level

even in the context of conservative environment. In

credit/savings operations, SHGs are performing well and

repayment of loan stands as 100 percent.

8) About 240 sahelis have been financed by the NGOs for social

development component. But Financial Support was stopped

from 1999 except for those already in position. NGO's engaged

after 1998 were not financed for this component.

Efforts by Government Departments :

Officials from various public departments organize seminar in

different blocks of Mewat. The main objective of these seminar is to

217

provide information to village women on various means of income

generation. As most of the women were unable to take up any

income generation activity for lack of technical information. Through

SHGs women can learn the information on means of income

generation and to increase the living standards of their families and

the area.

Specialist from Animal science provides detailed information on

dairy business as the dairy department with the co-operation of

women and child Development ·Department is encouraging the

women dairy co-operatives societies, under STEP programme. The

main purpose of these societies is that women take care of cattle in

their houses, milk them and give it to their husband for sale, but the

income from milk goes into the hands of male members. Through

these societies, the payment is given to women to improve their

condition. Women are encouraged by this programme and they feel

secure with their income.

Food and Nutrition Department and Experts from Home

Science Collage provided information on fruit and vegetable

preservation. Healthy ways of keeping food clean and nutritious,

various type of nutrition receipes which were cheap and less time

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consuming, told by the officials to the women. Specialist in Home

Science provided information on candle making, bag making,

embroidery and knitting etc. and explained how these skills could be

used for income generation.

In spite of the complicated and complex nature of the existing

social order, the MDA is consistently working through the NGOs and

Self-Help Groups (SHGs) which consists of local rural women. What

is more time consuming for the MDA is the thorough review and study

of any input so that the community with unilateral acceptability comes

forward to provide the required co-operation, to promote their own

upgradation in all avenues of life. The economic, educational and

social environment of Mewat impedes, large scale participation of the

community in development work and thus slows down the pace of

progress. The MDA is trying to overcome these hurdles. After

receiving support from the IFAD, it has tried to focus the attention of

the community on off-farm development enterprises and has made

some headway with the active involvement of some NGOs. The

community is still not adequately aware of the role it has to play and

the old attitude of solely depending upon government functionaries to

deliver the goods is still strong. The MDA, through its various

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training's organized by the Institute for Development and

Communication, Gurgaon, field functionaries of different departments,

interaction with rural women folk, village panchayat members and

religious heads, is striving hard to bring about the desired change in

the quality of life but conservation does not allow a free and

unfavoured arena. The Institute for Development and

Communication, Gurgaon, through various rural person-to-person

contacts is trying hard to reach the most "Unreached" even if the

hurdles are numerous. Street plays, road corner shows and village

get-togethers are being tried with the active and lively support of

"Aiarippu", an NGO. The MDA works to enable the Meos to have a

comfortable and lively quality of life.

The I DC has shot a film on Sahel is which covered villages in

Punhana and Hathin blocks, with the help of MSEDS and SPYM, and

local NGOs. Many Sahelis and others came forward to talk about

their activities and the needs of the area.

Effective implementation of these schemes would enable women to

operate small savings and micro-credit facilities and carryout small

investment in income-generating activities at the village level.

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