Half the Sky
550. September 17, 2009 7:47 am Link
Half The Sky
Barli” is a very common female indigenous name that means “central pillar” that holds the house. Believing “Woman” that holds the family and the society the , Barli Development Institute for Rural Women located Indore, in central India , Baha’i inspired NGO ,since 1985 ,has empowered more than 5000 young rural and tribal women (mostly age 15-35) from 450 the most marginalized and under served villages.
They are trained to return to their communities as agents of positive social change and become “central pillars” of their families and communities. Using holistic approach integrating literacy, health, personal and community development, environment and income generating skills some of the examples are here:
Leela Rawat
Manu Kulkarni the State representative of UNICEF Madhya Pradesh, dedicated
“ Progress of State Plan of Action for Women & Children of Madhya Pradesh 1996” to Leela , wrote an article It’s Better for the Bhil, in HumanScape, June 1997 “Leela was affected by polio. After she was trained by the Baha’is, she ensured that every child get polio drops, and now she almost talks like a health worker.”
Leela came from tribal village Ojhad in Alirajpur district, where many children used to die before their first Birthday even due to diarrhea, lack of awareness about mother and childcare. Having returned to her village Leela started with educating the mothers about use of Oral Rehydration Drink. She formed group of 15 women to take care of regular health check-ups and educating pregnant mothers and children. They also started a saving group, opened a bank account to support their activities. Leela also started sewing for her livelihood. She also taught cleanliness and morals to children and encouraged parents to send them, specially the girls to school.
Dhedi Dawar now programme officer at Barli, confidently makes PowerPoint presentations in national and International seminars, uses laptop, stands in front of the microphone and conducts big events, encourages the new trainees to come forward to speak using microphone about their experiences. It is hard to imagine a nervous and shy girl who first gained confidence by winning the first prize in a Literacy song competition in Delhi organized by UNESCO for new literates and televised on Indian TV. When Dhedi speaks to girls in tribal dialects, they enjoy and understand her.
She had to discontinue her schooling after 5 years. Failing class 5 her father decided it was enough of education for a girl. She did lot of heavy domestic and farm work and later she was sent to Barli in1990 so that she gains skills to bring money for the family. After her training, she was appointed as a trainer. Soon she returned to her village as her marriage was arranged by her parents, that she had to break and remarry and again suffered to the extent of a miscarriage due to lack of care, neglect, stress and mental torture, she left all this and finally came to serve at the Institute. Now she is happily married and mother of two children. ———————
Dr.(Mrs.) Janak Palta McGilligan
Director
Barli Development Institute For Rural Women
180 Bhamori,New Dewas Road,Indore(M.P) India
Pin 452010 email / Phone + 0731-2554066
— Janak Palta McGilligan