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Literacy
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Rehanaben lives in
Juhapura area, Ahmedabad. She shares, ‘I have studied
till standard 7 at my village. When I migrated to
Ahmedabad, I was unable to read and write in Gujarati.
I was not able to sign and read the hoardings on
street that deprived me of information related to
festivals, fairs, sales, etc but after joining the
literacy class, I can now read as well write
Gujarati’.
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Kavitaben, living in
Shankarbhuvan area, Ahmedabad, used to stitch rug sack
earlier, and then she underwent stitching training,
that requires use of inch tape. Being an illiterate
she was unable to do that. After participating in
SEWA Academy's Literacy Class, she is able to work
effectively and now she knows how to measure with an
inch tape.
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Sonaben, residing in
Gomtipur area was involved in the work of washing old
containers. With great hardships she managed to
educate her only son and married him. After marriage
the expenses mounted. Son and daughter-in-law got
labour work at Deesa. Sonaben was very happy to
receive the news of daughter-in-law’s pregnancy. After
some days, Sonaben received a post card, being unable
to read-write, she took it to neighbours. The
neighbours were having dinner, and asked Sonaben to
come later. Then Sonaben went to another neighbours,
they were watching TV and asked her to come later.
Then she went to a local store and requested the
shopkeeper, who said there are many customers right
now and asked her to come later. On 4th day, Sonaben
stopped a girl on her way to school and requested her;
she read, ‘Daughter-in-law is unwell, please come once
you receive the letter’. That day she decided that
life without education is useless and once she
returned from Deesa, she became the member of SEWA
Academy’s 1st Literacy Class in 1992. At the age of
55, she learned to read! She is very proud that she
can also write a little.
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Shakinaben, 40, illiterate
is originally from Bihar. Migrated to Gujarat and
living in Fatehwadi area, Ahmedabad, she engages at
present in stitching work from her house. Being from a
hindi speaking state she faced problems reading
Gujarati Language. Looking at other women from her
community she also joined SEWA Academy’s Literacy
Classes. After just six months she is able
to speak in Gujarati. Interestingly, during her visit
to Bihar, she interacted in Gujarati with her old
friends, they asked her from where did she learn
Gujarati, to this she said with pride, ‘I learnt to
speak in Gujarati in the Literacy class conducted by
SEWA Academy.’
Skill Education and Communication
Centre
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Aartiben Jadav, 18, had
studied FY B.Com. Aartiben participated in beauty care
training and started earning. Besides beauty care, she
also participated in member education, video replay
trainings. She also learned about radio, research and
Anasooya. She was recruited as Literacy Class’s
spearhead team member. Currently, she is assisting
Arunaben in the Centre.
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Ushaben Patni, 18, left
studies after standard 5 as her mother was not keeping
well. She used to take care of her younger brother and
sister, cook and look after the home. She couldn’t
learn tailoring due to high fees. But when SEWA
Academy started Skill Education and Communication
Centre in their area she enrolled in Readymade
Garments training. She also participated in Video and
Photography Training. Today, she earns by stitching
shirts.
Life skills training for
Adolescent Girls
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Prabhaben, 19, final year
student of Arts, belongs to a poor family of
construction labourers. She has three younger
siblings. One of the SEWA leader, looking at her
interest in studies and ambition to grow further,
guided her to enroll for computer classes run by SEWA
Academy. She consulted her mother to carry on with the
computer class. However her mother refused indicating
the abysmal economic condition of the family. But
Prabhaben was determined to go ahead and learn computer.
She decided to help her mother in construction work
and earned enough to bear expenses related to fees of
computer class, travelling cost and nonetheless her
college fees. SEWA Academy’s trainers empathized with
her in achieving her dream.
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Reenaben, 20, at present
studying in MA, was deprived of a father since
childhood. Struggle began in her life when she was 3
year old. Her mother and grandmother worked day long
to earn one day’s meal. Reenaben and her family always
emphasized on the importance of education. Reenaben
borrowed books from her friends and did her studies.
She was referred by Ela Bhatt, Founder, SEWA to study
computers in SEWA Academy. As Reenaben’s grandmother
worked hand in hand during the initial phases of SEWA.
SEWA Academy trainers played the role of a facilitator
and enabler to shape her personality. Today because of
the undivided attention of Academy’s trainers and
Reenaben herself, she is computer literate and works in
SEWA Bank with pride.
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Bhavanaben, 19, is a student
of commerce. Her mother being a widow was thrown out
of her in-laws family along with her children and had
to take refuge in her parental family. Her mother took
tuitions and paid all the expenses of her children. Her
mother is also a member of SEWA. One day a trainer
from SEWA Academy went to introduce SEWA’s work in the
community. From there her mother came to know about
computer class run by SEWA Academy at less fees in
comparison to other computer institutes. She prepared
Bhavanaben to take the class. Now when Bhavan has
completed her MS Office. She want to further learn
DTP, Tally and Photoshop. To fulfill her zest for
studying further SEWA Academy’s trainers provide
support, guidance and help whenever required.
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Zarinaben, 11, never
stepped out of her house. But after joining the
Akashganga club her confidence increased. She had
never watched a stage show but she performed a
patriotic song along with her friends on stage. After
her performance she cried. Now she participates and
believes in realizing her dreams without any
hesitation.
Research
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Exercising control over
children’s future: I sent my daughters (aged 8,11 and
12 years old) to Kadi town for their education. But my
father-in-law thinks it is an improper decision and
says I am destroying the family reputation. He taunts
me every day and sometimes I feel like dropping them
out of school. But then I feel that, rather than
living life like we did, education will at least help
them to improve skills of their life. How long will I
be able to fight against society and be able to
provide education to my daughters?
From field notes
Source: Jhabvala, R., Desai, S., & Dave, J.
(2010) Empowering Women In An Insecure World Joining
SEWA Makes A Difference, supported by: The United
Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
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Caste Discrimination: View
from the Field – I would like to share my own
experience in the survey related to caste
discrimination. Caste is less visible in the cities,
but in the villages it is still prevalent quite
strongly. In several villages visited by us, people
belonging to the Harijan, Bhangi, Vaghri castes are
not allowed to enter the houses of Patels, Darbars,
Bharwards and these high-caste people never go to the
houses of low-caste people. When low castes go for
daily labour in their fields, their drinking water pot
is kept separate. When they drink water they cannot
touch the glass with their lips. If this rule is not
observed they are insulted and abused. In some
villages, low-caste families cannot play music, go out
on a procession or light fire crackers in their
marriage programmes.
When we went to village G for the survey, the Sarpanch
made arrangements for lunch at his place, but we were
made to sit outside the house to eat. The lady of the
house came and asked us, ‘Which caste are you? You all
seem to be from different castes.’ In another village,
we had to fill the form of a high-caste Darbar
respondent, but before we could ask any questions they
asked, ‘Which caste do you belong to?’ They didn’t
allow us to enter this house and gave us water
outside. Source: Observation of a field investigator
in GSIS.
Source: Standing, G., Unni, J., Jhabvala, R., &
Rani, U. (2010) Social Income and Insecurity A Study
in Gujarat, New Delhi: Routledge
Video
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Manjulaben Raval was
working as Head Loader since she was 8 years old.
Being SSC pass, Manjulaben used to help the team
leader of head loader’s group in writing reports. It
was the team leader who informed Manjulaben that SEWA
has a department called Video who was looking for
women. Manjulaben applied at Video SEWA, was selected
from among hundreds and received extensive video
training. She is working with Video SEWA since past 17
years. She is proficient at recording, editing, video
replay and providing photography, videography
training. She has developed short video programmes on
Head Loaders and Flower Mandali. She is proud to be
part of Video SEWA through which they bring women
issues to the mainstream and try to bring change in
their lives. Manjulaben’s only wish is to educate her
daughter in English School to facilitate her progress.
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Arunaben Parmar, 35 years
of age has studied till SYBA. She is most educated
among her siblings. She had to drop-out of school when
she was in standard 5 to support her family as the
mill, where her father worked, close-down. She started
doing the screen printing work which her mother used
to do, to earn Rs. 40/- per day. After one and half
year when the mill reopened she resumed her schooling.
From the start she aspired to do something different.
Her mother became member of SEWA and used to attend
meetings at SEWA, where Arunaben used to accompany her
mother. In 1993, Arunaben received an opportunity to
be a trainee with Video SEWA and soon she picked up
and became technically proficient. When she started
her journey with Video SEWA she was afraid to make use
of expensive equipments, today she expertly operates
sound, lights, editing and camera work. She is proud
to be associated with Video SEWA.
Radio
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Veenaben Shrimali, 34
years old is a very lively person. Residing in Nidhral
village, Sanand Taluka, she has 2 daughters and 1 son.
Just standard 10 pass, she had never worked before
joining Community Radio Station (CRS). Till her
association with CRS 7 months before, she had just
listened to radio and had never thought in her dreams
that she will work in a Radio Station. Today, she
expertly make use of Sound Forge Software for her work
and makes master programmes efficiently. She collects
programmes from 40 villages. In spite of high fever,
she gave her first on-air transmission which involved
opening, closing, linking, sequencing the
transmission, promos, programme details, etc which
shows her determination and deep involvement with CRS.
Her family reminds her the time of transmission which
is 4 to 8 pm. She reaches home at 9 pm at night in
auto rickshaw provided by office. Still women working
late at night is not easily acceptable in cities then
we can understand that the situation in rural India.
And yet her husband and father-in-law are very
supportive including her entire family.
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Parulben Rawat, 24 years
old is working with Rudi no Radio since last 4 years.
When Parulben was studying in First Year she came to
know about SEWA Academy’s Computer Class through her
aunt. Her mother works as domestic help and father
drives an auto rickshaw. She attended MS Office and
Tally Classes in SEWA Academy. Today, working with
Rudi no Radio, Parulben not only skillfully operates
computer but also knows editing, recording and
gujarati typing. She considers that the opportunity to
work with Rudi no Radio is the best part of her life.
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