A women development programme is changing the face of Rajasthan's countryside Something unique is being done in the countryside of Rajasthan, in the self-help groups (shgs) formed in the villages. Following keen interest shown in the matter by chief minister Vasundhera Raje, poor women who live in abject poverty in the state will get a new lease of life. This is being done through an Upliftment Programme, initiated by the State Department of Women and Child Development. It is worth noting here that the department has for the first time been able to get the chief minister's attention. Raje believes that without women getting their dues, nothing can be done to get them out of the poverty line. "The department has decided to constitute one lakh self-help groups covering all the villages and the most redeeming feature of the programme is that about 76,000 shgs have already come into being," says Alka Kala, secretary of the department. No doubt Kala has shown the desired interest in the programme so that a changed view of the countryside could be had. At Sagwara, a small town in the backward Dungarpur district, a large gathering of women members of the shgs assembled recently to avail of bank finances at low rates of interest. The members were given loans worth Rsl.5 crore in a single day in the presence of the chief minister. Each group consists of 12 to 15 women members and what is remarkable is the degree of confidence the women have developed. "We are more than happy with the success of the programme as our household needs are now being met from the small earnings generated through the bank loans," a group told Business India. What is noteworthy is that there is no problem in getting back the loan instalments. "The repayments are almost 99 per cent," informs Kala. Initially the banks were loath in advancing loans to the members of the self-help group for j fear of defaults. After the chief minister herself assured the bankers that there would be no difficulty in the recoveries, their attitude changed. Now the picture is somewhat changed with the banks coming forward willingly to grant loans for the purchase of cattle, farming, handicrafts and in developing the spices business. Says the chief minister, "Swayamsidha or empowerment is a new mantra as it means giving strength and confidence to attain power." Liberation is without doubt the key word, and it comes when economic independence and social status and justice are attained. The self-help groups help women to participate in development programmes, with the active involvement of local-level planning. It also helps them in improving the access to micro-credit. The experience shows that saving habits have also developed among the village women. Special attention is also being given to health, nutrition education, sanitation and hygiene and legal rights. The banks involved in giving such loans are the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, Bank of Rajasthan, Allahabad Bank, Bank of Baroda, State Bank of India, and Dungarpur and Banswara regional rural banks. At the Sagwara Mela the maximum loan of Rs2.5 lakh was given to a self-help group for purposes of dairy activities. With over 35,000 villages forming Rajasthan, the women development programme will certainly change the face of the countryside due to the economic activities taking place. Already promising sign: in this respect are visible as the women have exhibited remarkable entrepreneurship skills. The depart ment is having a close watch to avoid misuse of loans and efforts are now being made to involve the other rura! agencies as well so that the pro gramme gets a further boost. Wit! special interest being displayed b] Raje, there is no doubt that the women living in the villages and far flung areas of the state will now have a changed way of life.