Jagriti Self Help Group

“No one used to care for us, but today, we are financially independent and respected in the society”  says Shiv Prasad, a member of Jagriti SHG in Mograram village of Sehore district. This change began in April 2008, when staff from ARUSHI, a disability programme supported by Leonard Cheshire Disability, visited the village and conducted an awareness programme on disability rights. 15 disabled people attended the programme, where, the concept of a self help group (SHG) was introduced and the activities of an SHG were explained. Following the programme, six disabled people came forward to form a SHG.

The members decided to call their SHG - 'Jagriti', meaning - 'to awake', as they felt it was time for disabled people to wake up and fight for their rights. From among the members, a president and secretary were elected democratically. The group meets once in a month. In the group meeting, each member saves a sum of Rs50 (less than a pound). The collected amount is then deposited in a savings account opened in a local bank and used to give out as loans to members at a nominal interest. Few months back, the members had decided to start a group employment initiative. After considering various business opportunities, they decided to retail readymade clothes (sarees and salwar suits) in the village. ARUSHI supported this initiative by giving a loan of Rs1500 (£21). Today, the group members are proud that they are employed.

In the following meetings conducted by LCD-ARUSHI staff, the members were oriented on the various government schemes and entitlements for the disabled. They were then taken for assessment and supported in getting a medical certificate, which would help them avail government benefits. Today, the group members have started receiving disability pensions and are now supporting other people with disabilities to get medical certificates and pensions. These initiatives have improved the image of persons with disabilities in the village.

Mograram village is dependent on agriculture. This year, due to an increase in crop production, the group members decided to increase the monthly saving amount from Rs50 to Rs300 (£4).
When the state government elections were declared, the Election Commission issued a directive to all administrative units to construct ramps at polling booths, so that, disabled people could participate in the election process. Following this directive, LCD-ARUSHI staff alongwith the SHG members actively lobbied with the government. They used the local media to highlight this issue. As a result, for the first time in the history of the state, wheelchair users could cast their vote independently.

Members of Jagriti SHG feel that it's about time for disabled people to be awakened. Therefore, they are planning to promote another disabled people's SHG in Mograram. This would be the beginning of a new awakening.