Self-help groups are proving to be a boon for rural women by improving their economic status and enabling them to support their families with dignity. The story of Sarita Devi, a resident of Alipura village in Saharanpur district, stands as a shining example.
Pointing towards a wooden rack in her home, Sarita proudly shares that her son, Gaurav Kapil, manufactures such items in his small factory and sells them online, earning a steady income. Her daughter, Abhika Kapil, has also completed her General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) course and now works as a nurse in a Meerut hospital.
Sarita’s family of six includes her husband Shiv Kumar, who works as a car denting and painting labourer, three daughters, and one son. She herself is employed as an Anganwadi worker. But life was not always this secure.
“Before 2010, our family faced severe financial difficulties. We had to mortgage our jewellery and take loans from moneylenders at high interest rates just to meet our day-to-day expenses. The debt was unbearable, and we felt trapped with no way out,” recalls Sarita.
Her turning point came when she met Meera Devi, associated with Disha Social Organization. Under the organization’s Aarohan project, Sarita joined a self-help group named Uday Swayam Sahayata Samuh. Starting with a modest saving of ₹25 a month, she gradually increased her contributions.
The group’s support transformed her family’s fortunes. “I was able to redeem my jewellery, pay my daughter’s education fees, and start my son’s business with the group’s help. Even during the construction of our house, funds from the self-help group proved invaluable. The interest on loans is very low, and whatever interest we pay goes back into strengthening the group,” she explains.
From living under constant financial stress to becoming a source of hope and stability for her family, Sarita Devi’s journey highlights how self-help groups can empower women and build stronger communities.