In Indore city in India, approximately 700 metric tonnes of waste goes to the Devguradia dump every day. The Janvikas Society supported by the Divine Word Missionaries has been working for the past 14 years to empower Waste Pickers by encouraging them to form an unorganised women workers’ union and cooperative. Photo: Divine Word Missionaries.
International Women’s Day and the 10th anniversary of the women’s “Sarvoday Sramik Mahila Cooperative Society” were celebrated by women from the slums of Indore city with pomp and show at the Janvikas Society, Palda, Indore in India on the 8th March 2015. Over 400 women belonging to the unorganised sector from different slums gathered at the Janvikas Society for the celebration.
The occasion was graced with the presence of Ms. Usha Thakur-Vidhayak (MLA – Member of Legislative Assembly, from ward no.3 in Indore), Ms. Seema Kailash Virag-ward member (from ward no. 64 in the Indore municipal corporation) and Ms. Pushpa Pargi – ward member (from ward no. 75 in the Indore municipal corporation).
Women members of the cooperative society and children from the non-formal education centres danced to the tunes of traditional and patriotic songs to mark the celebration. Photo: Divine Word Missionaries.
The Janvikas Society is an NGO established in the year 2001 by the Divine Word Society (SVD) as an organ for social action in Indore. The Janvikas Society pays special attention to the welfare of the unorganised labourers namely waste picking women and children, domestic workers and unemployed youth.
With the concern for women’s-empowerment, the Janvikas Society started to organise waste picking women. This led to the formation of a cooperative society of unorganised women laborers called the “Sarvodya Sramik Mahila Cooperative Society Ltd” in 2004, which today has over 2,100 women waste pickers and domestic workers as members. The cooperative has designed welfare schemes for the benefits of its members, like emergency loans at low rates of interest, Group Insurance, Social Security Schemes, Small Saving Schemes with attractive interest rates, and guidance for better entrepreneurship etc.
Tributes were made to the women for their courage, determination, and hard work for completing three months’ training in the Beautician, Tailoring and Embroidery courses. Photo: Divine Word Missionaries.
Women leaders were honoured during the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the women’s cooperative society. Certificates were given away to those women who completed three months’ training in the Beautician’s course and Tailoring and Embroidery. Mr. Krishnarjun, the manager of the cooperative addressed the crowd about the growth and benefits of the cooperative society from its inception up until today. Women members of the cooperative society and children from the non-formal education centres danced to the tunes of traditional and patriotic songs.
Fr. Jomon (Vice President), Fr. Nicholas (Member) of the Janvikas Society and Fr. George, the founder and former Director of the Janvikas and Cooperative Society paid tribute to the women for their courage, determination, hard work and wished them all the best.
Special Report by Fr. Roy Thomas SVD Director of the Janvikas Society in Indore, India.