BOWL gives a yearly contribution to an organisation called Gram Nirman Kendra
(= Village Development Centre) which helps support some of the poorest people
- particularly women and children - in a rural area of the north Indian state
of Bihar. The organisation has a small number of paid staffbut much of their
work is done by committed volunteers. Life for many of the poorest has improved
thanks to GNK and people have more confidence in tackling the problems they
face. But it's not been an easy task.
GNK was founded by a lady called Mrs Putul Devi in 1974 and she continues to
be the leader and inspiration of the group. She herself came from a high caste
family and was taught by her father from an early age about the ideals that
inspired Gandhi. When she was just 15 she started teaching some of the girls
in her village. She then trained as a teacher having identified education as
the key to liberating people from poverty.
Mrs Putul has worked hard to ensure even the poorest children are able to attend
school. In some cases GNK has provided supplementary schools. The organisation
has also done a lot to combat the practice of child labour and to help children
who have missed out on schooling because they were working.
Women's self-help and savings groups are helping to improve the lives of women and indeed of the whole family. Some start-up money is provided by the charity and the women make regular contributions. Members are then able to take out loans -either to help with family needs or so they can start small businesses such as livestock rearing. The loan scheme means women don't have to go to moneylenders and get trapped by debt and exorbitant rates of interest.
The area where GNK works is quite arid, with little vegetation. Mrs Putul sees
it as 'Our foremost duty to save and protect the natural resources provided
by God free of charge and to develop them in 'such a way that the ecological
balance is maintained.' Some years ago GNK ran a tree nursery and provided tree
seedlings at low cost to poor people so they could get fruit, animal fodder
and wood from the trees, and benefit the environment at the same time.
At one time the state provided some financial assistance to the tree nursery
but then there was a policy change and no more funding, so the project was severely
restricted. Now with some help from BOWL (£660 per year to GNK) the project
IS being restarted. The aim is to grow the tree seedlings to a reasonable height
before they are sold on. This means they are much more likely to survive.
It is early days for the restarted nursery but demand for seedlings is high.
Not only will the trees be a resource for their owners but the whole environment
will benefit and soil erosion will be reduced.
Besides providing practical help, GNK has enabled people to get together to
discuss their problems and find solutions. Also with Mrs Putul and GNK the poorest
members of the community can feel they have someone on their side. This is extremely
necessary where those the poor have to deal with - such as landlords, employers
and moneylenders - are often the same people and certainly act together.
GNK campaigns for a better deal for the poor and proper implementation of schemes
aimed at helping them. The organisation has attended important conferences in
Patna, the state capital, and has been very courageous in putting problems to
local officials and demanding fair treatment for its members, recognition of
land rights and help following a recent drought.
Mary Holmes, a BOWL member, has visited Bihar three times. If you would like
her to come and talk to your group or a school class about the project BOWL
supports there or show a few slides she would be happy to. Contact Mary
and arrange a time.