Banaskantha
DWCRA Mahila SEWA Association
Banaskantha district
is one of the poorest, drought-prone desert of north-west Gujarat.
The village women of this district have formed 62 DWCRA groups,
160 savings and credit groups and 8 watershed development collectives.
The association
itself was formed in 1992, in response to the fact that individual
DWCRA (producers) groups were too isolated and vulnerable to reach
markets easily and to obtain the raw materials and credit they
required on their own. SEWA has undertaken the task of promoting
new groups, helping them to build their capacities and link with
government. However, it was felt that there should be a self-managed
organisation to undertake all these functions to act as promoter,
supporter and advocate for the DWCRA groups.
Through the efforts of this association
and with SEWA’s support, several economic activities have
been undertaken. These are based on local resources and women’s
own traditional skills and their leadership. As a result, eighty
percent of the families who once migrated from this area in search
of work and income security no longer do so. In 1996, rural women
mangers took over the running of their own association.
Click here to visit the web site
: www.banascraft.org
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