Need for a Platform for Marginalized Families in Dholpur

Creating a community of women through SHGs within a larger community proves immensely beneficial to the poorest of the poor; they find alternative livelihoods and are free of the persecution of moneylenders.

“Are they human beings?” I asked myself when I first reached Badaipura village in Bari block, Dholpur district, Rajasthan. It was December 2007. I had gone with Anguri behenji to her village. I saw an old house with a tall boundary wall. I entered the house and stood still, completely shocked. About 25 households lived within this house. Each family lived in a single room. There was a buffalo and some goats tied to the door of every room. The floor and the doors were covered with the dung of these animals. I sidestepped all of this carefully and finally entered Anguri behenji’s home. It was dark inside although it was noon. I saw a seven-month old child in a traditional cradle made of a sari. It was attached to the roof by a hook. I could see some utensils arranged beautifully by the wall. The floor was plastered with mud but some of the excreta from the outside had found its way into the house when people walked in. The stench was so strong that I could not bear to stay inside for more than five minutes. I suggested that we sit outside.

B y definition, 25 households comprise a hamlet in a panchayat. All these 25 households lived in similar conditions, completely hemmed in on all sides, with barely any space to move. Outside, I saw a single bore well—the only source of water for drinking, household use, bathing and even irrigation for all the 25 families! The villagers started the ‘engine’ and brought me fresh water to drink. There was no hand pump for drinking water in this hamlet, private or public. There was actually no place for me to sit. The villagers placed a charpai where they thought it was safest; but I found it to be too close to a buffalo. And, sure enough, about five minutes later, the buffalo started urinating. I sprang up, and jumped away to save myself. The villagers looked on helplessly.