From Housewife to Village Sarpanch: Kalpna’s Rise through GHCL Foundation

 

The story of a housewife is not unknown to Indian villages. Women are married young, with minimal employable skills, and are generally given the home’s caretaker’s duty without much scope of self-improvement. GHCL Foundation’s Self Help Group program is directed to uplift such women. To give them an opportunity to learn business skills, financial management and book-keeping to further their lives and help the community in which they live.

Kalpna is a success story of GHCL’s Self Help Group program. She joined SHG as a typical housewife of a small village but soon became the Sarpanch of that same village by employing the skills she learned in our foundation’s program. Here is how Kalpna describes her journey and GHCL’s contributions towards her achievements.

Kalpna – the housewife

Kalpna lives in the village called Valvada in Gujarat, near the GHCL Home Textile Division. She belongs to a tribal family and never had an opportunity to learn skills beyond managing home chores. 3 years before her life’s most commendable achievement, Kalpna signed up for the Self Help Group program of GHCL Foundation. And according to her, this decision propelled her to a world she did not know ever existed for her.

“I learned to speak with people. Convince them about my viewpoints. I also picked up valuable lessons in cooperative management, book-keeping, financing a small business, and saving money. I attended various meetings, workshops and motivational sessions meant for women empowerment and creating model villages.”, said Kalpna. Gradually, the program boosted Kalpna’s self-confidence. She started bonding with and inspiring other women to uplift themselves and take up the opportunities available at SHG by GCHL.

Kalpna – the Sarpanch

Kalpna’s Self Help Group training enabled her “to think beyond home chores and family.” Kalpna wanted to work for her village, her community, and wished to make a difference by transforming Valvada into a model village. Her opportunity came in the form of Panchayat Elections and the women of Kalpna’s village instigated her to file a nomination. Even her family joined the inspirational chants that led Kalpna to fight the Panchayat Elections. She won and became Valvada’s sarpanch or elected leader.

“On looking back, I realise that none of this would have been possible without GCHL’s initiative to upskill women. I am grateful to the organisation for creating such opportunities for us. I knew I had found success in life when I saw banners with my photograph all around the village. People now come to me asking for help, praise me for my work. This was just a fantasy before GHCL.”, added Kalpna.

 

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