“In my 37 years of career, I could never do what I am witnessing today here, Indeed there used to be SHGs initiating business but it was the participation of one or two who used to benefit out of it. Hamar Bazaar is a unique concept of collective participation of women towards making their community self-reliant and especially themselves,” expressed Mr. Sambhu Gupta, Development Extension Officer, Gaurella block in Chhattisgarh.

Dhanuharpar is a hamlet of Thengadand Gram Panchayat habited by 70 tribal families mostly dependent on the collection of forest products for their survival like preparing wooden vessels with bamboo, selling sari leaves etc. and also involved in agriculture but having very small landholding for cultivation.

Caritas India is working in this village through the Gram Nirman program funded by Caritas Australia to enhance the livelihood of the tribal community towards making them self-reliant and self-sufficient especially women flock.

The programme is co-funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

“We were formed into groups under State Government Bihan Scheme, but we were limited only to monthly saving. We did not think out of the box, but Caritas India helped us to realize that this can be done with the saving, and we did it.” Stated Ms. Mamta Ukye one of the SHG members.

Under Bihan scheme, around 5 SHGs are functional in the village, based on ABCD training Mr. Jugal (Community educator) in the month of Feb 2020 approached these groups and suggested to revolve community money within the community.

Discussing and calculating the monthly average expenses of each family on their ration and day-today needs i.e. 3000 rupees per family making it INR 210000 for a whole month, he said that this amount can be rotated within the community blocking the outflow of money. They were advised to start Hamar Bazaar (local market) wherein everyone puts shops based on the need of each other like a garment, ration, vegetable shops etc.

SHG members were impressed by the idea and were ready to experiment it. Members decided among themselves and set up shops based on their choices and the need of the community with their saving. “We feel happy now because we are able to fulfil the need of each other, I put up vegetable shop and other members come to buy, and I go to them when I need other things than vegetables. This is a very good way of exchanging money from one to another. Moreover, the community is also at easy because they do not have to go 15 km. to purchase things of their need.” Shared by Ms. Birsa Bai (Secretary of Lata SHG).

Hamar Bazaar (local market) is set up by these women once in a week. It has been the fifth times the SHGs have put up the market and have earned INR 19170 after investing INR 30788 by all five SHGs.  They still have material available and hope to earn a good profit out of it at the end of it.

Knowing about the initiative, the district government appreciated it and expressed their desire to visit Hamar Bazaar. Hence an inauguration was organised by Gram Panchayat wherein Zilla Panchayat President, ZP CEO, District Project Director DRDA, Development Extension officer (DEO), Sarpanch and other block officers were present. They also visited shops and interacted with women and encouraged them by purchasing vegetables and other materials. Moreover, through this interface, the women submitted an application to ZP CEO requesting for providing them a permanent location to set upmarket in the village.

These women have become model for other women in the surrounding villages and set a good example of women empowerment. The initiative is not only enabling women to become independent economically but also helping the community to become self-reliant realising their potential and making proper use of local resources for their livelihood in this COVID19 time.

Women of other villages have also adopted the Hamar Bazaar concept and started setting up a local market in their villages.