Case4-April-2014
This is the story of Pachaiyammal, whose selfless service to the poor women enrolled in Kalanjiam Self help groups enabled to hone her leadership skills and become an in formidable force in Ponnamapettai Vattara Kalanjiam in Salem District Tamilnadu. Her contributions for the Kalanjiam women and the society are commendable.
Pachaiyammal doesn’t know the meaning of laziness even at this age of sixty two. Untiring she used to run from pillar to post looking after her family, supporting her husband in painting works and involving herself actively for development of women SHG members in Ponnamapettai Vattara Kalanjiam. Yes! Pachaiammal is the President of women self help group federation ‘Ponnamapettai Vattara Kalanjiam’ in Salem, who gradually rose to this position after joining as a member in women self help group promoted by DHAN Foundation.
Pachaiammal lives in a joint family with her mother Ms.Chinnaponnu, son Mr.Manigandan, daughter –inlaw Ms.Meena and grand children in an area known as Vaaikaal Pattarai in Ponnamapettai, where the inhabitants are either poor or belong to middle class. When we go looking for her, we will be given with an answer that she has gone for the job or to the women self help group federation to perform her duty. She also works as a Field associate in that federation. The commitment to the society, hard work and values are inherent in this simple woman, making her a good leader.
Ms.Pachayammal was born in a small village called Aataiampatti; near Veerapandi in Salem District were some her ancestors still live. Her mother Ms.Chinnaponnu got married at an early age to Mr.Kandasamy gounder. Ms.Pachaiammal was born on 12th Dec, 1952 as the eldest daughter. She has one younger sister Ms.Porkodi. Her younger brother, Mr.Marimuthu, died at the age of five due to chicken box.
Pachiyammal even at her tender age is known for her compassion and generosity without expecting any returns. She still remembers an incident of purchasing a trouser for a school boy, using the money she saved while at school.
Pachaiyammal pursued her education up to 10th Standard in Aattaiyampatti Government high school during which she excelled not only in her studies, but also in extracurricular activities winning prizes in sports and drawing competitions held at school level. Though Pachaiyammal aspired to do training in nursing, her her family situation put an end to her dreams. Early marriage was so common in those days and Pachaiyammal got married to Mr.Rajamanikkam on 11th Feb, 1968 and settled in Sittherikadu, her husband’s home town.
Owing to ill health of her husband Pachaiammal was
forced to migrate from Sittherikadu to Ponnamapettai,
and lived in a small rental hut. She engaged herself in
small petty businesses like selling coconuts and Green
peas Sundal (a healthy snack that has to be prepared
afresh daily). She could earn a daily income of र 75
through these activities. Her husband’s health also
recovered in the mean time and he started to engage
in white washing houses. Pachaiyammal also used to
support him in this activity.
Though she got engaged in doing white washing works along with her husband, she did not stop selling of Green peas sundal and Coconut after work hours, which also gave her additional income.
It was in 1990, when Pachaiyammal was struggling
to make her needs met, the staff from Ponnamapettai
women self help group federation, came and met the
women in her locality, spoke to them about the concept
of SHGs and the benefits they could able to derive
from them. They asked them to pay an enrollment fee
of र 1 for joining the group and later save one hundred
rupees every month, which will enable them to meet
their financial needs. Though no one heeded at first,
Pachaiyammal got convinced about the concept and
expressed her willingness to form a group by convincing
her neighborhood women. Pachaiammal spoke to
many and formed Karpaka Vinayaga Kalanjiam with
twenty women members. Ms. Lakshmi was selected
as the president, Ms. Dhavamani as secretary and
Ms. Pachaiammal became the treasurer of the Kalanjiam.
The Kalanjiam had a fixed meeting date on 5th of every
month and all the members saved one hundred rupees
every month. They were subjected to various trainings
from value based functioning without caste and
creed differences to proper maintenance of accounts.
Pachaiammal quickly learned the nuances of the self
help group functioning became an active participant in
the meetings and soon was able to clarify the doubts of
other members.
Her active participation in Kalanjiam and Cluster meetings, knowledge and interpersonal skills soon made her the Treasurer of Vaaikaal Pattarai Cluster by 12th June, 2003. She executed her role with perfection during the period. She had the opportunity to speak on the stage for the first time in a Cluster Mahasabha meeting and her speech was so motivating to the SHG members present during the meeting. She as a leader also took efforts to revive the poorly performing Kalanjiams by paying regular visits to member families and motivating them, She also visited Kalanjiams for the loan appraisal process, which proved to be effective in ensuring repayment. Because of her active involvement in Kalanjiam, she could not pay enough attention towards selling green peace snacks and her income reduced a bit. But she wasn’t much worried about losing some income. Her efforts in Vaaikaal Pattarai cluster led to improvement of functioning of all Kalanjiams in the cluster, and that gave her utmost satisfaction.
Her role as Treasurer of Vaaikal Pattarai cluster got appreciation from the leaders of other clusters as well and also the federation staffs. Hence during the twelfth Mahasabha function held at September, 2005 she was selected unanimously as the Treasurer of the federation ‘Ponnamapettai Vattara Kalanjiam”. Motivated by this she became still more active in federation activities which in turn made Ponnamapettai Vattara Kalanjiam vibrant. Her role in mobilizing resources for the federation was also commendable. Not to lose her selfless service to the federation, when the rotation of leadership occurred, she was once again selected as the President of Ponnamapettai Vattara Kalanjiam on 6th June, 2012.
The cluster associates in a federation perform various roles like ensuring the regular and on time conductance of group meetings, maintenance of proper accounts of the Kalanjiam, facilitating the loan appraisal process and also educating the members regarding any new developmental schemes introduced. Pachaiyammal also perform the role of cluster associates in Vaaikal Pattarai Cluster.
Pachaiyammal possess all the qualities of a good leader
Pachaiammal actively involved herself in group promotion and due to her individual effort five new Kalanjiams were formed in the federation. Apart from this through joint effort with other leaders and cluster associates, she was instrumental in forming fifteen more Kalanjiams in the federation. She was involved in problem solving in Kalanjiams and prevented many groups from getting defunct or dissolved through her timely guidance and support.
In 2006 she also went to support Thalaivasal Vattara Kalanjiam and regularized the functioning of six Kalanjiams, which hitherto had many issues such as improper repayment of loans as per demand, refusal to join any social welfare schemes etc., She along with other leaders spoke with them, convinced them and enabled them to function effectively.
As a trainer, she trains members and leaders on
Kalanjiam mutual movement schemes, leadership
skills, roles and responsibilities of a federation, group
insurance and health insurance schemes. Because of
her efforts, 5951 members and their spouse got enrolled
in the JBY group insurance scheme of LIC. Similarly
1100 families were covered under the health insurance
scheme. 1100 students pertaining to families enrolled
in JBY scheme received र1200 as scholarship, which
was the additional benefit the members derived because
of joining the insurance scheme.
Apart from this Pachiayammal took efforts in solving the public issues in her village like drinking water problem, drainage problem etc., She used to lodge complaint with the concerned authorities whenever such problem arises and ensured that proper action is taken. She used to play a major role in organizing events like cluster and federation mahasabas and in ensuring participation of all Kalanjiam members in the event. Yearly once, during the Kalanjiam movement day she provides free food, spending he own money to 80 blind children studying in a school meant for them.
Grading parameters are fixed in Ponnamapettai Vattara Kalanjiam to monitor the performance of leaders and Pachaiyammal use to get the highest grade every time, because of her effective performance. The performance indicators fixed were highest savings, regular loan repayment without any default, good habits, timeliness and executing the roles and responsibilities properly.
Pachiammal was honored by the Branch Manager, Indian
Bank during the federation Mahasaba function held at
2008 for saving र 300/ per month, the highest saving
by a Kalanjiam member in a group. In the function held
at Atthur Vattara Kalanjiam she was honored with a
memento by Mr.M.P.Vasimalai, Executive Director of
DHAN Foundation for her leadership skills.
She was also instrumental in grooming many Kalanjiam women into leaders. Ms.Chandra, President of Vaikaal Pattarai Cluster, Ms.Uma, President, Krishnan Pudhur Cluster, Ms.Saraswathi, President Sathya Nagar cluster, Ms. Nallamaniammal, President, Jyothi Cluster etc., are the few leaders who were empowered to become leaders through the able guidance of Pachaiammal. She also became the leader of Suham hospital, promoted by Kalanjiam federations in Salem by 6th June, 2012. She was appointed as a representative to link government welfare schemes for handicapped, women welfare schemes, pension scheme for elders. She also played a major role in implementing the anemia program and supported formation of adolescent girls groups in the federation.
Pachaiammal aspires to reduce the disparity between rich and poor to create a healthy society. She also has a desire to create a disease free younger generation, by creating awareness on health, hygiene and sanitation. She wishes to enroll all the left out poor in Salem district in Kalanjiams so that they get relieved from the clutches of poverty. Despite the presence of Kalanjiam, women still get trapped into the hands of usury, forcing them even to commit suicide. She has pledged herself to put an end to the usury problems in her area by educating the women. To enhance the livelihood of members, she encourages the members to use their loans productively by engaging themselves in a small business activity that suits their skills and demands in the locality. She wishes that everyone who got enrolled in Kalanjiam must lead a better life than before.
Pachaiyammal says “When I migrated from Sittherikadu village to Ponnamapettai along with my husband and children, I had a lonely feeling. I know nothing but pains and no one was there to console me. I even thought of committing suicide along with the family, but got counseled by a neighbor to face the world boldly. But after joining Kalanjiam I felt that the entire world is behind me, since I had the opportunity to mingle with more women and accepted as a leader by them. Now feel proud that I could make my son to study M.B.A and lead a fulfilled life. I feel glad to serve the Kalanjiam Federation and the poor women who are its members’.
Pachaiyammal’s life is an inspiration for all women who struggle to face the challenges the world offers them and covert them into opportunities.