VSSM saved Nenuben from being a Defaulter and saved her Prestige

“Sister, If I don’t repay loan, it would be a crime to Nature”: Nenuben

Nenuben Expressing her happiness and gratitude to Mittal Patel  

Nenuben  (Devipujak) belongs to Ramdev Nagar area of Jodhpur, Ahmedabad. Her husband passed away due to an illness. She had been alone with her three children. It was very difficult for Nenuben during that period to raise her children on her own with no income. Her husband had left a hut for her on the land he owned. Hence, there had not been any problem about moving here and there. The main problem she had been facing was to earn in order to bring up her kids. Nenuben knew tailoring work. She started stitching traditional dress for women of her community. She had been stitching with good finishing hence, the ladies had been coming to her to get their dresses stitched. Gradually, now she also started keeping dress material to sell.

She had admitted her children into government school. Her life was not that easy. Her children left school as they were not interested to study. They started helping her to earn. Her son Sanjay also started working as office boy but his job was gone suddenly. Nenuben's leg had been fractured and it had affected her earnings. Her other son Bechar had been grown up and he thought to do their traditional business of making idols of Ganesha and other artefacts. The idea of earning from the business had not been successful as there had been less selling than they presumed. Now this added to their problems as it had become difficult for them to manage the repayment of loan they had borrowed on interest from local money lender. 

Nenuben Showing her business to Mittalben

She came to VSSM office with her son Becher. VSSM decided to help her during her troublesome time, lent her interest free loan of Rs. 70000. Initially it was decided that she can re-pay according to her convenience. After six months of borrowing loan from VSSM her business of stitching and selling the Marwadi dress material ran well, she would re-pay according to VSSM’s mode of re-repaying the loan, on a regular basis, as it had been decided with her. She could expand her business also. She brought material from Jaipur.

The new business startup ran well and she started re-paying instalments to VSSM and other loan from Kalupur bank she had taken of Rs. 1 lakh for idol-making business. She was too much worried of her prestige and that is why she didn’t show her inability to repay Kalupur bank’s loan. She could lose her house against loan, but VSSM’s timely help without saved her from paying high interest as well as to maintain her respect as loan holder of Kalupur bank. She never wanted to be declared defaulter on her loans she took from the bank. 

We owe Nenuben's success to all our well wishers who never fail to appreciate and support us!

LOAN ID: 1407

VSSM helps Lilabhai fill colours in his life

VSSM Interest Free Loans filled Colours in the life of Lilabhai

Lilabhai built standing kitchen in his new house through VSSM Loans

Lilabhai Bhotubhai Patni (Devipujak) belongs to Deesa village of Banaskantha District. He is a seasonal vendor and his wife helps him in the business. He wished to expand his business but was facing financial limitations. He got to know about the interest free loans that VSSM extend to NT- DNT community members and decided to contact Maheshhai (VSSM worker). He could avail the loan of Rs. 25,000/- with which his business started. It had started off well and he could repay his loan timely and had some savings too!

Thereafter, he took second loan of Rs. 10,000/- to get a house under Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojna. The actual amount to be paid under this scheme was Rs 2 Lakh 49 Thousand, but as he belongs to NT community, he had to pay 55,000/- from which VSSM helped him avail 45, 000/- through Pandit Dindayal Awas Yojna, hence he could get a house of his own! He could spent VSSM loan for his house which we can see how he has built standing kitchen in his house. He is happy that he could avail his own house with VSSM’s support of Rs. 10,000 loan that too interest free. He has re-paid Rs. 2000/- out of his loan he borrowed.  

Lilabhai's winter wear shop

As the winters were about to arrive, Lilabhai thought to buy warm clothes for winter from wholesale for the season’s business. But he estimated an investment of 1.5 Lakh. He already had an ongoing loan of Rs 10, 000/- through VSSM. But he still decided to borrow a third loan.Given that he had repaid the previous loan timely, VSSM decided to extend a loan of 50,000/- for his business. Since he was still short of 1Lakh, he borrowed Rs.50,000 from somewhere on the interest and put in all his savings and got his stock of winter clothes for his business. God bless, his business is doing great and he is also repaying the loan on timely basis.

Lilabhai knows how to drive an auto rickshaw and now he wishes to buy one. He says that his wife will manage his seasonal business at one place and if he will get an auto rickshaw, he can move around with his stock and do business along with getting passengers in the auto rickshaw from which he can earn too. Once he repays both the loans to VSSM, he wishes to get another loan for buying an auto rickshaw.

Lilabhai showing winter clothes to Mittal Patel

He has two children and since his engagement with VSSM, he understands the importance of education in a better way. He wishes to send his five-year-old son to school and also puts aside Rs. 200/- for his extra tuition. He is focused towards his kid's education and their bright future.

Now that we know that Lilabhai has had a taste of how hard work and dedication pay off, we wish Lilabhai a bright future and may he always keep working hard towards achieving his goals and VSSM shall stand by his side in hour of need. 

We are grateful to our donors who support us to help many people like Lilabhai who struggle to earn the living.

LOAN ID: 1362

Marghaben Devipujak can continue her seasonal business with the help of VSSM

When Mittal Patel visited Marghaben Devipujak

Marghaben Devipujak is from Surendranagar and is a seasonal fruit vendor. She sells seasonal fruits like Bor and Channa. She sits on the Dhrangadhra road, near Katuda and sells her seasonal fruits. She requested for an interest free loan of Rs 30,000/- from VSSM to get the fruits from the farmers or from the market.

Her business was doing well and with the income she was able to send her children to school as well as repay back the monthly loan amount. In between for a couple of months, there wasn't amount paid and that's because she had gone to Rajasthan and is now back in Surendranagar as the season has started. And now she will continue to pay back the remaining amount on monthly basis. 

Marghaben Devipujak at the place she sells seasonal fruits

She feels grateful that VSSM trusted her and gave her the loan because she thinks that otherwise, people are vary of giving loan to people like her and people of her community, of the fear that they will not repay back the money or will run away.  

I am extremely thankful to the donors who make it possible for us, at VSSM, to help people like Marghaben and many more like her. 

With the help of VSSM, Lilabhai was able to expand his business

Lilabhai Devipujak with his family

Lilabhai Bhotubhai Patni(Devipujak) belongs to Deesa village of Banaskantha District. He is a seasonal vendor and his wife helps him in the business. He wished to expand his business but was facing financial limitations. He got to know about the interest free loans that VSSM extends to NT/DNT community members and decided to contact MaheshBhai (VSSM worker). He could avail the loan of Rs 25,000/- with which he got his seasonal stock from the wholesale and could set his business started. It had started off well and he could repay his loan timely and had some savings too!

Thereafter, he borrowed a second loan of Rs10, 000/- to get a house under Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojna. The actual amount to be paid under this scheme was Rs 2 Lakh 49 Thousand, but as he belong under NT community, he had to pay 55, 000/- from which VSSM helped him avail 45, 000/- through Pandit Dindayal Awas Yojna, hence he could get a house of his own!

As the winters were about to arrive, Lilabhai thought to get warm clothes for winter from wholesale for the season’s business. But he estimated an investment of 1.5 Lakh. He already had an ongoing loan of Rs 10, 000/- through VSSM… but he still decided to borrow a third loan. Given that he had repaid the previous loan timely, VSSM decided to extend a loan of 50, 000/- for his business. Since he was still short of 1 Lakh, he borrowed 50, 000/- from somewhere else on interest and put in all his savings and got his stock of winter clothes for his business.

Lilabhai Devipujak's stall of winter clothes

God bless, his business is doing great and he is also repaying the loan on timely basis.

Lilabhai knows how to drive an auto rickshaw and now he wishes to buy one. He says that his wife will manage his seasonal business at one place and if he will get an auto rickshaw, he can move around with his stock and do business along with getting passengers in the auto rickshaw from which he can earn too. Once he repays both the loans to VSSM, he wishes to get another loan for buying an auto rickshaw.

He has two children and since his engagement with VSSM, he understands the importance of education better. He wishes to send his five year old son to school and also puts aside Rs200/- for his extra tuition. He is focused towards his kid education and their bright future.

Now that we know that Lilabhai has had a taste of how hard work and dedication pays off, we  wish Lilabhai a bright future and may he always keep working hard towards achieving his goals and VSSM shall stand by his side in hour of need. 

Loan ID no. : 1138, 1362

VSSM helps Dafda family For Livelihood

VSSM’s interest free loans helps the Dafda
family increase the scope of their business..

Jitubhai Govindbhai Dafda is a native of Saurashtra but now lives in Bhacahu’s Mansarovar area. Not being educated meant he had to work as a manual labour. He took up a job at garage. The family stayed in a rented house and hence managing the family expenses in Rs. 8000 was a challenge..

VSSM Ishwarbhai Raval knew Jitubhai, so to help him overcome his financial challenges he proposed VSSM to sanction Jitubhai a loan of Rs. 30,000. Jitubhai has rented a commercial property for Rs. 2000 a month, and has started a garage there. He manages to earn Rs. 500 daily and is thankful for the support VSSM has extended to him. 

ભચાઉ માનસરોવર વિસ્તારમાં રહેતાં જીતુભાઈ ગોવિંદભાઈ દાફડા મૂળ સૌરાષ્ટ્રનાં પણ ૨૦ વર્ષથી ભચાઉ ભાડાનાં મકાનમાં પરિવાર સાથે રહે. જાજુ ભણતર નહિ. અગાઉ ગેરેજની દુકાન માં પગાર તરીકે મજૂરી કરતા. ઘરની આર્થિક પરિસ્થિતિ નબળી હોવાથી ૮૦૦૦ નાં પગારમાં પૂરું ન પડે.

vssmના કાર્યકર ઈશ્વરભાઈ રાવળના પરિચયમાં જીતુભાઈ આવ્યા. vssm માંથી ૩૦,૦૦૦ ની વગર વ્યાજની લોન આપવામાં આવી. હાલમાં ૨૦૦૦ નાં ભાડે પેટે દુકાન લઈ અલગ ગેરેજની દુકાન કરી દરરોજ નાં ૫૦૦ કમાઈ લે છે જે ફોટો માં જોઈ શકાય છે. આથી જીતુભાઈ vssm નો ખૂબ ખૂબ આભાર વ્યક્ત કરે છે.

VSSM helps Meramabhai start his business

Meramanbhai Devipujak selling onion and garlic
through the chakda he owned...

Meramanbhai Devipujak  stays in Batiya area of Kutchh’s Bhachau city, along with his four sons. Meramanbhai’s sons help run the household by working as manual labourers. Since Meramabhai cannot do manual labour he is left with no option but to  remain at home. Inspite of his desire to contribute to the family income, he helplessly remained at home. The family owned a Chakda (a carrier auto indigenous to Gujarat) but was not used for any activity. Carrying our any economic activity required initial capital investment which, he did not have. 

Since VSSM works in the region, our team member Ishwarbhai Raval had come into contact with this family. Meramabhai talked about the financial difficulties his family faced, he requested for capital to help him start his own business. 

VSSM supported Meramabhai with an interest free loan of Rs. 20,000, with the money Meramabhai procured stock of onion and garlic from Rajkot and started selling it in Bhacahu town. The family income is increasing gradually. He is abel to pay the instalment  as well as save some. 

કચ્છનાં ભચાઉનાં બટીયા વિસ્તારમાં દેવીપૂજક મેરામણભાઈ તેમના ૪ દીકરા સાથે રહે. મેરામનભાઈનાં દીકરા છુટકમજૂરી કરી ગુજરાન ચલાવે અને મેરામનભાઈ ઘરે બેસી રહે. ભારે કામ કરવાનું એમને ફાવે નહિ એટલે. પણ ઘરે આમ કામ વગર બેસી રહેવું એમને યોગ્ય ન લાગે. તેમની પાસે છકડો ખરો પણ છકડામાં સામાન ભરીને વેચવા જવા માટેનું મૂડી રોકાણ થઇ શકે એવી વ્યવસ્થા નહિ.

આ વિસ્તારમાં vssm કામ કરે. vssmના કાર્યકર ઈશ્વરભાઈ રાવળના પરિચયમાં મેરામણભાઈ આવ્યા. ઈશ્વરભાઈને મેરામણભાઈએ પરિવારની તકલીફોની વાત કરી સાથે સાથે ધંધા માટે થોડી મૂડી મળે તો ઘણું કામ થઇ શકે એમ જણાવ્યું.

સંસ્થા તરફથી મેરામણભાઈને  રૂI ૨૦,૦૦૦/- ની વગર વ્યાજની લોન આપવામાં આવી. સંસ્થાની લોન મળતાં મેરામનભાઈ રાજકોટથી ડુંગળી અને લસણનો જથ્થાબંધ સ્ટોક લાવ્યા અને ભચાઉનાં ગામડામાં ફરી ડુંગળી લસણ વેચવાં માંડ્યા. ધીમે ધીમે આવક થવા માંડી. 

મેરામણભાઈની ઘરની આવક વધી છે. vssmનો લોનનો હપ્તો કાઢતા નાની બચત કરવાનું પણ એમણે શરુ કર્યું છે.  

ફોટોમાં : પોતાના છકડામાં ડુંગળી અને લસણ જથ્થાબંધમાં ખરીદી લાવીને વેચવા જતા મેરામણભાઈ

VSSM helps Devipujak families For Livelihood

VSSM’s interest free loans helps the Devipujak family increase the scope of their business...

Earning well, saving well and working towards increasing their productivity and profit margins!!!!

The Aadinath, Odhav suburb of Ahmedabad has makeshift homes of around 20 Devipujak families. These families earn their living by making brooms. Highly skilled in their craft,  each family can easily make as many are 1,500 brooms a month.  It does not end at making they also manage to sell everything they make. 

Whenever they have balance of Rs. 6,000 to 7,000, they bring the required raw material, a special type of grass of which brooms are made. In cases when they do not have cash reserves they take loan from some one on very high rate of interest. Everything they earned ends up in supporting the family and paying high interest rate on the loan. Saving even little was always out of question. 

A year ago these families came to VSSM office in Ahmedabad. The reason for the visit was basically to find support and solution to the basic amenities issues and applications for ration card, voter ID cards etc. There was discussion about their livelihood, what is that they do to earn, do they save money etc.? The answer to savings question was a ‘No.’ We explained to them about opening an account with some bank and begin saving. We also helped them with the Voter ID cards. 

VSSM’s interest free loans helps the Devipujak family increase the scope of their business...

After almost 6 months all these families once again came to VSSM office. This time they came with their bank pass books. Most of them had managed to save more than Rs. 5,000/-. They had listened to what we had asked them to do. 

While talking to them we could understand the issues they were facing with their livelihood. The grass they were buying to make brooms was turning out to be expensive purchase because they could buy only one stack. If all of them bought it together in bulk it comes out to be a cheaper option. It would also give them liberty to make enough stock first and go for selling later. It isn’t difficult if the making and selling rhythm is maintained. But it becomes challenging when they run out of money to buy further stocks the required raw material. 

VSSM’s interest free loans helps the Devipujak family increase the scope of their business...

They requested for a loan from VSSM as taking money from private moneylenders proves to be very expensive. The interest rates are so high that it eats away their profits. VSSM decided to give 3 individuals from the community an interest free loan of Rs. 30,000 each. On getting the money they purchased grass in bulk, made enough brooms and went for selling only after that. Such judicious planning helped them to earn and save well. 

Bhalabhai and Chaganbhai even bought a moped to increase their productivity. Now they no longer go for selling on a bicycle. But use the moped, which enables them to cover more areas and increase sales. “Now earning isn’t an issue, managing the money is a challenge, but we have VSSM team member Chayaben guiding us on how to manage our savings. We are planning to buy the grass directly from Assam. If we can do that our profits will increase tremendously. If you can help us in this matter and find some suppliers in Assam things will become easier for us.” requested the duo.  We are sure with such zeal and optimism the future sure looks brighter and better for them..

vssmની લોનથી વેપાર વિસ્તાર્યો અને બચતની સાથે સાથે લ્યુના પણ ખરીદ્યું..

અમદાવાદના આદિનાથ, ઓઢવમાં છાપરાં બાંધીને દેવીપૂજક પરિવારો રહે અને સાવરણી બનાવવાનું કામ કરે. આ પરિવારોની સાવરણી બનાવવાની ઝડપ એટલી કે એક મહિનામાં એક પરિવાર ૧૫૦૦ જેટલી સાવરણી આરામથી બનાવી લે અને વેચી પણ શકે. 

સાવરણી બનાવવા એ પાસે રૂ. ૬૦૦૦ કે ૭૦૦૦ ભેગા થાય એટલે ઘાસની ગાંસડી ખરીદે અને એમાંથી સાવરણી બનાવે અને વેચે. ક્યાયેક સગવડ ના હોય તો વ્યાજવા પૈસા લાવે. આમ કમાય ખરા પણ વ્યાજ અને એની માથાકુટના કારણે આર્થિક સ્વતંત્રતા ના આવે.

એક વર્ષ પહેલાં આ પરિવારોને vssmના કામો અંગે માહિતી મળી એટલે મળવા માટે કાર્યાલય પર આવ્યાં. મૂળ તો પીવાનું પાણી, લાઈટ, મતદારકાર્ડ, રેશનકાર્ડ નહોવાના એમના પ્રશ્નો હતાં પણ વાત વાતમાં એમના કામો અંગે વાત થઇ અને બચત કરો છો એવું પૂછ્યું? એમણે ના પાડી. આપણે બચત વિષે એમને સમજાવ્યું અને બેંકમાં ખાતું ખોલાવવા આગ્રહ કર્યો. એમના મતદાર પણ કાઢવી આપ્યા. 

 લગભગ છ મહિના પછી એ લોકો ફરી ઓફીસ પર આવ્યાં સાથે પાસ બુક હતી અને એમાં ૫,૦૦૦ ઉપરની રકમની બચત હતી. લગભગ ૨૦ પરિવારો છે પણ બધાએ આપણે કહેલી વાતને અમલી બનાવી હતી. 

એમની સાથે વાત કરતાં ખબર પડી કે ઘાસની ગાંસડી અત્યારે એ જે ભાવે લાવે છે એ એમને મોંઘી પડે છે પણ જો એક સામટી પાંચ કે એનાથી વધારે ગાંસડી ખરીદે તો ઘાસ સસ્તુ પડે અને એક સાથે માલ બનાવી એક સાથે વેચવાનું થઇ શકે. હાલ તો એક બાજુ સાવરણી બનતી જાય એમ એમ વેચવી જ પડે નહિ તો ઘરનું ગાડું અને સાવરણી માટેનું ઘાસ ના ખરીદી શકાય. 

vssm પાસે એમણે લોનની માંગણી કરી વ્યાજવા પૈસામાં તો બધું સરખું જ થઇ જાય છે એવું એમનું કહેવું હતું. આપણે શરૂઆતમાં વસાહતમાંથી ત્રણ વ્યક્તિને રૂ.૩૦,૦૦૦ લેખે પ્રત્યેકને લોન આપી. લોન પછી એ લોકો સામટું ઘાસ લાવ્યાં, એક સાથે સાવરણી બનાવી અને એક સાથે વેચાવાનું કર્યું. ખુબ સારો નફો થવા માંડ્યો. 

ભલાભાઈ અને છગનભાઈએ તો રોકડા પૈસા આપીને બે નવા લ્યુના ખરીદ્યા એ કહે છે એમ, ‘હવે માથે મુકીને સાવરણી વેચવાનું બંધ કર્યું.  હવે લ્યુના લઈને જ જાઉં છું અને વધારે ફરું છું. વેપાર પણ સારો થાય છે. બચત તો થવા જ માંડી છે આયોજન પણ vssm ના કાર્યકર છાયાબેને શીખવાડ્યું. હજુ આસામથી સીધું ઘાસ ખરીદીને લાવીએ તો વધારે નફો થાય. અમે એ બાજુ થોડું વિચારીએ છીએ. સંસ્થા ત્યાંના વેપારીને શોધવામાં મદદ કરે તો અમને ઘણો ફાયદો થાય.’

ફોટોમાં vssmની વગર વ્યાજની લોન લઈને સાવરણીનો વ્યવસાય વિસ્તારનાર ભલાભાઈ દેવીપૂજક, મનજીભાઈ દેવીપૂજક, છગનભાઈ દેવીપૂજક

VSSM helps Devipujak Tejmalbhai For Livelihood

VSSM Helps Devipujak Tejmalbhai  For Livelihood

VSSM’s support helps Tejmalbhai improve his standard of living….

Tejmalbhai Devipujak stays in a shanty near Hawaii Pillar in Deesa, Banaskatha. He and his wife Sonalben, earn their living by selling grass, the couple harvests grass (cattle fodder) from neighbouring farms, brings it to an open plot where lot of cows graze, people come and buy grass from them and feed the grazing cows. Many Hindus follow this early morning  ritual of feeding the cows and individuals in the business of selling grass make brisk business, earning was good for Tejmalbhai as well  but the problem he faced was getting the hand cart on rent every day. The lorry rental service opened at 9 in the morning  by this time it got very late for him to bring the grass from the farms. The  couple sets out every morning at 4,  harvest and load grass in an auto  rickshaw and later load it in a hand cart and bring it to the plot for selling. Sometimes where the lorry owner needs the cart he would come and take it from Tejmalbhai in the middle of his business hours, so what if the cart was rented for an entire day!!! He couldn’t question the action since  there was this fear  that it could lead to denial of cart on rent on next day.

Tejmalbhai had recently moved to Deesa and VSSM’s Maheshbhai knew him. When Tejmalbhai became aware of VSSM’s livelihood initiative he requested for a loan to buy a hand cart. VSSM provided a loan of Rs. 5,500/- to which he added some more and bought a hand cart. The couple now takes the cart to the farms that helps them save the rickshaw fare. Sonalben now sells grass from another spot, almost doubling  the couple’s daily  income. They pay an instalment of Rs. 500 every month. Their standard of living is gradually improving. From a shanty they have moved to stay in a decent rented house. Tejmalbhai now wants to buy a Chakda  an indigenous loading vehicle of Gujarat, so that he can load and ferry more grass.

The collapse of traditional occupations are forcing the nomadic families reinvent their livelihood sources and such success stories spread a sense of joy amongst the team of VSSM and people associated with it.

In the picture Tejmalbhai with his  hand cart…..


વિ.એસ.એસ.એમ. પાસેથી લોન લેનાર તેજમલભાઈનું જીવન ધોરણ બદલાયું..

તેજમલભાઈ દેવીપૂજક બનાસકાંઠાના ડીસામાં હવાઈ પીલર પાસે છાપરુ કરીને રહે. પતિ પત્ની બંને ડીસા આજુબાજુના ખેતરમાંથી લીલી ચાર ખરીદીને લાવે અને ડીસા હાઇવે પરના ખુલ્લા પ્લોટમાં જ્યાં નધણિયાત ગાયો ઊભી રહે છે ત્યાં ઘાસ વેચવા માટે ઊભા રહે. લોકો તેજમલભાઈ પાસેથી પાંચ કે દસ રૂપિયાની ચાર(ઘાસ) ખરીદીને ગાયોને ખવડાવે. આમ તો આ વ્યવસાય ખૂબ સારો. મળતર પણ સારુ મળે પણ દુઃખ એક જ વાતનું હતું. તેજમલભાઈ જે લારી લઈને ઘાસ વેચવા ઊભા રહેતા તે લારી રોજના રૂપિયા ૨૦ આપીને ભાડેથી લાવવી પડતી. લારી રોજ વેહલી સવારે મળી જાય તો ગામડાંમાંથી ઘાસ લાવવામાં સરળતા પડે પણ બજારમાં દુકાનો ખુલે ત્યારે સવારે ૯:૦૦ વાગે જ લારી મળે એટલે લારી મળે ત્યારે જ ઘાસ ખરીદવા જવાનું કરી ન શકાય. કારણ દાન – ધર્મ તો મોટાભાગે સવારના જ થાય. એટલે તેજમલભાઈ અને તેમના પત્ની સોનલબહેન રોજ ચાર, પાંચ કિ.મી. દૂર ખેતરમાંથી રીક્ષા બાંધીને ઘાસ લઇ આવે. આમ રીક્ષા ભાડામાં પણ પૈસા નાખવા પડે.

રીક્ષામાં લાવેલું ઘાસ લારીમાં ખાલી કરીને ખુલ્લા પ્લોટમાં તેજમલભાઈ ઉભા રહે. પણ ક્યારેય લારીના માલીકને લારીની જરૂર પડે ત્યારે આવીને લારી લઇ જાય. લારીનો માલીક હોય એટલે ના પણ ના પાડી શકાય, દલીલ કરી શકાય કે લારી તો આખા દિવસના ભાડા પેટે લીધી છે પણ પછી આવી દલીલ કરે તો બીજા દિવસે લારી નહી મળે તેવો ભય લાગે એટલે ચલાવી લેવું પડે.

વિ.એસ.એસ.એમ.ના કાર્યકર મહેશને તેજમલભાઈ સારી રીતે ઓળખે આમ તો તેજમલભાઈ થોડા સમય પેહલાં જ ડીસામાં રેહવા આવ્યા છે પણ વિચરતી જાતિના હોવાના નાતે વિચરતી જાતિઓ સાથે કામ કરવાવાળા સંસ્થાના કાર્યકરોને સૌ ઓળખવા માંડે. સંસ્થા દ્વારા નાના વ્યવસાયો માટે લોન આપવામાં આવે છે તે વિગતો તેજમલભાઈએ જાણી એટલે મહેશને લારી ખરીદવા લોન આપવા વિનંતી કરી. આપણે તેમને ૫,૫૦૦ની લોન આપી. થોડા પૈસા તેમને ઉમેર્યા અને લારી લીધી. હવે પતિ પત્ની બંને સવારે વેહલા ઊઠીને લારી લઈને ઘાસ લેવા ખેતરમાં જાય છે એટલે રીક્ષાભાડાના પૈસા બચે છે. સોનલબહેન પણ ઘાસ વેચવા ડીસાની એક બીજી જગ્યા પર જ્યાં ગાયો ઊભી રહે છે ત્યાં ઊભા રહે છે. આમ પતિ-પત્ની બંને ધંધો કરવા માંડ્યા છે. સંસ્થાને લોનનો માસીક હપ્તો રૂપિયા ૫૦૦ ભરે છે. હવે છાપરાંમાંથી તેઓ ભાડાના મકાનમાં રેહવા જતા રહ્યા છે. જીવનધોરણ ધીમી ગતિએ બદલાઈ રહ્યું છે.. આગળ શું કરવાનું આયોજન છે તેવું પૂછતા તેજમલભાઈ કહે છે, ‘છકડો લાવવો છે જેથી વધારે ઘાસ લાવી શકાય અને ફરતો ધંધો પણ કરી શકાય.’

વિચરતા સમુદાયોના પરંપરાગત વ્યવસાયો પડી ભાંગ્યા છે આવામાં તેમને નવા નવા વ્યવસાયો શોધી તે તરફ વાળવા અત્યંત આવશ્યક છે. વિ.એસ.એસ.એમ. દ્વારા લોનના રૂપમાં આ પરિવારોને મદદરૂપ થવાના પ્રયત્નો સફળ થઇ રહ્યા છે જેનો આનંદ છે.

ફોટોમાં લારી સાથે તેજમલભાઈ