Kashi Ma takes care of her mentally retarded son with the help of VSSM for loan to do business

Kashi Ma with her son

When I heard name of Kashi, I remembered the famous story of Gujarati literature named ‘Lohini Sagai’. I could connect this Kashi with the character of Kashi in the story. The real life Kashi is taking care of her 35 year mentally retarded son with a great zeal. Kashi Ma’s age is above 65 years. She spends every month nearly Rs. 2,000-2,500 for her son’s medicines. 

I went to visit the Vansfoda hamlet of Hadmatiya at Gir-Somnath, at Rajkot District of Gujarat.  During my visit there, he kept moving around me with his medical file given by the doctor he was consulting for his illness. He is not able to speak but he must be understanding his mother’s feelings about him and there was a sign in his eyes that if someone may help his mother. 

Kashi Ma took an interest free loan of Rs. 20,000 from VSSM to buy Plastic Tubs to do its business. She was going by truck, tractor whatever public transport she got for selling the Tubs around nearby villages. She earns her livelihood by selling those Plastic Tubs only. She also spends for her son’s medicine from the same income and she pays her loan installments too out of it.

I spent two hours there but she neither uttered a word for help nor she complained about her difficult situation. Yes, she expressed that government has given APL ration card and she wanted instead of BPL Ration Card/or Antyodaya Card so that she may get a little relief in her financially tough situation. 

Generally there is an amendment according to Supreme Court’s order, if there is any handicapped member in the family, that family should get an Antyoday Ration card. But sadly Kashi Ma does not have that Antyodaya card. She should get that ideally. 

VSSM Karyakars Kanubhai and Chhayaben have taken up the responsibility to help her get Antyodaya Card. Moreover, ex Sarpanch of Hadmatiya village and others too have promised to cooperate for the same. 

Kashi Ma has a desire to get a plot to make her own house to stay. As villagers are supportive, we too are hopeful that VSSM’s effort will bring results for her. We are also determined to help her get the medicines for her son on a cheaper rate. 

We feel like to bow down to Kashi Ma looking at her tireless efforts to take care to keep existence of her mentally retarded son. 

Really, as it is said in Gujarati, “Ma e Ma, Bija Badha Vagdana Va” feels to be truth when we see mothers like Kashi Ma.

We can see her son with a file behind her in the house where Kashi Ma stays. 

VSSM Helps Dakshaben set up her Business

VSSM helps Dakshaben, a Domestic Helper, become a Fruit Vendor 

Dakshaben Rajubhai Nayak is staying at Guptanagar area in Vasna village of Ahmedabad. She was earning her livelihood by doing household jobs in nearby bungalows. Her husband Rajubhai is working in the hotel Thriller. She has one daughter and a son too. She was also selling bananas filled up in a small basket.  She was earning her livelihood but that did not give enough profit to meet the ends. It was difficult for her to meet the ends.

During 2014, she came in contact with Ilaben, the social worker who is working with ‘Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch’ (VSSM). VSSM helped her by giving interest free loan of Rs. 20,000 during May 2017, which helped her add more fruits and buy more stock to sell by hand-cart. This interest free loan helped her earn good profit as well as saved her money which could be gone into paying interest of the loan if she had gone to some local money lender. Her earning has reached up to Rs. 300 to 500 daily which has strengthened her paying capacity. She pays her decided Rs. 2000 EMIs regularly (5 EMIs are already paid) which is an additional change in her life. 

Loan ID 1312

VSSM helped her rise like a Phoenix

Shankuben-a member of nomadic community Raval
revived her business after floods with the help of VSSM 

Shankuben Ravine lives in Umri Village of Banaskantha district. She was married in Rajanpur district. But she returned home in Umri because her husband used to cause problems in the household. Hence, she decided to raise her son Ashok by herself. She used to go from place to place selling cutlery and by that she earned money and sent her son Ashok to college. Then she opened a small Kiosk in the village, which was destroyed in the 2017 Banaskantha Floods.

Her stock and cabin were destroyed in the floods. So, she decided to seek help from VSSM and requested for an Interest free loan of Rs 30000 to repair her cabin and restock her shop. Her loan was passed and she could move forward and recover the loss.

She repaid the monthly loan amount. Her business is going well, too. We, at VSSM, are thankful to the donors who enable us to help people like Shankuben. 

Nomadic Women Livelihood Generation by VSSM

Livelihood Generation by VSSM For Nomadic Women
Ameenaben, Bharatiben, Najinaben and Hetalben

VSSM supports 4 nomadic women to purchase sewing machines…...

Manibanagar is one of the suburbs of Kutchh’s Bhacahu. Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch - VSSM operates a school for the children of nomadic families here while women come to learn tailoring at this center. After completion of the 3 month long  course four women proposed VSSM for a loan to buy sewing machines. VSSM lent Rs. 8,000 to each of these applicants.   They have bought the sewing machines and began earning from it and are paying a Rs. 700 EMI as well. There is a gradual change in their standard of living as well.

In the picture Nomadic Women Ameenaben, Bharatiben, Najinaben and Hetalben who wants to support her husband in building a house of her dreams…..

vssm દ્વારા વિચરતી જાતિના બહેનોને સિલાઈ મશીન ખરીદવા માટે લોન આપવામાં આવી.

કચ્છના ભચાઉના મણિબાનગરમાં આરતી ફાઉન્ડેશનની મદદથી વિચરતી જાતિના બાળકોને ભણાવવાનું કામ ચાલે છે. આ  સેન્ટર પર જ મણિબાનગરમાં રહેતી વિચરતી અને વંચિત જાતીઓની બહેનો સિલાઈકામ શીખવા આવે. ૩ મહિના સિલાઈકામ શીખવ્યા પછી ચાર બહેનોએ પોતાના ઘરે સિલાઈ મશીન ખરીદી સિલાઈ કામ શરુ કરવા માટે મશીન ખરીદવા માટે લોનની માંગણી કરી. આપણે પ્રત્યેક બહેનને રૂ.૮,૦૦૦ ની લોન આપી. બહેનો મશીન લાવી અને કામ શરુ કરી દીધું. એમણે લીધેલી લોનનો માસિક રૂ.૭૦૦ નો હપ્તો પણ આ બહેનો ભરે છે. એમનું જીવન ધોરણ પણ બદલાયું છે..

ફોટોમાં પોતાના સિલાઈ મશીન સાથે અમીનાબહેન, ભારતીબહેન, નાજીનાબહેન, હેતલબહેન કે જેમના સ્વપ્ન ઘરમાં પોતાના પતિને આર્થિક રીતે મદદરૂપ થવાનું છે.