Yunus plan saves sex workers

Mohsin Mulla / TNN / Feb 5, 2008, 01:05 IST

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The model of self-help groups of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has freed 37-odd commercial sex workers from the clutches of private money lenders.

KOLHAPUR: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has turned out to be a Messiah for 37-odd commercial sex workers (CSWs) in the city as his model of self-help groups (SHGs) has freed them from the clutches of private money lenders and egged them on to think about starting some business.
The Rajarshi Shahu Mahila Bachat Gat, Savitribai Phule Mahila Bachat Gat, Sant Kanhopatra Mahila Bachat Gat have been formed by sex workers in the city's red light area of Dombarwada.These groups cater to the financial needs of sex workers who were earlier dependent on private money lenders, even for minor reasons. There are 17,999 SHGs of women in the district.
"In September 2002, we formed Rajarshi Shahu Mahila Bachat Gat with 12 members. Recently, when Yunus was in Pune, we held a discussion for SHG in the red light areas regarding the work done by Yunus and how the movement of micro finance was rooted in India. There is a curiosity regarding Yunus here," Suhel Jamadar, project manager of Pathfinder Internationals' Mukta Project, which is devoted to HIV/AIDS awareness, told TOI.
All the three SHGs have savings of about Rs 90,000 and have given their 37 members small loans at 2 per cent per annum. The SHG members hold meetings in the last week of every month and decide about the loan beneficiary.

Mariyambee Mangole (40), who has been in the red light area for the last two decades, was among those attending the discussion on Yunus. She hails the concept of micro financing and SHG. "I had mortgaged my gold earrings and chain with a money lender. When we started the SHG, I took a loan of Rs 3,000 and got back my jewellery," she said.
Mariyambee is also the deputy president of the Rajarshi Shahu SHG.

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