Success Story 1:
This story shows that the women are being empowered in all respects, economically and socially via Self Help Groups.

A Child Development Center, teaching and supporting health education, is run by the Government in Barorah village. Health supplements, food and vaccines are provided for children and pregnant women, but none of the staff of this center were coming regularly, nor they were providing all of the available facilities to the people.

Members of the SHG met the Block Officer of this programme and complained about the staff. They also warned the Block Officer that if he did not take any action they would meet the District Magistrate about this. Now the Child Development Center is providing all the facilities to the people. The SHG has ended the corruption prevailing in this Government program.

Success Story 2:
This success story focuses on the fact that Self Help Groups are able to support members in any type of distress.

Tetari Devi is a member of Varsha SHG, Tarauchi. She is very poor. Her son was severely ill, so doctors referred her to Patna Medical College & Hospital, in the capital of Bihar, but she did not have any money for this treatment.

SHG members donated Rs.200 each and the group also provided Rs.2000 as a loan to Tetari Devi for the treatment of her son. Some members and their husbands also went to the hospital with Tetari Devi for the proper care of the patient. Her son’s life was saved and now her son is largely cured.

This story shows that Self Help Groups are playing a prominent role in alleviating the poverty of poor women and developing unity amongst poor people.

Personal Profiles: Read the personal profiles of a SHG members here