A CASE OF AN SGSY ACTIVITY CLUSTER- SILUVAI NAGAR, KOVALAM -

RICH CRAFT OF THE POOR HANDS

The Background

Siluvai Nagar is at the southern tip close to Kanyakumari, a fishermen hamlet in Kovalam panchayat. Around 100 fishermen families live here, mostly in thatched cottages. Though they are traditionally dependent on fishing, using traditional crafts, the families are extremely poor. When the fish catches are poor or when it rains the fishing activity comes to a halt and the community finds it difficult to meet their day to day needs. This also leads to indebtedness. The women go for vending fish or when there is no catch idle away their time. They were dependent on money lenders for daily needs, eroding whatever profits they got. The place had social problems like group fights, mainly due to poverty and unemployment.

Approach Adopted :

The Kanyakumari based NGO Stella Maris entered the village forming women Self Help Groups. The members of the SHGs started saving Rs. 10/ per week and meeting weekly to discuss matters. Being close to the Kanyakumari tourist centre, the Siluvai Nagar SHGs could market Sea Shell Crafts, which have a ready market and the NGO gave training to the women to start Sea Shell Crafts. This because of the possibility to do the work in spare times, sprang up in all houses in a short time making it an activity cluster. With the weekly savings they were now able to meet their small needs not always having to go for money vendors everytime.

Socio-economic Profile :

The 20 odd women members of Siluvai Nagar SHG have now saved Rs. 17, 000, a big sum for the small community. Together with the revolving fund received under SGSY they are now circulating Rs. 46, 150 among themselves as internal credit. With the money available they are now able to purchase the requirements of raw sea shells for their crafts and the products range includes sea shell garlands, door curtains, lamp shades, shell ornamental mirrors and other items. These products are then taken to the Kanyakumari beach and sold to the tourists. The products are also sold to shop owners at Kanyakumari at other places.

Results and Future :

With more money available for purchasing sea shells and other raw material they shall be able to make more products and in more quantity. It may also be possible for them to diversify in to new areas, where the NGO Stella Maris is making all efforts. The process of community organisation in Siluvai Nagar was not easy according to the NGO as the coastal people were aggressive and weaning them away from the old habits was difficult as well. Both were successfully achieved by the NGO Stella Maris. With the District Rural Development Agency, banks and the NGO coming together under SGSY the rural poor women of Siluvai Nagar are at last able to come out of their chronic poverty. With sustained inputs they may achieve better qualities of life in the future. Published by Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Kanyakumari