Helping rural women find their feet

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Helping rural women find their feet:

Most Puneites may be unaware of this silent movement to empower rural, semi-literate women. An initiative of city-based Vanasthali Rural Development Centre founded by Nirmala Purandare in 1981, this work has been going on for three decades now.  Under her guidance, a group of ‘balwaditais’ (those teaching in nursery in villages) and teachers even got an opportunity to visit France. Nirmalatai will soon be honoured with the Punyabhushan Puraskar, for her  contribution to women empowerment and education in rural areas. She spoke to Supriya Shelar about her journey so far...

How did your journey begin?

After completing my schooling, I did not join college for further studies due to family responsibilities. Whatever I learnt has been from my own experiences. Achyutrao Apte inspired me to work for the Vidyarthi Sahayak Samiti (Student's Welfare Association) founded by him, and guide students from rural areas who were pursuing higher education in Pune. I have been involved with the association since 1956. Currently, it runs three hostels for boys and two for girls. The students are provided with lodging and boarding facilities at an affordable cost. Even today, I visit the hostels and samiti office on daily basis.

You have a strong emotional bond with France, through the Association of Friends of France (AFF), Pune.

Yes. My activities were on in full swing, with the unflinching support of my brothers, editor of Manus magazine, the late SG Mazgaonkar, and proprietor of Rajhans Publications, Dilip Mazgaonkar. I was in-charge of a few editorial responsibilities for Manus. In 1967, I got in touch with AFF, founded by Achyutrao Apte. It conducts cultural exchange programmes. In 1970, I was sent to France for a year. That stint provided me with great exposure. I met people from varied social backgrounds and fields. I even learnt French. The cultural exchange programme is still on, and I have been the president of AFF since 1993.

What made you form Vanasthali Rural Development Centre?

While working with Vidyarthi Sahayak Samiti, I observed the students from rural areas often go to cities for higher education, as pursuing studies in villages is difficult. I also realised the school drop-out rate is very high in villages, as compared to cities. While analysing, I got to know the important foundation of ‘nursery education’ was missing in rural areas. Children are directly admitted to Class I. It has been scientifically proved that the development of the brain occurs between the ages of 3 to 6 years. So, I decided to start ‘balwadis’ (nurseries) in villages. Vanasthali’s first nursery was set up in Lonikand.

How did this work gain momentum?

Starting Vanasthali was not a sudden decision. Deep thought, discipline and systematic planning had gone into the process of its formation. We aimed at running them with the help of the local women. We believe the power of rural women should be used for social development. These women were mostly semi-literate or illiterate, widows or helpless because they were abandoned by their families. We noticed they gave up education midway due to circumstances of no fault of their own. Given an chance, they could study and become independent. So, we designed a six-month 'balwaditai' training module for them.

What changes have you observed over the last 30 years in villages where Vanasthali is active?

 There has been a positive social change. The training provided to these women has helped them develop their personalities, which is reflected in their social and family life. Women started to think independently and make their own decisions. They even learnt child psychology. The end result was the number of children going to balwadis increased and the network of balwaditais is strongly woven around 10 districts of Maharashtra. These women now manage the local offices, publish the Vanasthali bi-monthly and collect advertisements for it. Women from the nomadic tribes of Udgir taluka have also been trained. The villagers have immense respect for these women.

What are the other activities of Vanasthali?

Besides nurseries, we run the ‘Kishor Chhand’ programme for children between the 6 - 12 years. Our trained volunteers, who are local girls, visit schools run by the municipal corporation and zilla parishad, remand homes, orphanages and tell stories, conduct activities to develop reading and writing skills among children. Vanasthali’s mobile libraries go from village to village carrying books, toys and educational material for children.

Vanasthali has started a ‘nursing assistance course’. What is it all about?

Over time, we have shifted our focus from balwadis in rural areas to urban health. With increasing longevity, the demand for nursing assistants and personal caretakers, especially for senior citizens, is growing. So, we started a course for girls and women from urban slums. Some hospitals have come forward to assist us by providing practical training. After completion of the course, the participants get two certificates - one from the concerned hospital and another from Vanasthali and Jagruti Seva Sanstha.

Till date, all the participants have been placed as helpers to nursing staff and doctors in various city hospitals. Considering the growing demand, we will start an employment bureau for these services. There is a lot of scope, but we will go slow and steady, without compromising on the quality of service.

What is the key factor of Vanasthali's success?

Perfection, devotion and honesty in action; transparency and purity of character, and faith in our mission are our strong points. We are utilising a major sector of the society for development, which may not be visible and remains untapped. I believe that we must wait for good things to happen and give stipulated time for it. I am patient and consistently continue with my work. Now, these women are capable of taking up all responsibilities. That is our biggest success.

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