Alibai Pardi, 50, was warned by many villagers not to give her land to SIES College as there was high chance of it being misused. But she ignored their warnings. Alibai is the daughter of Avadibai Jaitu Pardi, who owned most of the land in Kawathewadi village. Her father's land too had been given to SIES College, Sion.
"I had no doubts in handing over my land to them. I knew they would do a good job. SIES staffers are genuine. They want to do good for the village," said Alibai.
A tribal woman, Alibai confessed that people had been paid only Rs40 per day, but after the village had been adapted, staffers realised villagers were being exploited. Now they earn Rs200 per day.
According to a survey by SIES College, girls were being married off at a young age. Medical check up by botany and zoology departments revealed most women were anemic. Kamalabai Parsuwagh, 40, said: "Girls use sanitary pads only if volunteers provide them pads. They have never gone to a shop to buy one. We were taught personal hygiene, and it feels good to have separate washrooms for women."
Rajni Thakur, economic professor, SIES College, has been overseeing women empowerment programmes, and has noticed great improvement in the confidence level of women here.
One of the midwives here has never heard of women delivering in hospitals. Namibai Padu Varagda, 70, has assisted most village women deliver. "No one taught me how to assist women in delivering. I learnt by watching. Karjat is far away, so women prefer giving birth at home. We make sure children get all the vaccines and hospital staffers do visit the village to give polio drops," said Namibai.
Villagers have made use of the public distribution system (PDS) with their below poverty line (BPL) cards. But they were shocked seeing the electricity bills. "We got a bill for Rs5,000-Rs8,000. We went to the electricity board office and asked how poor people like us could have consumed so much electricity. After checking the bill, they reduced the amount," said Alibai.
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