Strong and independent women of rural Karnataka

As Durgavva and all her friends along with a bunch of small kids waved me off with faces alight with smiles, bus conductor concluded that Siddapur was my native place. In reality, I was more than 1000 kilometers away from my hometown. As has been the case with all the Milaap borrowers I've met in last 4 months travelling to various villages in Belgaum district of Karnataka, visiting Milaap borrowers in Siddapur was no different; everyone was warm and welcoming which made my job of asking various questions seem like a fun friendly conversation. 

Durgavva, Kamlavva, Mahadevi, Padmavva and Savitri all run their individual animal husbandry businesses. A few months ago, they took a Milaap loan of Rs. 60,000 to expand their microenterprises. With the loan amount, every one of them was able to buy a new buffalo. 



Durgavva now has two buffaloes. Savitri and Padmavva sold their old buffaloes and both of them now have one buffalo each. “There is a river near our village. So agriculture is good and we are able to get good fodder for our animals from the fields free of cost,” said Durgavva. 

Similar to all the other women in their villages, Durgavva and all her friends work as daily wage earners to support their families. Additional income earned by selling milk allows them to have financial security in case of any emergency. But what I found more interesting was the support system these women have developed for themselves. Although all their businesses are individual, yet they support each other whenever required. Few years ago, they were all just helpless and socially shunned; but through sheer will, not only have they become strong and independent; they have also created their own social circle where they are respected and valued.