WHEN FATHER BECOMES ‘MOTHER’!
- Fr. Trevor Miranda, SJ

Over these last three months six unique over-night ‘maheri shibirs’ were organized for the women of our Self Help Groups wherein they were invited to their ‘mother’s house’ in Aksa for two days.  And the mother was none other than Fr. Trevor!!   And like being in their mother’s house they talked, shared, cried, discussed, played and danced.  For the women it was the first time that someone listened to them.  It was a spontaneous outpouring of their grief, difficulties, hopes and dreams.   The reflections and skits helped in understanding many issues women face today.   The women went back feeling ‘loved and cared’. 

Another first, was the two day ‘kishore shibir’ for 23 young girls from the slums.   The focus was on motivation and gearing up to face life.  The response was terrific.  The reflections and sharing’s gave them a new high.  More such shibirs are being planned since the response was so good.

The SHG group at Ramabai colony, Ghatkopar, got an unusual marketing agent!  The TOI reporter visiting the group was so impressed with their skill at paper making that she volunteered to market the bags.  The group is making 8 types of paper bags.  They were trained by a group of young MBA’s who designed and taught the women.  This has turned out to be a very profitable business thanks to the ban on plastic bags.

This month, the women put up 10 stalls at a ‘melewa’ organized by Thane municipality and another 10 stalls in Navi Mumbai.  The women were also introduced to an insurance scheme designed for such groups.  The women did brisk business and all their products were sold!

>A daring and unique departure took place this holi.  One of our SHG supervisors  exhorted the women not to put their ‘puran polis’ in the holi fire (as is normally done out of superstition) but rather give it to the poor.  In this way she rallied round and the group collected over 500 polis which were distributed to poor women and children.

At Ramabai nagar, Ghatkopar, the women approached the local MLA who immediately took up their issue and sanctioned a toilet.  The local corporator was dilly-dallying for months.   Women’s power at best.