SAFE with the help of National Agricultural Bank for Rural Development (NABARD), Kolkata, have started the formation of Self Help Group (SHG) among the women dwelling at East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW). The group formation was first initiated with the participation of 26 women. Initially, at the meetings some of them expressed their doubt on the integrity of other women in the group. SAFE team instead of suggesting ideas asked them to find a solution to this problem. One of them stood up saying that she had joined one of such group in her village and it was doing very well for eight years to an extent that they were allotted a land with a fund of Rupees 2.50 lakh to construct a domicile for their business. But unfortunately due to a conflict over the location of the land the group failed to acquire the money for the said purpose. Such a regrettable incident appeared as a lesson for other participants at the meeting. They felt united a group of few women could reach such height but due to a silly problem created by some members they failed to grab the opportunity of lifetime.

Yes, such conflicts in groups are quite common, but then it can be resolved easily by combining personal ambition with the group capacity giving that sense of long-term individual opportunity. This shall help realize that the group is a remedy to abject poverty, and each member is responsible for the maintenance of the Self help group.

Despite, the initial apprehensions these women worker seemed to be aware of the advantage they enjoy as a dweller of EKW. Some of them were of the view that chances of such disputes are unlikely to occur here as the location of the alternative occupation as suggested by SAFE remains the same wetland, where they come daily to attend to their age old work associated with fishery. Here, they need not have to change the work location for raising the level of their income. Through SHG’s one of the women suggested that they all should make the most of the area by trying out alternative activities to overcome their economic constraints.