Thousands of women associated with National Livelihood Mission, Self Help Groups’ Jeevika scheme held a massive protest on 28 November in Patna under the banner AIPWA. Their major demands include permanent employment for Jeevikas, government procurement of the products made by SHGs, to continue the existing system of honorarium by the state government to Jeevika cadres instead of asking the SHGs for the same, waiver SHGs’ loans taken up to 2022 (Covid19 period), and immediate stop to usurious practices and oppression by various private microfinance companies.
Through this protest the demands of adequate loan amounts to SHGs as per their needs, and Rs 3000 monthly assistance to all women as in Jharkhand, to stop atrocities against women and holding police administration responsible for incidents of rapes were also raised.
The protesting women marched in a huge procession from Gait Public Library to Gardani Bagh protest venue, and held a mass meeting. They demanded to allow their delegation to meet with the Chief Minister.
The protest was addressed by AIPWA national general secretary Mina Tiwari. She said that the Jeevika SHGs are gradually made to disappear due to accumulating debts because of inadequate governmental support. Now the government wants from the same loss making SHGs to pay the honorarium to Jeevika cadres which the government has been paying till now. She said this injustice will not be tolerated. She emphasised on the demand of permanent employment and waiver of all old loans, and added that the government’s intentions are to bring a new system of usury by encouraging microfinance companies. These companies first lure villagers to take loans at very high interest rates, then use threats and intimidations to extract weekly high installments forcefully. Their agents forcibly take away valuable household belongings and even cattle with them. Because of such oppression many women had committed suicides and many had to flee from their homes. But this pattern of extraction is continuing with impunity.
The protest was also addressed by AIPWA Bihar president Sohila Gupta, secretary Anita Singh, Sangita Singh, Shabnam Khatun, Indu Singh, Madhuri Gupta, Anuradha Devi, Prema Devi, Rita Baranwal, Member of Bihar Legislative Council Shashi Yadav and many CPIML MLAs. Women from all districts of Bihar participated in this protest.
