Gramin Vikas Sansthan

Santosh Kumari belongs to a so-called high caste and lives in village Taraunja. When her father-in-law heard about the SMCS program, his reaction was: "Why do they want to call our daughters-in-law out to collect the food. Do the male supervisors want to see their faces?" The comment obviously was in bad taste. It did not please Santosh Kumari either. Her father-in-law actually tore up her registration card in front of everybody at the food distribution center, saying they need not get concerned about his daughter-in-law.

But Santosh Kumari wanted to join the program. She knew if she had to win over her strict father-in-law it had to be with persuasion. It took her time, but finally Santosh Kumari convinced him that if she could go to the hospital, if she could even go alone to the doctor, or to visit relatives, why couldn't she go to the monthly sessions? Why couldn't she go to collect bulgar and oil? After all, only women were present on these occasions, other than one or two men.

Slowly the ice began to melt and her father-in-law finally relented. Santosh Kumari was allowed to go and collect the food. Following her example, other women of her caste too began to come out. The BCC program, therefore, became a vehicle for social change in Taraunja village.

As we were taking to a group of women sitting on Santosh Kumari's verandah, one of them said: "We have come a long way. Earlier, we were not allowed to be seen by outsiders. And look at us today, we are sitting out and talking to you."