(GMASK)

The Human Development Index - Karnataka, ranks Bidar District as one of the lowest in the state. The low literacy rate among women (28%); large size of the family (9 members per family); poor infrastructure development; low development of secondary sector industry; and a medium level development of tertiary sector services are all indicators of the precarious living conditions in the area.

There is a high level of dependency on agriculture for employment. With normal rainfall registered on 65 percent of the occasions, agriculture is prone to frequent uncertainties. With low per capita income of around Rs. 4000 and migration a serious social problem, women staying on in the villages during migration have to maintain fairly large families on their own. This, in combination with low literacy and poor empowerment, has critical impacts on the overall development of the region. One of the finest developments of the last decade has been the development of Self Help Groups (SHGs) as a means of empowering women and building capacity so that they can attain financial self-reliance.

This process started when PRAWARDA took the initiative in Basavakalyan Taluk towards promoting SHGs as a disciplined sustainable institution of people to encourage people to participate in the watershed development and Natural Resource Management (NRM) programme. PRAWARDA pioneered the development of the Self Help Group concept in the district in the early 1990s. Since 1994, it has been instrumental in promoting around 370 SHGs as a part of promoting participatory processes in watershed development, NRM programmes and programmes for livelihood development.

Buoyed by the growth and development of the self help concept, they are now moving towards a re-organisation/ strengthening process whereby they set up an apex body that will look after the interests of the SHGs. It is in this context that the SHGs and PRAWARDA have met several times and evolved the concept of Grameena Mahila Arthika Seva Kendra (GMASK).

GMASK is an initiative by the people and PRAWARDA to promote a centre that will help and empower Self Help Groups, particularly the women's groups. It will help SHGs pursue viable livelihood options in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of development, and lay emphasis on efficient management of natural resources as a means of developing sustainable livelihood options.

GMASK will act as a centre for development of women in rural areas and orient them to NRM and sustainable agriculture. It will develop sustainable livelihood options for the marginalised families of the village, and seek to help all the viable men's SHGs in the same manner. It also intends to develop the women's entrepreneurial abilities through capacity building activities and a strong network of institutions through linkages.