The improved standard of living resulting from the savings groups is extremely important for poor women. But other benefits may be just as significant. By taking charge and developing their enterprises, the women begin to control the purse-strings in the family, altering the power structure. The women also greatly increase their self-confidence, and raise their standing and influence in the larger community.

Furthermore, the women’s groups foster strong solidarity among their members. The women discover strength in numbers, which enables them to effect changes difficult for individuals to achieve. The women have taken the initiative on a number of concrete and important changes in their communities.

PREVENTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
To decrease pervasive domestic violence, the women’s groups have instituted rules restricting gambling and drinking to holidays. Rules are enforced through social pressure and fines, which are paid into the common group fund. This system functions well and is adhered to by most men. But if an incident occurs anyway, the women act in unison and take the offender to the village jail. This amounts to a public humiliation of great proportion, and usually has the desired effect of preventing future violence.

WEAKENING THE CASTE SYSTEM
Dalit women predominate in the groups, but a number of higher caste women are also included. This is a deliberate attempt to further understanding across caste divisions. Women who before had no social interaction because of caste strictures are becoming friends. They begin to see one another’s humanity and common aspirations.

It is a huge leap forward, that women of different castes can now share water from the same vessel, eat together and no longer see the need for ritual purification after touching one another. Such improvements in traditional caste relations set examples for the whole community and have vast implications.

CREATING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
The stronger women’s groups have undertaken a number of concrete improvements for the wholecommunity. Such projects bestow enormous status on the women. Examples include:

• Construction of a “pati”, or public pavilion.
• Construction of a community meeting house.
• Procurement of stretchers for transportation of the sick.
• Investment in tableware for communal events.
• Construction of a temple, where people of all castes can worship.

ENCOURAGING EDUCATION
The women’s groups are changing the way many Dalit families view education. Dalit families have traditionally not encouraged their children to attend school, because of lack of self-esteem and a general feeling of hopelessness. The women in the savings groups are living examples of the power of education.