CASE STUDY 3 : IMPACT OF GROUP COHESIVENESS AND LOYALTY

Driven by a shared desire to uplift their village in পুরুলিয়া, a group of 15 determined women formed the “NOBI” group five years ago, leveraging financial services and microfinance facilitated by the Sahara Utsarga Welfare Society (SUWS) to promote gender equality and self-reliance. Eight of the members initially secured loans to start independent income-generating activities, while the entire group actively attended SUWS awareness camps focused on vital health topics like safe water and sanitation. Their empowerment turned into community action three years ago when a vital local hand pump broke down; rather than waiting indefinitely for funding after their complaints to the local Gram Panchayat went unanswered, the women pooled their own money to repair it immediately. This decisive action proved their deep understanding of the urgent need for clean, potable drinking water and established them as proactive leaders capable of solving their village’s critical infrastructure needs.