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Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Want to carry my work to other down-trodden regions of India: Magsaysay award winner by Sudhir Suryavanshi


Neelima Mishra, resident of Bahardarpur in Jalgaon, 375 km from Mumbai, was presented the Magsaysay award for her tireless contribution to rural work on Wednesday.

Mishra, popularly known as Didi, has been working in Parola tehsil since 2000.

“The Magsaysay organisation told me a month ago that my name has featured in the awardees list, but they asked me not to share the news with many people,” Mishra told DNA over phone.

“I am happy today. But besides me, many other people have made diligent efforts to set up small groups to alleviate poverty. We are planting at least one tree in front of each household. We are also constructing toilets so women do not need to go out. We have even set up a small financial help group, which provides microfinance,” she said.

Mishra decided to work for the society at the age of 13. Before starting her own social group, she worked with a Pune-based organisation.

“With the help of this organisation, she travelled across the country to understand problems in rural India, and sufferings of the people. She was deeply influenced by late Bhaghini Nivedita, a renowned social worker. Mishra’s social group, Nivedita Gramin Vidyan Niketan, was then set up at her native place, in Bahadarpur,” said a local resident.

However, Mishra’s work is not restricted to her native place — it is spread across almost 200 villages in Jalgaon, Dhule and other adjoining regions.

There are almost 1,800 savings groups, of which 255 have already started reaping benefit. The organisation’s annual turnover is almost Rs1 crore.

“Our organisation set up a microfinance unit that gives loan to women for small needs, which they do not get from a government bank. Once they are financially strong, most household and village problems get sorted out automatically,” said Vinod Sonar, who works with Mishra.

“I had sown a small seed. It has now grown into big tree and I want it to increase its branches. We now want to carry forward this work in other down-trodden regions,” Mishra said.