For the 12-odd women of Nivedita SHG, it was an uphill task to convince the panchayat and the villagers to agree to a rental arrangement for the 2,000 feet stretch of land along the embankment. “There were even minor incidents of violence against us when we were canvassing for the land four years ago,” recalls Geeta Das, 23, adding, “but we prevailed. This common property resource has emerged as a lifesaver for us.”
The women also get fodder for their cattle from this common property and food for their families from plants like bakphul or coconut.