 |
Mendipathar Multipurpose Cooperative Society Helping families to improve their lives through the services of a Cooperative is one of hundreds of ways in which Medical Mission Sisters around the world try to be a healing presence to others today. “Our people have the traditional wisdom that everything in nature is connected and interdependent, even before science and technology began to tell us this,” says Sister Rose Kayathinkara, who has spent 31 years of life and mission in the Garo Hills of Northeast India. Years ago, Sister Rose observed that local farmers were being paid very little for their produce. “Often people would sell their farm produce ‘in advance’ to businessmen or moneylenders in order to take loans for their livelihood, or at a time of sickness. Therefore, they got only ¼ of the actual price at the time of harvest. At the same time, they had to pay 4 times more than the actual prices when they purchased the daily necessities for life.” In 1998, Sister Rose began the Mendipathar Multipurpose Cooperative Society to “liberate the marginal farmers from the clutches of middlemen and moneylenders.” Two thousand families now participate in it. The Cooperative empowers people to think more widely; supplies members with seeds, seedlings, Kroiler chicks, mushroom spawn, and anthuriums; offers training and exposure programs; provides market facilities for farm produce, clothing and other consumer items to be sold at a fair and reasonable lower price than the market; and creates micro-credit groups and self-help programs. Since October, 2003, 125 self-help groups have been formed, each consisting of 10 to 15 members. Because the Cooperative has helped to keep prices stable, the members have been able to improve their saving habits and their quality of life. With better food, shelter and clothing, they are now more interested in educating their children. Many have started small shops in their villages as well. In 2007, Sister Rose received an award for excellence from the National Cooperative Department. Many government and non-government organization (NGO) officials have visited the Cooperative, along with people from neighboring states who want to learn how it works. People in the Cooperative network locally, regionally and nationally with government and other NGOs for implementation of different programs, training, money, and personnel. As Sister Rose says, “Interdependence and networking is needed to bring social changes and transformation.” May 15, 2009
home
|
|
|
||||||||
