Subhash Rathod, Quest Fellow
How did Subhash enable 525 women in his community to create new livelihoods, and tackle domestic violence and alcohol addiction?
In Subhash’s native village, 80% of the population come from the nomadic Banjara people, whose sole reliance on the liquor trade for their livelihoods fuels alcohol addiction and domestic violence.
To tackle the root cause of the problem, Subhash set up savings groups and training for more than 700 women. So far, he has helped three quarters of them to start small businesses and use their newly-found independence to fight domestic abuse.
A year ago, Subhash says he was a shy and quiet person, but through his fellowship he gained the confidence to grow into an active community leader.
At the start of his fellowship year, Subhash surveyed hundreds of families in the local Banjara community. He became aware of the violence experienced by women and recognised that the cause of the issue was the community’s reliance on alcohol production as a means of income generation. This was breeding a culture of alcohol dependency and domestic violence that did not allow for the empowerment of women.
Subhash met with the women frequently to gain a deeper understanding of their issues, and provide them with legal information to help them to understand their rights. Before long, he understood that to make a lasting impact, he needed to address the real cause of the problem. He needed to help the women find new ways to earn a living.
Subhash struggled against opposition within the community because alcohol is so central to the local culture. It is often produced illegally, putting families at risk of police retaliation and then impeding their access to education and health services.
Despite this, and despite political opposition, Subhash worked with his mentor to form savings groups to offer financial training, networking and loans which enabled the women to establish their independence and generate income through small businesses and general trade. The women reported a dramatic decrease in domestic violence, as well as a drop in alcohol consumption among men and women, because their livelihoods no longer depended on alcohol-linked trade.
The fellowship programme gave Subhash the means to empower 525 women, and it also benefited their families. It made a significant difference to Subhash’s future too, by giving him the opportunity to grow into a respected leader in the community.
His mentor says: “An organised community spirit is growing thanks to Subhash’s leadership. Now, local women trust and accept his leadership, and men who were not cooperating initially have begun to do so.”
Subhash is currently getting ready to run in local government elections.
