It’s stories like Triveni’s that remind us why we began our Self Shakti program 12 years ago - it’s to witness them stand by themselves without fear.
Triveni is a thirty-two year old woman from Hadya, a small village in the region of Hulenahalli in Mandya. She is married and is a mother of two school-going children. She operates a home-based tailoring business while her husband is a farmer and a cattle-rearer.
Initially, Triveni spent all her earnings, lacking awareness of the benefits and importance of saving money. Despite limited literacy skills, she was an intelligent woman who cared about the welfare of her family. At the Self-Shakti training in June 2023, she reflected on her spending habits, realising unnecessary expenses are wasteful, reshaping her financial mindset.
But after completing the program, Triveni devised a personal plan to improve her financial situation. This plan involved saving consistently, even small amounts. She ensured that any amount she intends to save is deposited in her account.
This commitment to financial management began immediately after attending the Self-Shakti training.Due to her perseverance and discipline, Triveni was able to save INR 20000 in five months! “All I need is a little belief in myself, and it’s taking me a long way.”
Triveni and her entire family fell ill in early 2024. They endured a month-long cycle of viral infections and high fevers, affecting each family member in succession. Instead of taking a loan, she utilised INR 5000 from her savings to purchase medicines for her family's recovery. By relying on her savings to buy medicines, Triveni avoided accruing any loan interest. Triveni’s savings have become a financial cushion for her household, something she didn’t think would be a reality a year ago. “If this situation arose a year ago, I would have been afraid, left with no hope and the burden of unexpected finances. But today, I stand assured that I can handle situations like this.”
Triveni is exploring a new venture post-training - she now utilises her savings to offer loans to community members, charging interest. She plans to utilise this extra money to fund the interior decoration of the house they are currently constructing.
Triveni's husband praises her money management habits, saying, “My wife is keen on saving even small amounts of money. I am very delighted that she is saving for our family.”
Before the Buzz program, Triveni struggled with anger and impatience. However, post-training, she's learned patience, actively listens without interrupting, and empathises with others' feelings. Field Associate Kousalya shared how she has seen Triveni learning to be patient. Kousalya observes that in the first training, Triveni was interrupting others. Now she waits for everyone to complete their sentences, before voicing her thoughts. She's acquired improved communication and understanding, essential initial steps toward nurturing her as a local change agent for her village.
Triveni's neighbours have noticed her behavioural changes and expressed admiration on the same. Inspired by her example, they too aspire to join the Self-Shakti to enhance their own personal growth and development. By inspiring her neighbours with her behavioural change, Triveni may have contributed to the financial wellness of her community women too!
From being totally unaware about the savings concept, to learning to save to then utilising her savings to support her family, Triveni’s story shows how a little perseverance can go a long way.
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