Today i went into viewing the rushes from the shoot. All you can see is dry heat and warm tones. And viewing the footage made me realise that no matter what the fuckups the story that is going to be told is one of hope. Not one of despair. It is not the story of city slickers or educated people, or people who can talk and walk English. Its a story of the poorest of the poor, the most abused of the lot – the Dalit Women. These women have decided to take charge of their own destiny. Every where we went – it was the women who were at the forefront of change. Irregular daily wage workers who barely earn minimum wage – are undertaking their own silent, small yet significant revolution. The catalyst behind this revolution is self help groups. The funda is very simple. Each woman in a group of around 20 women – saves upto 1 day's wage a month as part of a common Self Help group. This varies between Rs.20 per month and Rs.50 per month. The Group gets its self a bank account with 3 authorised signatories – the President, vice president and secretary. The group then begins internal lending for a variety of activities from buying seeds to goats to medical expenses or marriage. The rate of interest at which they lend is lower than either that of the bank or the local money lender. Essentially they build up a fund. At the end of two years if the group has kept records well, then natioalised banks lend them upto Rs.25,000 for starting up a small business. Of this Rs.10,000 is a subisdy and Rs.15,000 has to be paid back. Till date the SHG's have a 100% record in repaying bank loans. If the banking system had corporates that were so ernest about repayment, they would be in perpetual profits. Today women have started their own business that takes them slightly near the poverty line – from being way below it. It is a movement that has given them back hope, aspiration and above all a sense of achievement. When the women proudly tell you that their group has raised Rs.5000/- as capital it is truly an achievement. It is the equivalent of me – and my friends – raising a crore (Rs.10 million)by squirriling away our daily wages. Today most SHG's are taking active interest in schools, education and the running of the village. They also address other issues such as wife beating, alcohol abuse by the men and discrimination due to caste or gender. I guess it is people like this, the un named millions, who by their individual and collective acts of determination – who brings hope that tommorrow is truly a better day