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>>Halima
Shaikh 
Pimpalgoan Unda Village
Halima Shaikh grew up
disadvantaged as a poor Muslim woman in a village that was
predominately Hindu. Her husband gambled away all of
her earnings, their house and farm, and
accumulated large amounts of debt. As a woman, she was unable to
receive any loans from money lenders to support her family.
However, her husband continued to saddle the family with massive
debt from the same money lenders.
Her village, Pimpalgaon, nominated her to
the undervalued position of Village Health Worker (VHW) 28 years
ago. On her first day of training at CRHP, Halima barely had the
courage to speak in front of the group.
Despite
being illiterate, she excelled in health training and was able
to apply her skills in the village. She also gained the
confidence to actively participate in sessions and, later, with
the support of fellow VHWs, Halima gained the confidence to make
house calls.
Halima has helped her village improve in matters relating to
health, economy and education. She has been instrumental in
altering harmful traditional practices in health. “Women thought
they should eat less so that the babies would be smaller and
they would have fewer complications...I had to educate them that
they should eat more food for the babies to be healthy.” During
her time as a VHW, not one of the mothers or babies that Halima
delivered died.
Halima went on to organize women’s groups in five villages.
These women's groups spread knowledge on antenatal care and
family planning, eliminated caste discrimination, and encouraged
cooperative lending programs. “Through CRHP, women’s Self-Help
Groups get loans to purchase goats, cows, sewing machines, and
shops. With access to these resources, they are able to earn
more income and reduce their family's poverty.” Most recently,
Halima helped raise money for a high school in her village so
that girls can now study up to 10th grade. Girls from four
different villages now come from up to 10 km away to attend
school.
Halima now trains other VHWs in her community. She advises her
peers, “To be a good VHW you need to listen carefully to
others. You need to treat everyone in the village like a family
member. Most importantly you cannot act too proud or no one will
let you help them.” She makes a good profit from her various
businesses to support her family, and owns her own house and
farm. Now, many of the families call her doctor, invite her for
tea, and show her great respect.
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