© 2023 Dr Margaret Sheppard
Meetings
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Meetings are a very important element of the Janashakthi philosophy. Right from the beginning when the first village and hamlet level meetings were held during the political troubles of 1989, the meetings have been vitally important for promoting the two way communication and exchange of ideas. They are an essential aspect for promoting the participation of the women in their own development.
There are various types of meetings and I was fortunate in having the opportunity of attending examples of most of the types. These included the various types of JBS meetings -
meetings which are used for exchanging, discussing and disseminating ideas and policies.
The format at ail these meetings was similar. As religious traditions are respected it was common for the meetings to commence with a recitation of the Five Buddhist Precepts of belief, during which.all members may stand and face
towards the local Temple or Buddha statue (many of these meetings took place in the local Temple grounds). Next it was common for all to sing a song about the Janashakthi Programme, its aims and objectives. This song was specially written for the members by Mr Mithraratne, the Hambantota Government Agent. One member, known to have a good voice, would lead the singing by singing one line at a time from the Group’s printed copy of the song. The members would then sing the line after her. The song included references to the fact that they were all one people whatever the religion -
Big meetings -
There was always an agenda to which individual members had contributed. Comments and discussion were encouraged from members on all items of the agenda. Speeches would be interspersed by individual members singing traditional Sri Lankan songs and sometimes even with dances performed by members’ children.
One of the principles of the movement is to ensure human dignity, justice and equality. At meetings co-
discouraged from speaking out. At the end of a member's speech, whether it was from the Chair, committee, an ordinary member or after a song or dance, it was customary to applaud.
At many of the larger meetings, a speaker was invited to speak about or discuss social, economic, health or educational issues. For example at one RWDS meeting at Gonaruwa the Family Health Midwife spoke on Family Planning. At a meeting at Bundala the Social Mobilizer gave a talk on the importance of eating a balanced diet. She used special WHO flip charts provided by the WDF to illustrate her talk. At an RWDS meeting in Godawaya a public health official gave a talk on malaria and how the mosquitoes can be controlled encouraging the spraying of houses, destruction of potential breeding grounds -
Meetings are vitally important for communicating information to members and promoting participation at al levels in their development. Mobilizers will often talk on enterprise ideas and how loans may be used to initiate them. My guide who was the Chairman of her JBS and RWDS was invited to speak about the achievements of members from her area, about their difficulties, how they had overcome them, their various business enterprises, their use of JBS Loans and how they had managed to accrue savings. Her talk obviously, helped to encourage members of other JBSs to think about adopting these ideas, perhaps modifying them, to develop themselves in their particular situations.
Thus it is through the meetings that members acquire ideas. They are encouraged not only to develop new business enterprises but also their existing resources such as their family chenas and rice paddies. The talks provide village level training in health, nutrition, sanitation, literacy, the importance of the local environment through developing local institutions such as pre-
The meetings are made into social occasions as well. A small group would make themselves responsible for refreshments. At afternoon meetings members were served with tea and light refreshments such as bananas, biscuits and the delicious homemade Sri Lankan sweets. The meetings would close with the Sri Lankan National Anthem during which,all members would stand to attention. Members would then disperse with their friends and neighbours to their own homes.
At several of the meetings young children would be present. The children were very good, and even the small ones would play quietly. If they became too noisy, mothers or older sisters would take them off and play quietly with them. Young girls would sit quietly with their mothers listening to the free exchange of ideas. The odd husband would be present -
The quarterly JBS members' meetings are attended by the Government Agent (G A) himself. They are important occasions. At the three I attended many of the members were dressed very smartly in white saris. The GA and his party were seated at the front with the Committee. At the commencement of the meeting they were honoured by being invited to light the wicks for the ceremonial oil lamp that burnt throughout the meeting. At these meetings the various officials of the JBS gave their quarterly reports on the progress of that JBS. The GA was invited to address the members. Prizes were awarded by
the local JBS to members who had successfully accrued savings. There were also special children's savings prizes. Each prize would be presented to the prize winner by the GA, special guest or a bank official. Even at the quarterly meetings the speakers spoke with great self-
The 5-
start with religious observances, then a collection of contributions to the group savings is taken. They discuss their ideas and any member's loan application. If they decide amongst themselves to support their co-
they may then obtain guidance from the Social Mobilizer or JBS official in presenting the loan application to the JBS Board
Meeting.
Some 5-
Therefore 5000 rupees was roughly equivalent to £71, and 25,000 rupees was approx: £357.) The 5-
Both the RWDS and JBSs are run by Committees of members. These committees meet fortnightly or more often if necessary. At each of the committee meetings I attended, proceedings were similar. After the religious observances each Chair would give a statement of her group's savings and loans. There would be general discussion of problems and ideas. Anyone who had attended a zonal or district level meeting or training course would report back on these. Sometimes for example, a member would have attended seminars or training sessions on e.g. nutrition, health issues or pre-
enterprises or perhaps new procedures agreed at district level for the administration of the loans and savings would be outlined and discussed.
District level meetings are vitally important for ensuring members are kept up-
The WDF Executive Board meets once a month to discuss policy, budgets, problems etc. At the one I attended they discussed the problems in certain areas of the district they were having in recruiting suitable volunteers from the "rank and file" to official positions. The Board felt this was due to a lack of confidence among the poorer members. They recognised it was a problem they must solve as the JBS and RWDS are a "bottom-
Another meeting I attended was the monthly meeting of the Christian Children's Fund (CCF). Although the CCF is independent of the Janashakthi Programme, it works closely with it in Hambantota District. The CCF uses the JBS organization to identify and channel overseas contributions to the target group for the "Adopt a child" scheme. Suitable under 5s from very poor families are selected. Through the sponsorship of the child and improving its social environment so that of the whole family is improved. In 1994 there were three areas where the CCF was sponsoring children in Hambantota District. The CCF Programme Officer who was based in Colombo attends the monthly meetings to meet with the Project Assistants and Sponsorship Assistants. These Assistants were funded by the CCF and identified and selected the suitable children who met the criteria to be sponsored by' the overseas sponsors. The CCF Assistants worked very closely with the JBS mobilzers and JBS members to ensure that the poorer children are selected. During the meeting the local assistants raised their various problems in their particular areas. Some were asking for additional funds. For example in Galwella there were only 6 children in the pre-
The meeting was an opportunity lo share common problems. Several assistants joined in the discussion on the problems of maintaining local enthusiasm for digging wells and toilet pits. They agreed that it was easy to find volunteers to dig out the easier topsoil but volunteer labour dwindled when the rocky layers were reached! Another common problem raised was that of unsuitable gifts from the sponsor families . For example at Christmas they tended to send money for toys for “their” child perhaps requesting an expensive doll be bought for the child. Then they would become upset when some of the money was spent on a doll and the rest on improving the family’s house. It was felt this was due to a lack of understanding by sponsors of the real needs of the child. They perhaps did not realise that a child would benefit more from a proper toilet, clean drinking water or a more substantial house, rather than an expensive doll. Ideas were exchanged on how sponsors could be "educated".
Recruitment to a vacant post for a Sponsorship Assistant was discussed. A suitable candidate had been identified and she just required a formal interview. The problem of expenses and salaries was raised*. The Project Officer pointed out that these were linked to the Janashakthi Programme scales but these were all due to be reviewed in April.
This CCF rneeting, like the JBS meetings operated within a similar philosophy of promoting participation and democratic discussion.
There were 4 villages in the District where CCF was in operation. They worked very closely with the JBS Social Mobilizers These included 2 in villages in Katuwana division -
Children in Hambantota Division.
JBS official’s report -
Social Mobilizer reporting on local small businesses started with JBS loans
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Weekly 5-
necessities they have have purchased wholesale.
Social Mobilizer attending this meeting to share,advise and inspire members with small business ideas and assist them to complete JBS loan applications
A 5-
Fortnightly Kantha Samiti (RWDS) meetings held in various locations e.g. under shady tree at village Temple, in partly finished group meeting hall (built by members) and in Temple School building
Member speaking about her small business enterprise to inspire her fellow members at a fortnightly RWDS meeting
Mrs G A Premalatha sharing good practice from another RWDS group at an RWDS fortnightly meeting. She shares business ideas and stresses the importance of savings however small, at their local JBS
An invited speaker ( a public health official) speaking at an RWDS fortnightly meeting
Quarterly Zonal JBS meetings These are held throughout the District and attended by the Government Agent and other local government officials. Often the local village monk would also address the members.