DORINA N. MARAK : Inspiring Women to Embrace 5 Leadership

The Rongkhugre B Integrated Village Cooperative Society Ltd. (IVCS) in Rongkugre, West Khasi Hills district, is where women have assumed pivotal roles in decision-making to guide their community towards sustainable development with a visionary and proactive approach. Since its inception, this IVCS has flourished under their direction, showcasing the power of women empowerment in an enabling environment. Their commitment has led to key achievements, such as improved water supply, enhanced agricultural practices, and boosted economic activities. Among these remarkable women is Dorina N. Marak, the IVCS chairperson, who balances her responsibilities as a Lower Primary School teacher and a mother while serving as a leader in the community.

Despite her busy schedule, Dorina engages in various IVCS activities as part of the duties of a chairperson. Before being recommended for the role, Dorina showcased strong leadership abilities through her involvement with Megha-LAMP as a Group Facilitator, where she helped form multiple farmer groups and actively mobilized membership in the IVCS with door to-door visits.

Initially, the community had appointed a male chairman to lead the IVCS. However, he was unable to oversee the IVCS's development due to other commitments, resulting in stalled progress. In response to this leadership void, members of the IVCS encouraged Dorina to step up and fill the position.

Under her leadership, the IVCS began to flourish. Her hands-on approach and ability to unite the community around common goals revitalized the cooperative society.

One of the most significant changes observed in the village is the aforementioned improvement in water supply, which has historically struggled with water security, especially during the dry seasons. Through Megha-LAMP’s interventions of community-led integrated NRM activities, the community constructed three check dams and ten ring wells to bring water to doorsteps.

Dorina has also taken part in a range of other developmental initiatives, such as the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), where she assisted 232 households in obtaining their entitlements. Upon learning about the impending closure of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Dorina visited the block office and discovered that 59 individuals from Rongkhugre were listed as beneficiaries, but ten had either relocated or were deceased. Collaborating with the village Gram Sevak (GS), she ensured that those in need of proper housing received benefits. Her efforts led to 22 households completing their construction. She has also assisted her community with being part of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) programme, submitting 117 forms and benefiting 97 villagers.

Despite the lack of organized business activities in the village, Dorina recognized potential for growth. Many villagers ran individual shops and engaged in the areca nut trade, ginger farming, and broom grass businesses. As a Group Facilitator, she supported them by regularly monitoring their progress and linking them to sources of funding, market connections, and schemes.

In the IVCS, Dorina is closely supported by Hemery M. Sangma, the IVCS secretary, who played an equally important role during membership mobilization, which led to the IVCS currently having 253 shareholders and catering services to 4 villages. She is particularly proud of the loan procedures of the IVCS, which have benefited 56 members. These loans have supported various business and agricultural endeavours, and most members have successfully repaid them, with 15 settling both principal and interest.