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Community Animators- WWA Meenangadi
Was witness to a phenomenon early December’07.
As a part of a Microfinance project, had the opportunity of interacting with an NGO, WWA (Women’s Welfare Association) headquartered at Thomatuchal, a remote Taluka of Kerala’s Wayanad district. The distance covered from Kunnamangalam, (IIM Kozhikode) to the said place is some 105 km, hopping on 4 buses across unpronounceable towns/villages (in Kerala they are pretty much amalgamated) these being - Chundal, Meppaty, Vaduvanchal, Thomatuchal. Phew! Helped that I is from Malu-land 
As a part of an activity based costing exercise, had to document the main activities conducted and the time taken for these.Mr Antony Kunnath, the Program Coordinator-WWA, graciously accompanied me to a Community Animator (CA) Meeting at Meenangadi (another small town nearby). The CA’s are the individuals (mainly women) who do the back-breaking work of “forming-norming-storming-performing” the Self Help Groups for that Taluka.
The dedication of these folks is out of this world! The number of hours put in meeting, training and listening to 20(people)*8(groups in a rare case 15 groups!!)=160 people, following up on their activities, attending central level, taluka level meetings is overwhelming. And for all that effort they get paid in 3 digits/month.
Like hell they cared!
Looking at them swapping stories, sharing tips on effective loan recovery over a cup of tea and snacks prepared at the meeting venue, I wondered. This was Deming’ intrinsic motivation at its best - the kick you get out of making another person’s life better, that too when you “have better things to do” - woo-hoo! These women typically undertake this role as a part time job. Ok, a favorite hobby. They revel in the status it confers on them in their small village/town - I’d like to call them the “Lakshmi Ammas” (Yes yes, shot @ HUL, but well 
). Good news, considering the gender has been persecuted as quite the reverse in the Great Indian Dowry Story.
One wishes one were a part of this small but revolutionary movement. One wishes one was born among them, to do such sweet work. One wonders whether some, if not all, have reached the last and final tier of Maslow’s pyramid- that of self actualization. Ironically, they do this to reach our “levels”of course.
So where do you get that elusive state of “fulfillment”? It can be found anywhere - the best way, they say, would be to listen to someone’s grievances, earnestly, without design. Unburdening another person’s heart is the best gift you can give him/her- the gift of your time, a precious resource these days. Having experienced the joy of doing so, can’t help but share it with you!
