Follow-Meeting with Stan

After a few days, Stan returned. We met. Crux of what Stan communicated is as below.

• People have not understood the vision of a self-reliant community and the suggested approach. 
• There is no do-or-die kind of situation like it was, when Accord was formed. It took a lot of effort, then, to get people to realize what the situation really was. Even now, it will require quite a lot of effort to make people realize the problem they’re faced with.
• Most of them are, therefore, unwilling to walk the suggested path.
• People have understood the concept of a monthly saving scheme with the bifurcation of contribution as equity, savings and fixed deposit. This has happened after a lot of effort and therefore better to continue with the same.
• We should collectivise the savings and sourcing, but make it optional for them to participate.
• Alongside, we should also restart the savings programme with better processes and reporting. The money thus collected can be used by the community. More products should be introduced on the lines of long term savings and insurance, which will increase the savings kitty.
• The money thus collated can be used to partly fund healthcare, education, old age pension and other such community requirements.

I was expecting a discussion on my proposal of withdrawing Accord, but that was not forthcoming. I broached the subject and asked if he would start Accord given the state of affairs today? He said, “No.” I asked why, then, does he want to continue it? He said that there are some more requirements of the tribals, which they will not be able to fulfill themselves and will need assistance from Accord. The main requirement was that of housing.

I did not feel it appropriate to pursue the discussion, though I was not quite convinced.