Brinal Rosario

ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR AT RANPHUL MAHILA MANDAL COOPERATIVE (RMM) since 2022; co-op member since its launch in 2014

HER LEADERSHIP STYLE: "I am straight forward, and that quality is appreciated by my group. My mantra as a leader is to be fair. I have always been happy-go- lucky by nature and like to have fun, which also helps in connecting with everyone."

JOINING RMM: When Brinal was a teenager she left school to get a job to help support her family. She learned about MarketPlace cooperatives at a tailoring class. "I saw it as further training in sewing, but as we started, we realized it was much more." She was soon asked to oversee the co-op's group accounts. "I knew I could do it, as I am good with numbers." She now shares the responsibility for overall production planning and quality.

WHAT HER SUPERVISOR SAYS: "I knew she had the leadership quality," says Senior Merchandiser Amisha Patil. "Brinal has always been at the forefront to ask questions, get solutions, and step in to solve issues. She makes sure the whole group comes together and completes the task at hand."

Brinal's education ended when her father died and she had to go to work to help support her mother and 5 sisters. "I wanted to study more," she says, "but I only completed 10th grade before I joined a diamond company where my elder sister already worked." India accounts for the majority of the world's diamond cutting and polishing facilities and the industry has long been infamous for exploitation of child labor. Binal worked in the company for 12 years, until her marriage.

Seeking another source of income, after her son was born, Brinal joined a local tailoring class. Here she heard about MarketPlace and decided to participate. "When the MarketPlace staff explained about starting a cooperative, I saw it as further training in sewing. But as we started we realized it was much more than just tailoring." The process of forming RMM started in 2014 with 7 women. The women were able to complete all the steps involved with organizing and registering their cooperative, often a daunting task for people with little formal education. Over time the group grew to number 14. "It was not an easy journey," Brinal admits, "but today we are at a stable and happy place."

Because she was good with numbers, Brinal was asked to manage the group accounts. "Though I started with accounts, my involvement in the group has evolved into a much bigger role," she explains. When the cooperative manager took leave, Brinal stepped in to assume overall responsibility for production planning and quality.

She has a reputation for being strict but fair. The group appreciates her emphasis on efficiency and quality because they benefit by receiving more assignments. Brinal also likes to have fun, which helps the group bond.

Ranphul Mahia Mandal Cooperative (RMM)
Ranphul Mahia Mandal Cooperative means Forest of Flowers Women's Cooperative. The name is evocative of both beauty and hardship. This semi-rural area outside of the city is bursting with color and flowers, a lovely sight. But behind this sight was a less-pretty reality. Employment for women largely consisted of low-paying jobs dealing with agriculture and flower-picking. Some earned a pittance collecting wildflowers for middlemen. Women also worked seasonally in the fields, for low pay and under terrible conditions.

In 2014 MarketPlace was able to offer an alternative with fair wages and dignified work. The artisans received guidance in registering their group and obtaining business supplies. Fifteen women now continue their training in sewing and tailoring as they learn to run their own business. It is a close-knit group with the members checking on one another's welfare.