FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMMES:
“Information, Education, Skills, Health Care, Livelihood, Financial Inclusion, Small and Village Enterprises, Opportunities for Women, Conservation of Natural Resources, Distributed Clean Energy – entirely new possibilities have emerged to change the development model.” - Sri Narendra Modi.
Since its inception, DISA concentrated its interventions to facilitate the formation and management of Self Help Groups in selected villages. DISA is mentoring with close accompaniment these SHGs in Four Districts of Uttar Pradesh. These Groups are involved in regular monthly meetings, savings, maintaining Accounts in Banks, engaged in inter-loaning, various income generating enterprises and collective actions for their rights and entitlements and empowerment. The members are mostly women. Most of these Groups are linked with NRLM (National Rural Livelihood Mission)
The following Quotes are noteworthy in the case of overwhelming presence and involvement of women in these SHGs. “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” (Margaret Thatcher) and
“A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.” (Melinda Gates).
The following Table gives the summary of interventions by the SHGs
(As on 31 March 2023)
|
PARTICULARS
|
SADAR BLOCK
|
BAHADURPUR
BLOCK
|
HARRAIYA
BLOCK
|
MITHAVAL BLOCK
|
IKAUNA BLOCK
|
SAHAJANWA BLOCK
|
TOTAL
|
|
Total SHGs
|
105
|
44
|
61
|
65
|
27
|
26
|
328
|
|
Total No of Members
|
1228
|
527
|
805
|
790
|
321
|
344
|
4015
|
|
Total Gram Panchayats
|
53
|
17
|
28
|
26
|
30
|
11
|
165
|
|
Total No. of Villages
|
75
|
30
|
43
|
41
|
33
|
16
|
238
|
|
Total Savings by Members (Rs)
|
5313635
|
581690
|
3818585
|
3306965
|
248150
|
441300
|
13710325
|
|
Total Interest received (Rs)
|
2441184
|
675282
|
1998495
|
1256503
|
54492
|
270724
|
6706680
|
|
Total Inter- loans availed (Rs)
|
17656912
|
4776177
|
9510342
|
3837613
|
645700
|
1342800
|
37769544
|
|
Total Loan Returned (Rs)
|
11497987
|
1508236
|
6582558
|
1825868
|
254500
|
523100
|
22192249
|
|
Total Loan Outstanding (Rs)
|
6158925
|
3267941
|
2927784
|
2011745
|
391200
|
819700
|
15577295
|
Case Study
The success of one group creates seven
Proper funding and timely financial aid can bring even the poor people to the main stream of society. However, usually nobody helps them and if helped, would find it as an opportunity to take away what they already have in the name of huge interest. Here is the example of how Self Help Groups help such helpless women.
Dr. Ambedkar Self-help group in Bhanja village of Kaphtangung block is a typical example in this regard. There are 12 women joined in this group. These women deposited Rs. 20 in the beginning as their monthly saving. But in course of time they increased the amount to 30 and at present they are depositing Rs 50 per month. These women received training and with the help of DISA organisation and they were enrolled in National Rural Livelihood Mission. From the mission they got Rs. 15000 in the form of rolling fund and Rs 50,000 in the form of loan.
Husband of the member Sumitra Devi was a skilled worker in carpentry. Sumitra devi proposed in the meeting that she would open a furniture shop if she gets a loan. She got the loan as per the rules and regulations of the group and Sumitra Devi started the furniture shop. The skill of her husband and the quality of his work spread the news about the Self-Help group in the nearby villages too. Not only he became successful but also, he could give employment to 4 more men who are the husbands of members of the group. Sumitra Devi has now started repaying the loan. Success of this Self-Help group gave birth to another 7 more Self Help groups in the village.