livelihood promotion

8/7/2019 Livelihood Promotion

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A Technological Intervention in

Livelihood Promotion:A Success Story

1. IntroductionChaminade Rural Development Project is being run by a group of Catholic brothers and

priests (Marianists). The Director of this project is no one but an Xavier Institute of Social

Service pass out studend, Bro.Augustus SM. At present, the Congregation is rendering its

services in 36 countries all over the World. Among those, in four countries we are running rural

development programmes for the most backward people.

1.Institute of Integrated Rural Development (IIRD) in Bangladesh.

2.The Marianists Rural Development Project (DECOMP) in Mexico.

3.Malawi Marian Institute of Rural Artisans and Cultivator for Life Skill Education(MIRACLE) in Africa.

4.Chaminade Rural Development Project (CRDP) in India.

The extended Rural development Project in India is situated in the state of Jharkhand, in

Khunti district at Murhu block and two blocks Bandgaon and Sonua are in West Singbhumdistrict .This Rural education development programme is working among the most weaker

section of the tribals (Mundas), who are economically and socially not sound .They are

dependent on non- timber forest product, forest and traditional agriculture. CRDPs main

mission is eradication of hardcore poverty and creation of employment opportunity for the

youth, women and men through multidimensional livelihood skills. CRDP is a Non-

Governmental Organization, founded to bring changes in the thinking and living pattern of the

people. Its primary purpose is to empower the rural poor to eradicate poverty. This NGO uses

rural development as machinery of change, which enables the poor to preserve their identity,

right, culture, assists them to value their way of life, cultural identity, and encourages them to

live life meaningfully.

Chaminde Training Institute has formed seventeen self-help groups in Binda locality. Initially

it faced many difficulties because the concept of SHG was new to people but as time passed,

people of this locality realized the importance of coming together. One of the SHGs has

received state level ward for better performance and coordination.


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2.Objectives

To reduce the percentage of hard-core poverty to 50% in each village, whereverCRDP is working.

To foster participative, comprehensive and integrated development program sothat the work under taken in any village can be completed within 15 years. To help to create a more balanced, diversified and vibrant economic condition

with specific emphases on neglected sectors.

To assist the people to make use of the government schemes and programswhich are launched.

3.BackgroundSarjom Ba Women Self Help Group is located at limda. It has twelve members. It consists

of homogenous members but all of them are from different economic status. They are socialble

in nature but rather rigid and not open to change. In particular ,they do not like intervension

made by the outsiders. It is because of this kind of concept, in the Khunti region people from

other places are not able to entry for any other purposes. May it be business or establishment

of factories. This village is located in between Khunti and West Singhbum distict. They are of

course lacking basic infrastructure. Till date, electricity has not reached this village. This village

is facing a social problem that is of alcoholism. To get- red of this problem, the members of this

SHG request the staff of Chaminde Training Institute to assist them to get a tractor so that the

boys who spend ideal time in drinking will be able to engaged. The other problem is that these

villagers depend on seasonal agriculture and other times spend ideal time. The biggest

challenge before this people is tacking naxalism. In order to get rid of these problems and to

assists them to become economically sound, the staff of Chaminde Training Institute took

interest in this village. The initiative of the people of this village motivated CRDP staff to launch

a scheme in this village. In terms of standard of living, some of the members of SHG are littlebetter off but some others are rather poor.

4.Stages of SHG formationThe SHG of Limda went through the following three stages .

A.Forming StageAt first, meetings were arranged in the village and all the villagers were informed about the

SHG, formation, benefits and the government motto behind it.


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B.Storming Stage In the second stage, they were left alone to think through and decide upon whether

they wanted to form SHG or not. some of the women were not able to understand the concept

of SHG; therefore, they did not join to form to SHG. However, all those women of Limda who

were cleaverenough form a group and elected leaders to take care of the group.

C.Normalizing StageAt this state, it was they, who decided within given period to form a SHG. Once the

notification was confirmed, Chaminde Training Institute began official work in that particular

village. After formation of SHG, the staff of Chaminde Training Institute monitored all of them

closely for six months and made sure that useless conflict did not arise among them. In some of

the cases, it faced some difficulties but it was able to resolve them through meetings and

dialogues.

After six month, the process of grading began to draw fund from government treasury.

Now this SHGs is linked to block, bank and the state government. All the members of the

SHGs are trained in various areas. From conducting meeting to solving the existing problems,

which come in their day-to-day lives. They themselves collect their monthly savings, deposit itin the bank, give loan and return loan as the rule is. They even take care of collecting monthly

saving; maintain record of the meeting and business transaction.

Most of the women of this group are illiterate. However, for meeting, all of them are

regular. At times, for good reason they fight among themselves but resolve it as time passes.

Earlier they were thinking of only their own welfare but now that is not the case. They want

welfare of all the members of the group. They want to grow together, help each one to

become economically strong and educate their children in good schools. This SHG has received

two revolving funds from the bank with the help of CRDP staff. At first, twenty five thousand

rupee, which this Group has invested in PDS (Public Distribution System) .This group, is running

two projects, one PDS shop and a tractor, which it has taken in load from state bank of India

under SGSY scheme.

D.Formulated Group


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5.Models of Intervention The director of Chaminde Training Institute has followed the following models in orderto help the SHG that he has formed. He was aware of the drawbacks; that is why he chose

these models.

A.Model-1SHG-Bank linkage, where Banks promote SHGs and release credit directly to SHGsproportionately with their savings.

a)Method of implementation SHGs graded document LEO (Ladies Extension Office of Murhu block) took andsubmitted it to the bank authority. The bank manager went through the document and within a

month released the fund. The first revolving fund of sum twenty five thousand and then two lakh

fifty thousand rupee fund was released to Sarjom Ba Women Self Help Group. Bro.Augustus

along with the then assistant bank manager and the bank manager, and LEO addressing women

on banking system.

B.Model-2SHG-Program linkage, where SHGs are organized under state sponsored schemes like

SGSY, RMK, MSY, IWEP, MFIs etc

a)Method of implementation This Self Help Group is organized under SGSY scheme of the government of India.Under this scheme, there is provision of getting subsidy. SHGs have to pay back only the

amount of money, which is given by the bank with interest. Repayment loan for the firstrevolving fund of twenty five-thousand is already done on time. The second revolving fund of

two lakh fifty thousand too this SHG has received and refunding of this loan is on the process.

There was a function organized by District Government for the distribution of loan . Thethen adviser of the governor of Jharkahnd,Mr. T.P.Sinha came to Murhu block to distribute loan

among the Self Help Groups of Murhu block of Khunti District. At the function the District


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Commissioner, Puja Singhal too was present. I was present in the function to helped women on

that day. Four SHGs run by CRDP received fund for starting livelihood promotion program.

C.Model-3SHG-NGO linkage, where NGOs works as financial intermediary to get loan sanctioned

from Banks.

a)Method of implementation Formation of SHG was done with the initiative of the director of CRDP, and gradation ofSHG was done with the advice and guideline of Ladies Extension officer of Murho block of

Khunti District. She gave grading paper to the staff and instructed them to follow the basic

norms of grading. The staff also helped to open bank account in bank of India. This SHG

follows monthly saving is about seventeen thousand two hundred eighty rupee. The members

give internal and external loan and charge two rupee, per hundred, per month. Time is given for

those who take loan within which they have to pay back.


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16%

84%

TOTAL SAVING

Total Monthly Savings

Total Savings from Tractor

The group was graded and then the paper was taken to Ladies Extension Officer (LEO) of

the block, who forwarded the paper to the state bank authorities. The bank officers went

through the paper to find out whether the group had fulfilled the criteria. The staff of

Chaminde Training Institute worked hand in hand and got the fund released from the bank.

With the second revolving fund, this self-help group, with the consultation of men in the village

and with the help of CRDP staff, took loan to get a tracker. In a function organized byJharkhand government in Ranchi at Morabadi ground, the women of Sarjom Ba SHG got the

tractor.

6. Financial Status of SHGTable 6.1

Saving of SHG

Membership Monthly Saving Total Saving

12 30 17280

(Source:-Record of CRDP on Monthly Saving of last four years)

Fig.6.1 Status of monthly Saving of SHG


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19%

81%

STATUS OF BANK LOAN

Loan Paid

Balance loan

7. Financial Transaction of Livelihood Project

Table 7.1

Per day Turnover from TractorTrip

p/d

Charge p/t Labor Charge p/t Total Expense Saving

5 500 40 1000 1500

Yearly Turnover from the TractorTotal

Trips

Total trip fee Total Labor + vehicle

Charge per month

Total Expense Saving

240 9600 17900 27500 92500

Bank LoanRevolving

Fund

Amount Bank Loan Paid Balance

1 25000/-

2 2,50,000/- 4,99,012/- 92,500/- 406512

(Source:-Record of CRDP of a year, from October 2009 to October 2010)

Fig.7.1 Status of Bank Loan


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8. Benefits of SGSY Scheme One scheme has generated livelihood option to 6 men and 12 women. There are six men

working in the regular basis in the tracker. One man is appointed to look for work in the

surrounding region.

A.Social benefit:-In this locality, people are usually free after the seasonal cultitiation. For six months, they

spend ideal time, attending marriage parties, going to market each day, and drink almost whole

day. In the evening most often, they fight among themselves without any reason but some other

time for pity reasons. However now they are occupied throughout the year. Quarrel and

misunderstanding among them has reduced .They come together for the common causes.

B.Financial benefit:-As their business is progressing, day by day, they are realizing that through this project, they

can be self -reliant. They can live their lives with dignity, educate their children from good

school, avail medical facilities and can secure their as well as the lives of their children. The

women of this SHG want to repay the loan granted to them as soon as possible. Now they know

how much money they can earn per year individual and as a group. If the tracker runs for 20days in a month, they earn 30,000/-. Apart from 10,000/-which is deducted for the maintance of

the tractor and another 10,000/- for workers salary. In addition, if they work in the same ratio for

a year, then the total projected income for the group will be 3, 60, 000/-. After keeping aside the

maintance charge and wage of the workers, they will have 2, 40, 000/- at hand. If this amount is

distributed among 12 families then each family will get 20,000/- in a year, which is more than

sufficient to raise their socio-economic level.

C.Political benefits:-Because of being in the SHG, the women of this village got to know how the political as well

as administrative officers work. They are able to build courage to face these people in the

officers. These days, these women do not hesitate to go to the offices of the authorities. They

are able to challenge the political leaders, whenever required. They request the political leadersto assist them to get the government schemes and if they do not do in the election bid them food

bye.

9. Observation and Learning after a yearThe method of approach, which CRDP had adopted is quite radical and can change the

lives of Munda women. I have observed that its approach is acceptable by the people of this

locality. Now because of this NGO, they are able to see reality from a different point of view.

They do know that without being open to change, life cant be made better in any case. There isa thirst in them to see life differently, and want to educate their children and come out of the

social problems that exist in the locality.

Since it is very difficult to win their heart; therefore, they should be treated well andtaken care in a proper way. I could feel that they are fragile and could break up easily.

However, if the trust is build in them, they can stand with the one who thinks and wants to do

good for them at any cost. It is because of this reason; the brothers living at Binda are not having

any difficulties. Although this locality is surrounded by naxals, brothers are not. It indicates that

the rapport of the brothers is very good.


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The best way of wining the hearts of the people is by being open and sociable. Not only that,

but also one needs to have heart to work and should have feeling for them. One should be able

to understand their ethos, philosophy of life, and accept them and their culture as it is, as well.

Now after a year when I analyze, it is an eye opening experience for me. When I was

working, I could not realize how I helped, worked, interacted, and patiently dealt with difficult

situations. When it comes to me to analysis my experience of working with and for them, it isquite enriching. I learned how to deal with different situations, people and how to find out the

hidden potentiality in them. In addition, the mystery of being happy, in spite of ups and downs

of life. In fact, these are the people with simple heart and try to be happy with whatever they

have. Now I do realize the hardship that I faced along with the staff but at the end of the day,

what gave me courage to work was peace and happiness that I derived each day.

10. Conclusion Sarjom Ba Women Self Help Group has reached to a point of becoming economically

and morally strong. It was not at all an easy task. It went through so much of hurdles

,difficulties, criticism and appreciation. However, I think it was necessary for the growth of this

SHG. I remember the days of struggle, quarrel, criticism and all sorts of things that werehappening in the group. I used to go to help them solve their own problems. At times, it used to

be very hard even for me to make them understand; therefore, I used to be rather hard on them in

order to make them understand. They definitely took time to understand the value of being

together. As their business is prospering day by day, their relationship among themselves,

understanding of life, culturte, and value of education too is creeping in their mind. Sarjom Ba

Self Help Group is because of CRDP and its effort. Therefore, credit goes to the staff of

CRDP,LEO and BDO of Murho block, the bank manager of SBI, Murho , and the women of

SHG themselves , who had the courage to face the difficulties. Now they have to be up to the

mark to improve and make their livelihood project even more effective and profitable. They

need to sort out all that difficulties that come on their way in order to make their business In

history for the first time, they were able to face and meet BDO, Bank manager, political leadersand officers of different departments. Besides running a tractor, these women are also running

PDS shop in the village. It is allotted to them by District administration of Khunti because of

their consistency ,good work and eagerness to elevate their livelihood.

11. Suggestions I want to give some inputs, which I think would be very useful for this SHG. Most ofthem are for the staff of CRDP. They are as follows-

1.Supervision and monitoring: - Staff have to be punctual in this regard otherwise thisSHG will break down. Regular visitations will be a kind of tonic for these women.

2.Seminar and workshop: - it is must to maintain the energy level of the SHG. At leasttwo to three seminars and workshop have to be conducted every year.

3.Meeting:-Time to time the staff of CRDP has to attend their meetings to have an idea oftheir activity, financial status and record keeping.

4.Group picnic: - it is way be binding everyone together, forgetting and forgiving all thathappened in the past; therefore, it has to be encourage to have group picnic.


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12. Photograph of the site

Bro.Kuldeep withthe Tractor at site

Going home fromMurho

Blessing of the Tractor

T.P Sinha and Puja Singhal

All the villagers

sitting in the Tractor

BDO &LEO of Murho

Block

Staff

livelihood promotion

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