| Women
not only constitute half of the world’s population but also
sway the growth of the remaining half. They produce half of
the world’s food supply and account for 60% of the working force
but comprise only 10% of the world’s economy and surprisingly
own less than 1% of the world’s real estate. They have little
access to productive resources and negligible control over family
income. This discrimination is the result of gender bias, which
forms an inherent part of the global society. |
 |
|
|
It
reflects in our area of operation also. Bridging this gap in the
existing set up of micro-credit groups has assumed a critical significance
the economic development of women. The need today is to help women
overcome the blockades and draw maximum participation from them
to set up micro enterprise that will lead them towards self-reliance.
Once the groups are set up other members of the community observe
the benefit of the method. Though the groups are consist of women
only but their counterparts are indirectly involved in this process.
They will join hands with the women groups and help them to save
regularly, access to micro-credit programme and setting up micro-enterprise.
The
programme will certainly show popular with the rural population.
The illiterate and landless people who form the groups have no access
to credit through the regular banking system. Official channels
also have a suspect stance towards the ability of the target groups.
It is therefore expected that the community people will unanimously
join their hands in decision-making, planning and implementation
of the project successfully. To muddle through the tremendous growth
of this programme among rural women day by day and for rendering
better well-timed services, we have established three outreach branches
in Haroa, Polerhat and Pakapol area of South 24 Pgs. Districts.
|
 |
We
feel proud to mention the names of German Doctors Committee,
Rabo Bank Foundation of Netherlands, NABARD, Rashtriya Mahila
Kosh, United Bank of India and West Bengal Minorities Development
& Finance Corporation whose continuous we possibly could have
not undertaken such mega project.
In
the tables below the factual statistics of stable success
of the project are furnished:
|
|
|
|
| i)
Financial-Year-wise Progress on Formation of Self-Help Groups |
| Year |
No.
of Groups Formed |
Total
No. of Members |
| 1997-1998 |
48 |
960 |
| 1998-1999 |
83 |
1650 |
| 1999-2000 |
75 |
1510 |
| 2000-2001 |
273 |
2680 |
| 2001-2002 |
782 |
7820 |
| Total |
1261 |
14620 |
|
| ii)
Consolidated Report on Thrift & Credit |
| Period |
Total
No.
of SHGs |
Total
Savings (Rs.) |
Total
Loans Disbursed(Rs.) |
Total
Loan Recovered (Rs.) |
|
3rd
October, 1997 to 31st March, 2002
|
1261
|
11,954,344.75
|
17,908,453.55
|
5,055,214.40
|
|
| iii)
Area of Coverage |
| Total
No. of District |
Total
No. of Blocks |
Total
No. of Gram Panchayat |
Total
No. of villages |
|
2
|
3 |
16 |
112 |
|
| iv)
Gender - wise Distribution |
| |
Male |
Female |
Total |
| Groups |
25 |
1236 |
1261 |
|
Members
|
250 |
14370 |
14620 |
|