The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has sanctioned about 30,000 joint liability groups (JLGs) to banks and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for formation and credit linkage with various banks.
Self help groups
“We have so far supported about 6.8 lakh self help groups (SHGs) in the state to come up and ensure their livelihood. Similarly, JLGs has helped landless farmers, share croppers and oral lessees to come together for taking up farming and allied activities, through bank credit from various banks,” said Mr Aloysius P. Fernandez, Chairman, Nabard Financial Services Ltd.
Speaking at the Nabard's state awards (2010 – 11) for SHG & JLG Bank Linkage, Farmers' Clubs and Village Development Programme (VDPs), Mr Fernandes said “SHG programmes have tremendously helped empowerment of women in the rural areas. Nabard needs to be complemented for supporting this programme and persisting with it for the past 20 years.”
“Women have emerged stronger through the programme as they initially faced lot of adverse situation while becoming members of SHGs.
“Now the male folk appreciate the benefits SHG movement has brought to the society by empowering women,” he added.
The State is in the forefront having 6.8 lakh people under SHG and JLG, 7,282 Farmers' Clubs created and about 118 village development programmes.
Awards
State Bank of Mysore among commercial banks, Cauvery Kalpatharu Grameena Bank among RRBs and Tumkur District Central Co-operative Bank Ltd among co-operative banks have been identified as best performers in SHG-Bank Linkage Programme during 2010-11.
Among farmers' clubs, the coveted first prize has been bagged by Shri Durga Raitha Seva Koota, Mandarthi Village, promoted by Dakshin Kannada District Central Co-operative Bank.
Sri S. Nijalingappa National Education and Rural Development Service Trust (SNEARDS), Bellary, has been identified as the best performer in the village development programme for the work they have done in Uttangi and Adavimallanakere villages, Bellary district.