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The one thing that strikes you when you meet representatives of a micro-enterprise run by women in Golikatte village in Udupi taluk or the woman business correspondent at an ultra-small branch of a regional rural bank in Kanthavara village is their confidence, and their satisfaction of being part of the rural economy.
Shivakanthi Pai, who manages a small grocery shop run by Vishwas self-help group (SHG) at Golikatte village, said the Belman branch of Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank (KVGB) came forward with Rs 1 lakh assistance four years ago when they formed the SHG.
Expressing satisfaction at becoming part of the rural economy, she said the SHG’s retail store caters to the needs of 200-300 families in the nearby areas.
Gracia Andrade, another member of the SHG, said that some people buy on credit. On an average, the shop does a business of around Rs 1,000 a day.
Confidently exhibiting the accounts book, she said that the group-members have been maintaining it for the past four years.
When you travel across Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, you come across many temples, but there are regions that still do not have a bank branch. Kanthavara is one such place.
Narayana Yaji, Regional Manager of KVGB, said Kanthavara village didn’t have a bank till KVGB opened an ultra-small branch three weeks back.
Anandi, who is the business correspondent of the bank in that village, has been able to open around 400 accounts in a village of 3,500 people.
Anandi, who has completed her pre-university, caters to the banking needs of people there as the nearby bank branches are at least 10 km away from this place.
Waiting to deposit small amounts with KVGB’s business correspondent were a group of women, among them were Leena, an employee in a cashew processing unit in the village; Supriya, who works in the village panchayat; and Poornima, a homemaker.
The official of the bank comes on specified days every week to collect credit proposals and to update the transactions of the business correspondent at that village.
The Moodbidri branch of the bank has disbursed loans worth Rs 32 lakh to 11 beneficiaries, including six women SHGs, as part of its Mahila Gram Vikas Sabha.
Asked why two groups were named T.K. Balan SHG and Brinda Karat Sangati SHG, they reply that they want to become leaders like them.
Given the confidence and determination of these women at Golikatte, it won’t be surprising if they reach great heights.
vinayak.aj@thehindu.co.in
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