Dear Friends,
Most of you might be knowing/interacted with me personally.
And you might also be knowing my views/role in few solutions in our local
problems.
From last five/six years I was trying to find out solutions
to our local problems. But due to pressure/work load during initial phase of my
career, I had difficulties in finding time to spend my time. From last couple
of years, fortunately I am able put some efforts in finding solutions for the
problems in our neighborhood with the help of others who came across in the
journey.
In this process I came across an interesting person called
Kiran (age 40+) who is from my neighbour village. In recent panchayat
elections, he went to each house in the panchayat to create awareness on
elections. As a result the voter turnout was remarkable on election day in the
panchayat. While conducting this awareness program, he also noted the economic
conditions of each family he visited. As per his analysis most of the women are
part of DWAKRA groups (self help group - SHGs). Less than 20% of these women
utilized the DWAKRA funds (loans) efficiently and did the repayments and
remaining people spent the DWAKRA loans on purchasing gold, TV and revamping
their houses, resulting inefficient utilization of loan.
He also identified the root cause for their behaviour.
Government has provided the funds to SHGs, but did not train/teach them, on how
they can venture on something that can yield good returns, so that economic
status will get improved.
Result: Mr. Kiran started skill development program. He
procured few (second-hand) sewing machines and stared a training center with
one instructor by contributing some amount from his own pockets. He also takes
class on currents trends from socio-political-economic aspects for 2 hours every
week. Now, these women are talking about rupee depreciation too and decided not
to buy gold for few years. 40 women are completing the training in this week.
(Initial our expectation was 15 to 20 women participation in this course, we
are very happy for overwhelming response which doubled our expectation). Out of
these 40 women, 15 got opportunity to work in near by two factories.
The plan was to provide Sewing machine each of the outgoing
woman. Price for sewing machine will be collected from them at Rs.500/- every
month for six months which is Rs.3000, where as actual machine cost is around
Rs.6000. The aim is to provide/show an income source to them with sufficient
training and resources, at the same time to increase the responsibility in
them.
The other plan is to procure new sewing machines and other
necessary machines and take garment works (small scale industry on
no-loss/no-gain basis) like stitching the uniforms for near by factory; get
some out sourced work from garments factories.
I also joined hands with him recently. Part 1 (training) of
this program is almost done successfully. Part 2 (providing work opportunity)
requires more hands to join, as it requires some financial support.
I appeal to you to support this program which would create
few jobs and there by strengthens economic status of few rural families.
Note: This is one of the first activity coming out. We have
few other plans/ideas to execute. Paper work is going in registering a
Non-Profit-Organisation (by name మన
కోసం మనం - Mana Kosam Manam). We are not able complete the registration
process at this point of time due to ongoing Samaikya-AndhraPradesh/Telanga
agitations. So for now donars who are already familiar to me are only requested
to contribute their donations to avoid conflicts, as they would be required to
send the amount to my personal account. Others can donate once the Bank account
for NGO is opened after paper work).
PS: All the donations will eligible for 100% tax
exemption under 80G once all paperwork is done.
Please contact me for account number.
Regards,
Hemanth
