[Assam] Self Help is the Best Help

[Dilip/Dil Deka]

Did anyone else note this news item? I am not so much interested in the president's visit but the fact that loan from a bank has been put to good use and Rs. 26 lakh investment has resulted in Rs. 100 lakhs of earnings definitely is exemplary. The participants learned how to use expertise offered by the govt., they put it to good practical use, and have raised the standard of living in the village.
   
  I am waiting for the doubters in the net to tell us how this is only one instance or how numbers have been fudged. 
   
  Why can't the same model be copied in other villages where the young people are unemployed and likely target for hire by ULFA?
  THERE IS NOTHING BETTER AND MORE SATISFYING THAN SELF-HELP.
   
  Dilip
   
   
Guwahati, Tuesday, October 17, 2006  
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    President to share success story of SHGs
By A Staff Reporter
 GUWAHATI, Oct 16 – Gumoria village, about 35 kilometres away from Guwahati city, has already made a name for itself following the success of the self help groups in improving the rural economy and the President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam will visit the village tomorrow to have an first-hand experience of the success story. The President is also likely to interact with the womenfolk of the village, who are the members of the self-help groups.

Official sources said that the village, inhabited by marginal farmers and landless labourers, was transformed into one of the model villages following the formation of 50 self-help groups and about 500 women of the village are engaged with the groups, which not only improved the economy of the village, but also improved the level of education as with the extra income, the people of the village can now send their wards to schools.

Sources said that with the help from the Government, the self-help groups of the village started rearing ducks and assistance was given to the women in forms of training, marketing, veterinary aid etc, while, apart from the subsidy given by the Government, the UCO Bank also provided financial assistance to the groups. The groups have so far earned more than Rs one crore against the investment of Rs 26 lakh, which includes bank loan of Rs 7.50 lakh.

Sources revealed that the women of the village are maintaining about 15 to 20 thousand ducks on an average and the weekly income of each family varies from Rs 150 to Rs 300. The egg production in the village ranges from 25 to 30 thousand a week. The eggs are sold in local market and some traders from Guwahati also visit the village regularly to buy eggs. Apart from eggs, the women of the village also sell extra male ducks to earn additional money.

Official sources revealed that before the launching of the project, the womenfolk of the village used to assist their husbands in the fields and some used traditional looms for making their own dresses. But the formation of the self-help groups completely changed the face of the village and the women are spending most of their income in education and health care of their children. The savings of the families of the villages also increased considerably over the years.

Sources revealed that the women of the groups are rearing ducks in a scientific manner under guidance from the faculty members of the State Institute for Rural Development and regular field level monitoring is still being done by the members of the Institute.

Egg production in Asom is much less than the requirement, forcing the state to import from other states of the country. Official sources expressed the hope that the success story of the women of Gumoria would encourage the people from other parts of the state to take up such projects, which in turn, would not only improve the economic condition of the villages, but also meet the requirement of the State to a great extent.

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