PROMOTION OF MICRO ENTERPRISES AGENCIES AMONG MATURED SHGs: It is a pilot project sponsored by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The targeted beneficiaries of the project are 1000 members from three years and above old matured 100 SHGs (50 SHGs and 10 villages in each Block) from Chellampatty and Usilampatty Blocks of Madurai District. Those villages having matured SHGs are selected for the implementation of this program where the survey conducted to find out the available resources, infra structure, buyers and sellers details, local market, and demand patterns for the identified economic activities.All the 1000 members have become micro
entrepreneurs by involving in a regular income generation activity. They are
motivated towards their economic sustainability. We ensure the changes in their
socio economic by close monitoring. We
could find the change in their life style, food pattern, dressing sense,
education of their children among those who committed in their
entrepreneurship. Their prompt repayment ensured to avail second loans also. 679
members got Rs. 2, 71, 60,000/- as second loan from NABFINS for the further
development of the activities. RURAL MART SCHEME: We have the support of NABARD to promote one such rural mart at Thirumangalam to sell the various products of Handicapped peoples self-help groups. It is a seed money given to the group for 15 months to meet out room rent, publicity and salary to one person who look after the mart till they get sustainable regular gain from the mart. The product of SHGs such as terracotta, wire bags, designed saris, pickles, Amla juice, coconut sweet, flower vase, ornamental flowers etc are main products sold in the rural mart. The initial amount supported by NABARD is very helpful to the special group to gain self-confident and self-reliance in their life. Based on the success of the Rural Mart at Thirumangalam Block, NABARD came forward to start one Rural Mart at Chellampatty Block and another at Usilampatty Block. Both the Rural Mart is flooded with SHG product and SHG women have successfully sustained in sales by SHG women.
PROMOTING FARMERS CLUBS AMONG JASMINE CULTIVATORS: With the financial support and guidance of NABARD, ARD has promoted 34 farmers clubs in Usilampatty Block especially for Jasmine flower growers in Uthappanaikanoor cluster with the main purpose to help them to come out of the clutches of middlemen by whom they lose more than 50% of their earning through various loopholes. The main and foremost highlight of the
farmers’ club is that they are formed under the banner Usilampatty Jasmine
Growers’ Federation and was registered under Tamilnadu Societies Registration
Act. The Federation was guided to get a land for marketing the flower (instead
of going to the market, the buyers have to come and collect the flowers from
their place which will save their time and get good price for their product). Even
though steps have been taken to avail the land and infra structure for direct
marketing of jasmine without the influence of the middlemen, due to the local
problems and election rush ups, everything is under pending.
PROMOTION OF FARMERS CLUBS IN THE WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT AREAS:We have promoted 13 farmers clubs in the Sindhupatty Watershed development villages and 9 farmers clubs in the Kalappanpatty watershed areas with the main purpose to sustain our efforts in the watershed development areas through the farmers clubs, provide them technical guidance, trainings on the improved agriculture practices and make them to avail the government sources and schemes in time towards their socio economic development. The farmers clubs are functioning very effectively and have started to avail the government schemes. They applied for subsidy to erect bio-gas plantation and availed subsidy for 13 members. So far 13 bio gas plantations have been erected and they are under functioning. 42 farmers are producing vermin compost on small scale basis and they are utilizing them to fertile their own lands. We are motivating all the trained farmers to went for bio gas, vermin compost and fodder cultivation to get more benefit on the activities.
AVAILING OF LOAN FACILITY TO THE SHGs FROM NABARD FINANCE SERVICE LIMITED: The NABARD Finance Service Limited came forward to put an agreement with ARD to give financial service to its target community. During the financial year, they have distributed Rs. 7, 77,95,000/- to 262 self help groups out of which 3980 women have been benefited for various income generation activities mostly on agriculture and animal husbandry based activities. We have been witnessing visible socio economic development in the life of the beneficiaries.