Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

SHGs impress Pakistan team

Staff Reporter

Delegation visits Anantapur to study poverty-alleviation schemes

NO BOUNDARIES: Members of Pakistan team interact with Self-Help-Group members in Anantapur.

ANANTAPUR: A 16-member delegation from Pakistan studied the implementation of poverty alleviation initiatives under the World Bank-funded Indira Kranti Patham in the district on Sunday and Monday. The team was lead by Chairman of Rural Support Programmes Network of Pakistan and Ramon Magsaysay award winner Shoaib Sultan Khan.

The delegation visited Dimmagudi and Kristapadu villages in Pedda Vaduguru mandal and Rotarypuram and Siddarampuram in Bukkaraya Samudram mandal. The teams interacted with self- help-groups too. The members felt that there was lot to learn from the women of SHGs in the district as they could progress economically with assistance from the Government agencies.

SHGs' exploits

District Collector D. Kadmiel explained to the visitors that disbursement of welfare pensions was being handled most efficiently by SHGs.

They were also helping the administration select temporary functionaries for welfare schemes when the selection process became difficult. The State Government was also disbursing benefits like agriculture land, house sites and houses in women's name only, the Collector said.

The SHGs were also concentrating on health, hygiene and awareness on HIV/AIDS. Banks were reluctant to finance SHGs earlier but encouraged by 95 to 100 per cent repayment they were now coming forward to lend funds for poverty alleviation initiatives. Banks had lent Rs. 96 cr. to SHGs in the district this financial year.

Better livelihoods, high multi-disciplinary awareness and economic discipline were noticeable in the model here, Mr. Sultan Khan observed.

It was easy to adapt and would ensure fast results, he felt. Poverty in Pakistan was also high and their study would help them implement the model there, he said.

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