Historic move: Banks for poor-an Idea of Caritas India -Reserve Bank of India worked on it!

In India Cariitas India along with bringing changes in life of community, it also gives ideas to policy makers and shapes and strengthen policies . Just few days back we have shared with you the below initiative of Caritas India ( based on one of its programme called JEEVIKA in Madhya Pradesh with support from Caritas India and Caritas Spain) about small exclusive bank of poor and recently on 22nd June 2014 , Caritas India team has presented this model to the major bank policy makers ( Finance Ministry, Reserve Bank of India,HDFC, Small Industries Develop Bank Of India (SIDBI), Union Bank of India, and bankers in India in one of the most important policy public forum called as Skoch Summit-Initially all policy makers criticized that idea and were not able to accept this but today see the impact of Caritas India idea-Reserve bank of India (RBI) www.rbi.org.in –the highest Banking regulatory authority in India has issued draft norms in India for small exclusive bank for poor! And this is Caritas India impact within 29 days of presenting an innovative idea-which came from extensive experience in field.

Caritas India with this model has made difference in entire financial inclusion movement of India and we all must be proud and congratulate each in Caritas wherever and which ever country we are!

Last year RBI came with concept of differentiated banking, we as caritas India proposed the model of small exclusive bank for poor. Reserve Bank I in their press release states that:

“After making suitable changes to current framework, a structure will be put in place for continuous authorization of universal banks in the private sector in the current financial year. RBI will create a framework for licensing small banks and other differentiated banks. Differentiated banks serving nicheinterests, local area banks, payment banks etc. are contemplated to meet credit and remittance needs of small businesses, unorganized sector, low income households, farmers and migrant work force”.

See the news of RBI on small exclusive bank for poor at: https://in.finance.yahoo.com/video/rbi-issues-draft-norms-small-172021274.html

This new norm in India would bring millions of people to associate with banking ( about 40% of households are still not associated with any bank in any form). Imagine the happiness and the finacial inclusion going to emerge through this ‘exclusive bank for poor’ model-which is prposed and given by Caritas India.

You can read that model of caritas India on Skoch website too (http://www.skoch.org/?p=944) . You can also read our paper on Exclusive bank for poor submitted to policy makers.

We also thank Caritas Spain to be supportive and guiding to Caritas India for thinking beyond SHGs and working on such financial models!

Lets we all together as Caritas contribute for reforming and bringing new policies to strengthen communities life!

India in SHG!!!

Meet a SHG named jai maa (formed under Caritas JEEVIKA project ) in Sunadri nagar village of Umariya. It represent half of india, 15 members in the group are from 14 different states-uttar pradesh, madhya pradesh, chattisgarh, orissa, west bengal, tamilnadu, jharkhand, rajasthan, bihar, maharashtra, gujrat and kerala!!!

Hope this is first of its kind of shg in india representing half of India! All these women are daily wage labourers and settled here in village about 35 years back! Most of them belongs to goond tribes community. They meet every week and saves Inr 20 every week, participate in gram sabha and soon going to start Jeevika cloth shop in pali market.

JEEVIKA Shakti!!!

You may have heared about Gulabi Gang! Now let us introduce JEEVIKA Shakti -a self help group of women formed under JEEVIKA Programme in Umariya.

They have created a different identity in Sundar nagar village (of Sunadr nagar Panchayt), they wear green colour saries , attend gram sabhas together and the best part if there is any agriculture work all 15 members of SHGs support go and work on one by one each one's field!

The head of the SHG-Savitri shared that people identify we 15 as one and even government officials listen us when together in same colour sari we go to any government office for any concern!

looking their high level of confidence-other women in the village also want to be the part of JEEVIKA Shakti!

Maliyaguda Panchayat appriciates JEEVIKA work@Umariya

Why Caritas India JEEVIKA work is different? Because panchayts in villages officially not just acknowledge Jeevika work , but also beings report of Jeevika work and share in public!Maliyaguda panchayat (Umariya) came out with report on work of jeevika of last six month and shares an appreciation letter in public to Caritas India to continue Jeevika !

Chappalwali Visit!!!

Being formal or being informal –what makes difference? I hardly understand! What I understand is the comfortable dressing! I prefer chappal (sleeper), jeans (blue) and t-shirt ( preferably black) and enjoy this!

Relating this fashion funda or comfort funda with villages –when I tried to look both fashion and comfort with rural women-I feel discomfort talking about jeans, t-shirts and sleepers…because here for us sleeper is fashion or comfort for rural women its desire to have one pair of sleepers!

But day before yesterday I actually realized the importance of sleeper in villages…I was in Sundari village of Umariya district ( in one of our Caritas India programme called JEEVIKA) and was interacting with SHG women, they put a chair for me, I denied to sit there, they put a mat I denied-as they all were sitting on earth  and finally prefer to sat on earth with them and awe them…but they were quite unhappy and some of them were gossiping ‘ye ladka bada badmash hein, kursi pe nahi baithta hein, dari pe bhi nahi ( this boy is naughty and is not listening to us we are saying to sit on chair, he is not sitting neither on mat..he wants to sit on earth)...but believe me I was actually enjoying sitting on earth equal to them; I don’t know why…but something was there…with that enjoyment.

Before initiating discussion on saving, credit and IGP ( Income Generation Programme) , I looked that what they were wearing in their feet...and i astounded that none of them had sleepers; and before coming to visit I was wondering that I am wearing sleeper what they would be thinking!

In few minutes,  I think sitting on earth worked and I was quite close with SHG members, important part they shared that they like my sleepers and they love to wear sleepers but tragedies of life has make them away from accessing sleepers…they walk kilometers and in forest without any sleepers…

I have seen some of the feets and believe me…me and you cannot walk with that type of feet and pain!

In between one women said…its good if I can sit on chair-as they have seen good pain in their life and prefer to see people sitting on chair and preferably with good shoes…it gives then happiness….as they have no access to sleepers and they love to wear it ! I do not know sitting on chair is important or sitting on earth with people…( may be the question of higher and lower is there), but I am sure it was painful for me when I see and know that rural women do not have even access to sleepers! Dard hota hein!

I do not know how far we think on issue of sleepers for rural women….my small informal information calculates that about 80% of women in rural pockets do not have access to sleepers…they go to field without sleepers….go to sanitation without sleepers…cook food without sleepers….and many more things!

Think on  it!

Vinod Pandey 

Hum Lutne ke liye nahin hain ( We are not here to face corruption)!

Place: Kota- Bada Sahrana, SDM Office Campus, Shivpuri

This was the scene of monthly meeting of 02 SHGs at Kota village on 9th June 2014. In this meeting only 12 SHGs members out of 24 were available there even they had pre- information about meeting. When we asked why number is less for the meeting, they replied that most of members went to Shivpuri for some work. So, we conducted meeting with both SHGs members.

In this image you can see 40 women are present at a place. This is the campus of SDM office, Shivpuri where we found rest of SHG members who went to Shivpuri along with other community women. When we were passing from there women called us and told us that “Sir we came here for getting loan of Rs. 50,000/woman with help of a man who is peon in a Govt. office. He assured us for loan of Rs. 50,000, we only have to give him Rs. 300/woman for forms and photocopy of about documents only”. When we asked that man about the matter, he replied that he brought the women for providing loan. He showed us almost 100 photocopies of form of Antyavsayi Scheme and photocopies of voter cards, Ration cards and other documents. He also said I am filling their forms for loan of Rs. 50,000 and they all are agreed for it. When we told him that you know this scheme is only for SC community people and they all are women from ST community. He said it’s not your matter and women are not having any problem. When we asked all of them they said he was asking Rs.300 again and again. When we asked him Rs.300 for what he started shivering and took his bike and left away that place. Then we explained all women about the scheme. It is only for SC community people not for ST community. They all thanked us and said that in future they will not go with any person or must inform Jeevika team about any matter. They said that they are poor but they are not for looted by someone.

By JEEVIKA GCSS-Shivpuri team

Key achievement in JEEVIKA in May 2014@ JEEVIKA KDSS Khandwa

4 Farmer Field School has been conducted in three villages Mirikheda, Namapur, Lakhora and Sarmeshar respectively.

2 Training on different Govt. schemes for youth have been conducted in two villages Mirikheda and Jamyakala respectively.

Formation of two Youth group in village Mirikheda and Talyadhad.

A small programme was conducted on World Environment Day (5 June 2014) in all targeted village and motivated community for its protection.

05 new farmers have been identified for construction of Vermi Pit in village Mirikheda.

02 training on different Govt. schemes related to livelihood promotion and social security in village Mirikheda and Jamyakala.

One programme on Orientation on agriculture based schemes in Mirikheda was conducted.

One programme on training on organic farming and integrated pest management was conducted in Kalapatha.

One training programme on record keeping for SHGs members was conducted in Gadariya.

Proper follow up of Village information centre, sewing centre and Seed bank in all targeted villages.

Regular meetings of SHGs and farmer club have been taken in all targeted villages.

Regularly follow up of Anganwadis and PDS shops and meeting with Anganwadis workers for proper functioning.

20 community members were sent from the support of Rural Agriculture Extension Officer in a programme, Meri Maati Mera

Khet addressed by Honorable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in Khandwa from all targeted villages.

09 couples were sent for collective marriage in Ashapur with support of village secretary.

Rs. 5, 75,000 were fund leveraged through various Govt. Schemes.

Bringing change through local street play@ JEEVIKA Umariya

Local street play ( or called as Nukkad nataks) could really bring out change with communities -as they not just learn from street play, but they enjoy learning!

In June 2014 JEEVIKA JDSS-Umariya team has organised series of street play on sustainable agriculture and nutritional food and seen immdiate result in terms of people planning for sustainable agriculture for current Kharif season!

Bringing dropouts to school: JEEVIKA effort at Umariya!

Even though India has achieved almost 100 per cent access to school for its children at the primary level, it has a high 40 per cent drop-out rate at the elementary level a news from India today states it on 14th Nov 2013. Lets see how with JEEVIKA (which is primarily a livelihood programme works on bringing back dropouts? Reduce in school dropouts also indicates migration is declining!

Village- Maliyaguda

Cluster Coordinator- Pratap Paraste

Beneficiary- Kishan Singh

Father's Name- Indrapal Singh. Mother's Name- Smt. Lakshmi Bai

Age- 18 years

Brothers- 2 younger

Economic condition- very poor

Kishan Singh is the son of Shri Indrapal Singh residing at Maliyaguda. Kishan Singh is the elder son of Indrapal singh. He has completed his basic education at the village but due to poor economic condition of the family he could not continue his education. As he is the eldor son there is responsibility of family on his shoulders that is why he engaged in agriculture labor and used to go for loborship at brick making. As he was engaged in earning livelihood he could not be able to continue his studies. Then one day Pratap Paraste one of our laborious Jeevika staff met with Kishan Singh and came to know about the situation. Pratap then decided to talk with his parents and went to his home. He told his parents about the importance of education and advised them to be free from his responsibilities and support him to continue his education. Pratap also guided Kishan to continue his education. After continuous efforts made by Pratap Kishan understand the importance of education and decided to continue his education. He then took admission in 12th class this year in high school at Rampur. He is regularly going to school and escaped from being drop out.

Kishan says,"Main krishi majduri me lage hua tha aur beech me Majduri karne ke liye Ent bhatte par jaya karta tha. Ek din Pratap Sir mujhse mile aur unhone mujhe shiksha ke mehatva ke bare me samjhaya. Pahle toh meri samajh me unki baat nai aai par unhone lagataar kai baar mujhse milkar padhai puri karne kaha aur mere ghar par bhi mata pita ko samjhaya. Tab jakar unki baat meri samjh me aai aur maine padhai puri karne ka nishchay liya. Aaj mai kaksha 12 me pravesh le chukka hu aur roj school jata hu. Pratap sir ki wajah se hi mai aaj apni padhai puri karne ki than chukka hu nai toh mai majduri me hi laga rahta"

By JEEVIKA Umariya ( JDSS-Jabalpur team)on 7th July 2014

Agriculture literacy: Soil testing literacy to farmers of Khandwa@JEEVIKA KDSS

Purpose: The main purpose of this activity to know the soil condition and availability of nutrient for soil treatment.

Details:

The main objective of this activity was to make community member aware about soil fertility and importance of soil testing. We make community aware about benefits of soil testing. We motivate people for soil testing in all targeted village, as a result 103 people sent the sample of soil for testing to Agriculture department of Khalwa. From soil testing farmers can easily know their soil condition and the also the availability of soil nutrients such as NPK. We also told farmers about NPK

 Nitrogen (N):- Nitrogen promotes plant development and is necessary for encouraging green leaf growth.

 Potassium (K):- Potassium is needed for chlorophyll formation and is necessary for strong cells that promote the formation of flower and fruit strong cells are also necessary to resist diseases and pest.

 Phosphorus (P):- This nutrient is helpful for the development of healthy cells and encourages roots.

Details of Farmers for soil testing programme

By

Pope Francis Calls Exploitation Of Nature Sin Of Our Time

CAMPOBASSO, Italy, July 5 (Reuters) - Pope Francis called for more respect for nature on Saturday, branding the destruction of South America's rain forests and other forms of environmental exploitation a sin of modern times. In an address at the university of Molise, an agricultural and industrial region in southern Italy, Francis said the Earth should be allowed to give her fruits without being exploited. "This is one of the greatest challenges of our time: to convert ourselves to a type of development that knows how to respect creation," he told students, struggling farmers, and laid-off workers in a university hall. "When I look at America, also my own homeland (South America), so many forests, all cut, that have become land ... that can longer give life. This is our sin, exploiting the Earth and not allowing her to her give us what she has within her," the Argentine pope said in unprepared remarks. Francis, who took his name from Francis of Assisi, the 13th century saint seen as the patron of animals and the environment, is writing an encyclical on man's relationship with nature. Since his election in March, 2013, the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics has made many appeals in defense of the environment. After the university meeting, Francis said mass for tens of thousands of people in a stadium. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) Source: Reuters | By Philip Pullella/ Posted: 07/05/2014 7:04 am EDT

12% of Caritas Organisations throughout the world follow Caritas India JEEVIKA on twitter: Why?

Out of 164 caritas organisations through out the world, 20 caritas organisations (Cáritas Orihuela, CaritasAzuay, Caritas Chile, Cáritas Vitoria, Catholic Relief Services , Cáritas Bizkaia caritas seoul, Caritas Colombiana Caritas Almonte Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Bulgaria, Caritas Jerusalem, Caritas India, Caritas au Sahel, CARITAS FILIPINAS,Caritas SanSebastian, Caritas Africa, CÁRITAS DE YUCATAN & Caritas India ) follow Caritas India JEEVIKA on twitter! Why? Find out by following Caritas India JEEVIKA on twitter @ https://twitter.com/JeevikaCARITAS

Exclusive bank for poor: thinking beyound Grameen bank with Caritas India JEEVIKA model!

Hope we all are thorough with Grameen bank model of Bangladesh. The Grameen Bank was started 1976 when Professor Muhammad Yunus, a Fulbright scholar and Professor at University of Chittagong, researched how to provide banking for the rural poor. The model is considered as one of the most successful model for financial and social inclusion and various Asian countries have adopted the model.

But now time is changing and banking is strengthening infact in India about 87% of government programmes are now linked with banks and still 40% of community do not have any access to baking services< so how to meet with this challenge?

With above concern Caritas India ( Based on her JEEVIKA model intervention in Madhya Pradesh, JEEVIKA is a development initiative by Caritas India and Caritas Spain with tribal communities in interior pockets of MP. For more log on to www.jeevikacaritas.blogspot.com ) has tried to work on a paper of ‘Inclusion’ on exclusive bank for poor with three basic concepts-social inclusion, financial inclusion and Entrepreneurial inclusion and same has been submitted to the one of the largest platform of policy makers –Skoch Summit (www.skoch.org ) and the best part our concept paper has been shortlisted to present to the policy makers.

In connection with the above in a recently ( 22nd June 2014) held 36th Skoch summit in New Delhi, Caritas India team delivered on ‘Differentiated Banking’ based on the concept of community managed bank model introduced by Reserve Bank of India.

Although Caritas India’s model of ‘exclusive bank for poor’ was critically acclaimed as ‘interesting and innovative’, the need for huge initial capital investment was seen as one major challenge by the experts consisting mostly of bank CEOs and MDs along with few ministers. However, involving various (interested) stakeholders could be one way to address the said challenge. In response to this, Caritas India HOD for programs PM Philip argued that there are successful working models at the community (field) level that could support the claim discussed in the paper. The recent paper on ‘differentiated banking’ is only one of the several other papers submitted by Caritas India team at Skoch.

Skoch Development Foundation is an autonomous, policy oriented, not for profit policy think tank. More than the cash and the certificate awarded to selected papers, Caritas India sees Skoch summits as a platform for propagating change and development. You can see the links of CI concept at:

http://caritasindia.org/index.php/news-events/news/78-national-news/169-shgs-what-is-the-next-level

http://www.skoch.org/?p=944

I suggest we all can go through the CI proposed model of Banking inclusion: Exclusive Bank for poor based on JEEVIKA Model of Caritas India and see is this really the need? Is this time now really to think beyond ‘Grameen bank’ model? Do we think JEEVIKA JEEVIKA model could also work in other countries? Do we think Caritas could bring a sustainable model for banking inclusion in Asia through models like JEEVIKA?

Find attached concept paper on Bank Exclusive for poor in line with JEEVIKA!

Feel free to write to us at vinodpandey@caritasindia.org for concept paper on Bank Exclusive for poor in line with JEEVIKA Model!

Skill Development Training for Youth in colloboration with Jan Sikshan Sansthan Ujjain @JEEVIKA Kripa Ujjain

Purpose of the activity: To capacitate the youth girls with some kind of skill development programme for a better earning. Activities organized: On 23rd May 2014 orientation programme was organized at Aslana to give so tips of skill development programme for the tribal girls of Jeevika project. Mrs. Anita Pawar from Jan Sikshan Santan was the resource person for the training. On that orientation programme resource person pointed out that what is the importance of vocational training in the life of the youth especially in the villages for their alternative source of income. She also dealt with the participants on business management and risk in it.

Tailoring training: On 30th May 2014 Jeevika with the help of Jan Sikshan Sanstan started tailoring courses for twenty girls at Aslana. Cluster coordinator collected all the important documents together with registration fee from the participants and submitted to JSS. Trainer was identified from the village itself to give training to the participants. This training is for four months. After the completion of the course trainees must give exam and pass the exam for the certificate. The certificate will help them in future to get support from government schemes or loan to get self employment.

By JEEVIKA team

JEEVIKA Farmers conference at Kripa Ujjain!

Purpose of conference : The aim of the Kisan Samelan was to provide a platform to the farmers of four Jeevika villages to come together to learn from each other and to share their experiences and innovations among themselves. Kisam Samelan also aimed to show KVK and agriculture department that Jeevika also does a good work among the marginalized people for their sustainable agriculture development.

Main activity of the Kisan sammelan

•Introduction session: Training was organized at Bachchukheda center where 100 farmers from four targeted villages, namely Jairampura, Panvihar, Chprikheda and Pardibadla, were actively participated in the kisan samelan. Mr. Sumit Rathore the coordinator of the Jeevika project welcomed the guests and farmers as well as the shared the objectives and goals of the activity.

•Key Invitees:

The following gusts were present for the Kisan Mela.

SI Name of the guests Department

1 Dr. A.K. dixit KVK

2 Dr. S.K. Tomar Scientist from KVK

3 Mr. Sisodiya Retired ADEO of Japand panchyat Ghatia

4 Mr. Amrit fale ADEO of Janpad panchyat Ghatia

5 Dr. Ramakant Sarpanch of the Bandka panchyat

The entire guests were very happy to see the farmers and the product they have exhibited there in the hall. They again and again pointed out that it is not so easy for us to collect this much Kissan together during this hot season. They have addressed the farmers and said that farmers should take percussions to protect their crops. They have told that last year all the farmers lost their soya bean crop due to heavy rain. According to them if farmers were sowing the seed in time for them they could reduce the damage to 20%. All the guest addressed the farmers and spoke on various topics like coming kharif season, how to care and protect the crops, how to tap the government schemes, agriculture schemes available for the farmers, criteria for getting the agriculture schemes, roll of KVK, etc. Farmers raised their queries to the guests who explained each and every question of the farmers.

Sharing From the famers:

Farmers shared the achievement they had in their farming through Jeevika intervention. They explained the guest that Jeevika progarmme helped them to know new techniques in the agriculture through the KVK and agriculture department. What all are the schemes taped from various agriculture related departments. How they have made the organic pesticide and compost. They also shared how they have treated the seed and what was the benefit of seed treatment etc.

Exhibition:

Farmers came with different product which they have made in their houses. They exhibited products like Vermi compost, Nadep compost, Amrit Pani, vegetable which they have produced with the organic manure andvarious available seeds with them. Seeing the exhibition all the guests were very happy. They congratulated the Jeevika team.

•Prize distribution:

Two best farmers (Prembai Mansing from Jairampura and Devnarayan Nathuji from Chapirikheda) were awarded with trophy considering their involvement in the development of the area through various jeevika activities. They are the best beneficiaries among those who are having 100% participation in all the Jeevika activities implemented in last one half year. They are very active in the CBOs, Various meetings, participation in good governance, agriculture related activities etc.

By JEEVIKA team

Major Achievements in JEEVIKA @ Kripa Ujjain in May 2014

•14 New IGPs, worth Rs. 74000/- have been started by utilizing the saving of the groups.

•1 Kisan Sammelan was organized by Kripa Ujjain at Bachchukheda with the collaboration of KVK and Agriculture department. Hundred farmers participated in the fair. Farmers exhibited their organic agriculture products in the Kisan Sammelan.

•One skill devlopment training were started in this reporting month for youth boys and girls at Aslana village with support of Jan Sikhshan Sansthan. (Tailoring for girls and motor winding for girls).

•One RTI have been filed in this reporting period to get information about different schemes which are being implemented in Anganwadies.

•Two house hold members submitted application for different social security schemes.

•Members of three households received social security schemes.

•12 house hold members received government schemes worth Rs. 114760/-

•49 soil testing report received by the targeted farmers from the government soil testing department.

•61 targeted household farmers have given soil for testing.

•60 targeted women’s of our SHG from Ratnakhedi, Jairampura and Baba badrkhan got two days training on entrepreneurship management before starting their IGP units and training.

•Three targeted farmers submitted their application to the horticulture department to register them in the department.

•Mr. Ambaram and Mrs. Indrabai from Baskhedi and Harniyakhedi received the seed of green chilly 25 packets worth Rs. 26760/- and they also got medicine and compost from the horticulture department.

•Six farmers received various pesticide and organic manure for the cultivation of marigold worth Rs. 12000/-

•One house hold at Baba Badharka received Indra Awaas Yojna scheme.

•Three youth of Kamed and Surasa village received first installment (27000/-, 30000/- and 30000/-) Rs. 87000/- under Mukya Mantri Yuva Sworojghar Yojna.

SHGs; what is the NEXT level?

Caritas India team presented model of 'exclusive bank for poor' inline with caritas india JEEVIKA programme with women self help groups at Skoch 20th thinkers and writers forum at India Habitat Center on 22nd June 2014. Skoch consider caritas model a different one and an innovative need, but it need to be seen from angle of capital investment on it!

Caritas India ANKUR & JEEVIKA on Bindas channel: Bforchange!

Bindas volunteer greetings!

With a joint initiative of Advocacy desk and PR Com we are able to set a new visibility as well as human resource support for Caritas India JEEVIKA & ANKUR programmes on on Bindas channel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindass ) -bforchange! Bindas is India’s highest viewed youth channel and now has initiative to bring social change through engaging youths. In regard with the same with our impactful programmes in MP (JEEVIKA) and Rajasthan (ANKUR) bforchange team has approached and us for knowing those programme in detail and now with their field understanding of both the programme –they have included Caritas India in the list the most prominenet organizations to volunteer for innovative programmes.

What will happen with this?

• Caritas India logo and programme list is shared on Bindas channel and website (http://www.bforchange.com/volunteer-for-cause/10/others )

• More no. of youth everyday would know about CI programmes ( ANKUR & JEEVIKA)

• Possible large level of Volunteer pool could be generated ( already list of 5 volunteers came to us)

• Possible Resource support from Bindas channel and other sources for both the programmes

Let’s take this as one of the first Programme impact to strengthen Volunteer initiative through a larger platform.