Facilitators Training for SHG Project Staff and Women Leaders

BREADS organized three days facilitators training for the SHG project staff and women leaders under the project- “Sustainable Income for Rural Women through Entrepreneurial Activities and Social Empowerment”. The program began with a welcome note by Mr. Manjappa, Coordinator CREAM Project, Davangere followed by the lighting of the lamp. The dignitaries present on the dais were Mr. Louis Manohar, Project Manager DB Action, Fr. Previnth, Director, Social Service Guild (SSG), Mr.Benny Augustine, Manager, and Projects BREADS. About 26 participants from Bangalore, Bidar, Bellary, Chitradurga, Davangere, Gulbarga and Yadgiri districts were attended the training. The training aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills, improve the facilitation skills, plan and design strategies and priorities for entrepreneurial activities and enable the women SHGs in the rural areas to engage effectively in income generation activities.

On day one, the first two sessions were handled by Mr. Louis Manohar, Project Manager DB Action. He enlightened the participants with information on the impact of SHG programs through the knowledge collected from surveys and studies. The concept of self- help groups, meaning of empowerment and the purpose of SHGs were included in the sessions. The trainer has shown the specimen of attendance register, cash book, bank loan format and explained how to maintain these in SHGs. He explained in detail on how to form and strengthen self-help groups, leadership qualities, the proceedings of meetings, procedures to get loans from the banks. The NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) provides loans for firms started by women and the process to get loan was educated to the participants.

The following session was taken by Ms. Sheetal. S, Advocate and Ms. Priti, Volunteer. The trainers facilitated the sessions on how to make the decorative items with available and limited resources. A demonstration was held to make different shapes of cushions using old cloths and sponge, the making of small stools using old clothes and paint tins. The most interesting and easy piece of art was the making of carpets using cardboard, wools and old clothes. The trainers helped the participants to choose specializations based on one’s interest and talent. The trainers displayed and explained the processing of ladies purse, cloth bags and ladies bags through a video presentation.

On the second day, the first two sessions were handled by Mr. Shivarudrappa, Consultant NABARD, Bangalore. The progress of his session was through lot of examples that he narrated from his work experiences with different SHGs. He stated that a proper planning of SHGs could help them earn lot of savings and income which can lead to sustainable lifestyle. He mentioned the 5 major requirements to start a business such as: skill, raw materials, investment, space availability and market. The trainer said that in order to get loan from banks, the group should be registered under Co-operative Society or Company Act. The registered SHGs will get 20% subsidy and loans with low interest rate depending on the terms and conditions of each bank.

The sessions post lunch was handled by Mr. Manjappa. Group activities and group discussions helped to discuss the possible income generation activities which the women could start using their limited resources. The women were advised to train the group members with same enthusiasm as the training should not end in classroom learning, instead it should be taken to higher levels through implementation of income generation initiatives.

On the following day Mr. Manjappa continued the sessions, the sessions oriented the participants to utilize the available schemes and loans provided by the state and central government. The few schemes discussed in the sessions were, annapurna scheme which is meant for women entrepreneurs who want to set up food catering units to sell lunch packs, snacks, other forms of food. This loan is given by State Bank of Mysore.The maximum loan amount provided on this composite term loan is Rs. 50,000.The loan needs to be repaid in 36 monthly instalments. The other schemes discussed includes urban Stree Shakti scheme, BharatiyaMahila Bank Business Loan, Udyogini Schemeetc

The last session on the third day was taken by Mr. Benny Augustine, Manager Projects BREADS. He summarised the project activities and achievements of past two years. BREADS has implemented the project in 4 districts of Karnataka state (Bellary, Chitradurga, Yadgiri and Bidar), and the result and impact of the project on the lives of women have driven the expansion of the project to three more new districts. The project has reached out to more vulnerable women in these rural villages and the impact it has on their lives is immense. The women have gained a status, become independent and financially more stable being able to support their family better through the project intervention. The sessions more focused on forming strategies, detailed talk on targets and goals, regulations to form SHGs etc. The three days training concluded with an evaluation and vote of thanks.