The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is facing an uphill task to reach closer to the target set for the formation and providing credit linkages to the Women Self-help Groups (WSHGs) in Jharkhand. Against the sanctioned 39000 WSHGs the bank, mandated to work wholly for poverty alleviation and woman empowerment in rural areas, has fallen short by over 5000.
The Bank through its partner NGOs working in 18 districts out of 24 of the State has been given target to form 19000 WSHGs during 2012-13, 18000 during 2013-14 and another 2000 during 2014-15. Though, the cumulative figure up to September 30 this year indicated to a serious shortfall.
“We have been able to promote just 34235 WSHGs till now against the sanctioned 39000 during the 2012-2015 periods. Out of those promoted merely 21638 have been provided saving linkages while petty 3667 WSHGs have been provided with credit linkages,” said PK Dash, GDM NABARD in a review meeting called for all the partner NGOs working in the field. Estimate suggests that Jharkhand has potential for 1.2 lakh WSHGs.
The dismal show at the ground level has direct bearing on the livelihood promotion programmes for lakhs of women living in backward areas of the State which is prone to left-wing extremism. lack of access to finance to start small level earning programmes have left them dependent on traditional money lenders and made them vulnerable to exploitation in the process.
Nevertheless the NGOs complained about approach of the banks and hurdles their branches pose before lending money to the WSHGs at ground level. “There is no uniform loan application procedure and some bank branches produce forms spreading in 90 pages. This often poses a worry for the women members of the group. Banks are not cooperating in opening their accounts and disbursement of the loans,” said a member of SHG coming from Gumla. Most of the complaints came against the Bank of India, lead bank in many districts of the State.
“It is not a healthy sign as the Prime Minister has initiated for bank accounts for every household by January 26, 2015. Momentum built behind Jan-Dhan Yojna should be utilised properly. WSHGs are very important for the State like Jharkhand due to different forms of poverty existing,” said Munish, General Manager of NABARD. Chief GM of the Bank KC Panda also expressed dissatisfaction as States like Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand are doing better.