The Digital India concept, propounded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday added another segment into its fold with the launch of digitisation programme for Self-Help Group (SHGs) to put thousands of members of the groups on the digital map. The programme which has been launched in Ramgarh, one among the pilot districts for the project, was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Finance, Jayant Sinha.
The digitisation project has been initiated by National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD). The launch of the programme was attended by more than 10,000 women members comprising more than 4,500 SHG groups. On the occasion, Sinha appreciated the initiative of NABARD and expressed happiness about the beginning of the initiative from a remote place of Ramgarh.
"Women power is the greatest power and you will show others how women power is transformed into e-Shakti," said Sinha. The Digitisation software has been developed with 'App" in local language. Data of SHGs and their members will be fed into the input device (tablet/mobile handset) which will be uploaded in the secured and dedicated website- www.eshakti.nabard.org .
Notably the digitisation work will be achieved through a handheld device-tablets-- that will be provided to SHGs enabling them to enter data of all beneficiaries associated with the group. The digitized data will be pooled in a central server of NABARD which will be used for various types of financial activities. The digitisation will also help in faster information processing as a beneficiary registered with the portal will get all information through text messages over phone. Each SHG will be given a financial literacy tool-kit to master the art of operating tablets and how to update records of beneficiaries.
The MoS Finance highlighted programmes on social security, financial inclusion and schemes for farmers which had been launched by the United Progressive Alliance Government. Sinha announced that Ramgarh which has been catapulted to the national map with the digitisation work will also be blessed with a credit intensification scheme for farmers in rural areas. "With the help of NABARD we are planning to increase loans given to farmers for solar pumps, micro irrigation, horticulture, green house and other things. A mobile van will be started that will go to villages to educate farmers," added the MoS Finance.
Chairman, NABARD, Harsh Kumar Bhanwala highlighted that NABARD has taken a proactive role to address issues and constraints emerging in the implementation of SHG Bank linkage Programme (SHG-BlP) like improving the quality of interface between SHG members and banks, timely credit linkage of SHGs, challenges in book keeping by low literate clients and convergence with other pro-poor Government programmes.
The project will benefit various stakeholders. It will facilitate mainstreaming of SHG members with Aadhar-based financial inclusion and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) enabling access to wide range of financial services. Digitisation will bring transparency, credibility to operations of SHGs through inbuilt grading MIS and thereby increasing the comfort of bankers in credit appraisal, disbursement and monitoring.
Besides, the process will ease transfer of social benefits and Direct Benefit Transfer leading to better participation of SHG members in PMJDY. The ultimate beneficiary would be rural poor members of SHGs through easy E book keeping of their records. The programme was attended by Minister, Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, CP Chaudhary; CGM NABARD, Jharkhand Regional Office, KC Panda; SlBC Convener for Jharkhand, Jain Bhushan, Deputy Managing Director, NABARD, HR Dave and officials of the district administration.
SHG-1: Minister of State for Finance, Government of India Jayant Sinha alongwith Chairman HK Bhanwala presents Financial literacy Tool Kit to the members of Self Help Groups during the launch ofNABARD initiated National project for complete Digitisation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) at Ramgarh on Sunday. PNS