More joys with Additional Mahalakshmi Saras.....

More joys with Additional Mahalakshmi Saras.....

My son and me are great friends. It is normal for us to discuss our day with each other. And when it is something about which I am passionate, he is equally interested. He has been seeing my involvement in MSRLM Umed grow with every Mahalakshmi Saras. 
Most Mumbaikars and Navi Mumbaikars would know that Mahalakshmi Saras is the annual event of SHGs organised at Bandra, BKC by MSRLM Umed through the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India and Government of Maharashtra in the month of January. Last fortnight when I told him that we are organising an additional Mahalakshmi Saras , his first reaction was, " Additional "? What ? Why?
The MoRD under NRLM permits every state to organise Saras exhibitions annually. Since last year , a few states like Maharashtra have been permitted to have two exhibitions. Last year the second exhibition was held at Nagpur. This year we planned to have it at Navi Mumbai for more reasons than one.
Many of our patrons at the Annual Mahalakshmi Saras are from Navi Mumbai. There has been a constant demand from them to have something like this at Navi Mumbai. MSRLM Umed has started a permanent Saras Bazaar at the Gram Vikas Bhavan, Kharghar. Every ten days, thirty SHGs from a district in Maharashtra come there for exhibition and sale of their products and there is a great demand for their products.
Navi Mumbai, is a happening place with a cosmopolitan , vibrant culture. It is a growing, youthful city with a number of educational institutions. It therfore has all the potent qualities with eager connoisseurs and consumers. We therefore could not think of a better place for the Mahalakshmi Saras.
However , it was necessary to distinguish it from the regular annual fair. It was therfore important to add the word , "Additional" to it.
So the "Additional Mahalakshmi Saras"  has been inaugurated today by the Hon'ble Minister for Rural Development, Ms.Pankaja Munde in the presence of Ms. Mandatai Mhatre the Hon'ble MLA of Belapur, Navi Mumbai and Mr.Ramesh Patil, Hon'ble MLC. The exhibition has 100 stalls from.34 districts of Maharashtra and 10 Indian States like Gujarat, Bihar, Rajasthan, Kerala, Orissa, Telangana, UP , West Bengal with various products including food grains, spices, masalas, pickles, papads, cashew nuts, textiles of different variety, bags, slippers, handicrafts, handmade artefacts, jewellery, health products, ready to eat food, mosquito nets, cloth cribs even brooms.
The biggest attraction of Mahalakshmi Saras are the food stalls. Foodies and food lovers always make a bee line for the real, authentic, rural delicacies like Bhaakri, Thaali peeth, Puran Polis, Bhareet, Masala Baingan, Misal, Kolhapuri Chicken, Pandhraa-taambdaa rassaa and a host of other delicacies which you may possibly not get anywhere in Navi Mumbai and if some restaurant possibly serves such food, it will be minus the love and affection from the rural ladies.
At the Additional Mahalakshmi Saras we have 20 food stalls to cater to your palate. Family outings, kitty parties birthday events and celebrations can be different for the next 10 days if you plan to eat at these stalls and buy gift articles made by SHGs. What better way of encouraging rural artisans and supporting them?
And some of them have graduated to making pedigree products thanks to our interventions and trainings through FICCI, UNDP and Tisser.
You will be surprised at the variety and skills of our artisans and the good quality products.
You will also be able to purchase good quality Asmita Plus sanitary napkins at just Rs.24 for a pack 8 napkins.
Our Asmita Bazaar partners, the Himalaya group have products like Himalaya baby powder, soap, shampoo, massage oil, wipes, diapers etc for sale at great discounts.
Along with the products of our SHGs, 'additionally ' you will take home joys, blessings and much more from here.
So wouldn't you want to give joys and add on to your joys? Agri Koli Bhavan, Sector 24, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, awaits you and so does this Additional Mahalakshmi Saras....

Gung-ho with products of SHGs from Gondia....

Gung-ho with products of SHGs from Gondia....

Rural life for uninitiated Mumbaikars like me is unfathomable on the one hand and unimaginable on the other. When one talks about places like Gondia, many may not even have heard about it.
Gondia, named after the adivasi tribal Gonds is on the east of Maharashtra, about four hours from Nagpur. Being well connected by rail and road it is developing into a prosperous place. MSRLM has also been functional in the district for the last five years and has been working for the empowerment of women through self help groups.
The district has more than 10000 SHGs engaged in various farm and non-farm activities leading to sustainable livelihoods.
The goods and products they produce are given support of forward linkages through various exhibitions like the Mahalakshmi Saras.
A permanent shop has also been opened at the Gram Vikas Bhavan, Kharghar where every ten days one district of Maharashtra comes to market their produce.
This month it is Gondia. As usual the SHGs have brought many handmade products which of course include organic jaggery, organic rice and urad dal, a variety of pulses, turmeric powder, spices, pickles and paapad. The oils include different varieties like jawas oil ( flax seed ) and sarso oil ( mustard oil ). Some of the ladies have brought interesting products of fish like fish pickles, fish shev, fish Chakli and dry fish.
Health products of aamla , gooseberry, including- pickles, amla Powder, amla candy are available and also Kaarlyachi chutney made from Niger seeds. The Ambati Syrup, Moha products are also different.
For the connoisseurs of art there are beautiful artefacts made of bamboo, jute, wool and also pottery. Artefacts like mirror holders, cloth paintings are certainly attractive. Jasmin agarbattis, incense sticks to fill your homes with fragrance during the festive season are also there. And of course a variety of cloth bags, jute bags which you can buy and fill after shopping to your heart's content.
So rush to The Mahalakshmi Saras Bazaar at Gram Vikas Bhavan before 20th August to pick unique products from Gondia.

P.S. The SHGs of Gondia will be at the Trimurti Praangan in Mantralay, Mumbai tomorrow, 19th August 2019 between 10.30 a.m to 5.30 p.m. Please don't lose this opportunity of shopping from them.

On the road, driving after ages....

On the road, driving after ages....

The last time I drove a car is more than three years ago. My brother was posted as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers group RCF and had been allocated a beautiful bungalow at Chembur. My parents stayed with him and visitng them with my son, Vishnu was my usual routine on weekends.
Those were the only day in the week when I sat behind the wheels.
I had procured a licence more than thirty years ago and have always prided over the fact that I had driven all types of vehicles from cars and jeeps to autorickshaws and even a truck. Sitting behind the wheel, hands on the steering has an altogether different charm. Every ride was enjoyable.
On his retirement, my brother shifted out of his RCF bungalow to a flat on the 11th road at Chembur. And with it ended my days of driving.
This was mainly due to the geography of the area. The lanes of Chembur were extremely narrow in contrast to RCF colony. I was always afraid I would be unable to manouevre the car in these lanes. I would also dread whether I would be able to reverse into the parking slot properly. The shift in my job also made me more and more dependent on a chauffeur driven vehicle and before long I had forgotten how to drive.
Often, I used to imagine getting back at it but the growing number of vehicles, the crowded roads made me panic. With Ola and Uber at ones beck and call , making that effort to drive became almost redundant. Of course, I made no bones about the fact about being an expert whenever any of my drivers committed a faux pas while driving. Those were the times, I would rant about my latent skills in driving.
However in reality I feared driving again. My gut feeling was that I had forgotten driving. More so because my knees had gone wobbly that one time when I had to shift the car within our building on Holi. I contemplated enrolling myself again in a driving school to relearn driving.
Every now and then , I used to imagine myself driving but never did that in reality as the thought of driving gave me nightmares.
But probably one's ardent desires are ultimately blessed by God.
After what seemed ages , I was home on the weekend actually relaxing when I happened to glance at our car parked in our building compound. All of a sudden, I felt an urge to sit behind the wheels. The fact that my driver was around gave me the confidence. I mustered enough courage to overcome my embarrassment and ask him to sit next to me while I drove.
Getting into the car, I strapped myself with the seatbelt, adjusted the mirrors, released the hand breaks, turned on the ignition. My feet on the clutch , I slowly changed gears and set the car into momentum. Soon I was out of the building on to the road.
Surprisingly, there was no anxiety or fear, my mind was composed, confident and sure maybe because of the driver sitting next to me. Whatever it was, being in control of the car gave me a great feeling of confidence. I felt even better when I realised that everything about driving came back to me in matter of seconds.
I overcame all obstacles including the crowds in the busy lanes near Mulund station. Of course, I was very slow and doubly cautious and that little bit of nervousness was but natural.
The fact that I was comfortable behind the wheels again needed celebration. As I picked up a tub of ice cream from the shop nearby and actually reversed the vehicle to drive home to celebrate with my son I was beaming from ear to ear....

Banking and finance for Self-help groups:- One family, One Bank surging ahead with Bank of Maharashtra

Banking and finance for Self-help groups:- One family, One Bank surging ahead with Bank of Maharashtra

On a rainy day, I set out to Laule Village in Mulshi block of Pune district to attend a Bank loan disbursement camp organised by the Bank of Maharashtra. The onset of monsoons had added hues of green to the mounatins making them beautiful. Gurgling waterfalls in frothy white added to their charm.
My mind traversed to an equally interesting journey of Self help groups , SHGs as institutions.
SHGs have certainly moved forward as institutions and are being recognised as reputed entities of social change.
Almost 30 years ago, the need to organise the poor into community based organisations and linking them with banks was initiated by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). This concept of Self-Help Group Bank Linkage Program (SBLP), had revolutionised the outlook of the country towards rural women. Banks started opening accounts in the name of women and they were channelised for creating sustainable livelihoods.
This initiative was strengthened further through DAY NRLM which has taken the SHG Bank linkage to new heights.
Self-help groups are now recognised as entities and entrepreneurs engaged n sustainable livelihoods and also promoting community development programs.
Social, financial and economic inclusion leading to sustainable livelihoods are the four pillars of DAY NRLM.
Slowly but surely Maharashtra has created a network of over 4 lakh SHGs in the state , reaching out to over 40 lakh households. However access to finance still remains a challenge. Till date , in Maharashtra, about 15 lakh households and SHGs have received loans amounting to over Rs. 5500 crores.
Yes, the SHG Bank linkage has gone up remarkably from about Rs.500 crores in 2016 to Rs. 1400 crores in 2018 yet compared to the southern states we still have a long way to go. The average size of loan and the timing is another major problem as also the delays in opening bank account of SHGs. Authentcation of documents of signatories has been another major problem
Great empathy and support has been created for SHGs at the topmost level in SLBCs however field level realities are different. It is often observed that SHG financing does not receive as much attention due to the small size of loans and the efforts needed for processing the same. In contrast processing larger loans in an appropriately filled application is perhaps easier for acheiving targets And so there is a tendency to neglect this sector.
Studies conducted by MSRLM have clearly indicated great improvement in helath, education, food security, savings , income and expenditure among the SHGs who have accessed finance and manage enterprises.
Therefore financing of SHGs can be a good catalyst in transforming society.
Of course, members being less educated have problems in maintaining accounts and face governance issues. These can be tackled through continuous capacity building.
Digitization of SHG platforms can also play a huge role in bringing in the much needed transparency and streamlining the process. Once understood digital banking will not only be easier but safer too.
MSRLM provides capacity building and institutional support to promote financial inclusion.
SHGs are not only trained regularly in financial inclusion but also monitored. The weekly meetings and the discussions on Dashasutri ensure that financial issues are discussed to enable them to understand its importance. Updation of records also helps them to build their strength. Therefore the SHG platform is the most suited to expand financial inclusion. It can also act as an intermediary to provide financial services in the community.
Bankers being overburdened with work , MSRLM has created a dedicated cadre of more than 4000 Bank Sakhis and Financial Literacy Community Resource persons FLCRPs to facilitate SHG bank linkage. In fact , there are directives to appoint one Banking Correspondent Sakhi, BC Sakhi, in each GP. This dedicated cadre will definitely help in bringing about a great change in rural banking.
While travelling to the camp organised by the Bank of Maharashtra I also remembered the MoU signed two years ago to facilitate SHG financing. The Bank of Maharashtra had made great strides in supporting SHG finance since then. So much so that it also received the national level award for the best bank in SHG credit linkage for the financial year 2018-19.
Cheques to the tune of Rs.1 crore were being distributed in the camp organised by BoM. These included 15 loans between Rs.1 lakh and Rs.10 lakhs for women SHGs amounting to Rs.45 lakhs. The remaining 25 were loans for agricultural finance.
The officials of the bank gave extremely good information on financial literacy, various insurance schemes like PMBSY, PMJJBY, Atal Pension, MUDRA loans and MSME loans to more than 200 people who had come for the programme.
The enthusiasm and eagerness of the Executive Director, BoM, Mr.Tamta and his team was extremely infectious. As we handed over the cheques to the groups of women it was wonderful to see their smiles and hope that all banks would steer up this enthusiasm.
Even today all banks were not as sympathetic and were unable to understand the needs of the SHGs. The attitude and regulations were individual based instead of being group based.
SHGs now needed a mix of finance. Some were still at the beginning stage while others were ready to accelerate to the next level of finance with bigger loans upto Rs.50 lakhs for bigger enterprises. Bankers needed to absorb this requirememt. The Reserve Bank also needed to consider amending its directives suitably. The simplest way would be by extending the SHG model of loan to Village organisations and Cluster level Federations. 
The concerns of NPA could  be suitably addressed taking into consideration
the fact that at the National level the percentage of NPA was below three per cent.
Maharashtra had been grappling with 10 % NPA but with the use of effective CBRM, community based recovery management and efforts by the respective teams it has been brought down to 8%
With schemes like Zero per cent rate of interest on regular repayment of loans it can become better.
SHG movement has therefore made great strides in the last decade and come a long way. SHGs have become a great force to reckon with. lt is high time banks also recognised their true potential and treated them with dignity.

Bhandara SHGs: rice, spice, silk and mushrooms....

Bhandara SHGs: rice, spice, silk and mushrooms....

Bhandara, the word evokes thoughts of God blessing us through divine prasad , naivedhyam or bhog as per hindu traditions. Bhandara also happens to be the name of a beautiful district in Maharashtra. Some of you may also know it as the "District of Lakes" or even as the "Brass City" due to it's brass industry. The district is also known for it's production of rice. Tumsar block of the district has a famous rice market.
MSRLM has been working in the district since 2015 but in in an intensive mode for the last two years. The district has more than 4500 SHGs.
Bhandara has a mixed economy based on agriculture, industries, silk and resources from the forest. It therefore has a natural scope for growth of enterprises. The training and capacity building under MSRLM Umed has facilitated this growth.
No wonder 30 SHGs from Bhandara have come to Mahalakshmi Saras Bazaar at Gram Vikas Bhavan, Kharghar for exhibition and sale of their products.
The first thing that struck me on my visit there today was the vast range of products. The second important aspect was the emphasis on quality.
I was overwhelmed by the huge variety of rice packed in neat bags like mounds of pearls. It would definitely be difficult to get rice of that colour and look in Mumbai. I was told that the taste was unique too. There were different kinds of daals, specially chanoli which is a totally local grain from Bhandara. The added advantage was that the grains were totally organic.
A number of other pulses like moong, vataane- dried peas, chaney- bengal gram is also available. The famous Wainganga organic jaggery looked tempting and could be easily eaten with phutaane- roasted horse gram which was also available in plenty.
A variety of puffs like the Wheat puffs- Gahu Murmura, Sabunadana Murmura, Basmati Murmura are available. Hand pounded turmeric, special turmeric, coriander powder, amchur- mango powder, dhaniya- coriander powder, masala tea powder, ajwain, methi seeds, red chilly powder will add spice to your life.
Of course a variety of pickles, papads, mung vadis, shevaaya- vermicelli, urad vadi, ready to eat chakli and chivda, mukhvaas, dahi mirchi, laddoos, til chikki are also available.
Cloth bags, different kinds of purses, mobile pouches, carry bags, velvet bags, jute bags, tiffin bags can be bought. They look rural and may lack Mumbai's finesse but have great utilitarian value.
And how about a little aroma in the house with a variety of rose, sandalwood and jasmine agarbatties- incense sticks and dhoop all handmade by the women.
Stepping into the house in the rains will certainly be easy with the unique multi coloured handmade doormats. Colorful candles to brighten your life and handmade wooden show pieces to beautify your homes, aprons to keep your clothes clean and stain-free.
Your gardens could become greener or flower more by using the compost manure. You could also create a beautiful kitchen garden with the nutri-garden paras baag kit. Neem oil as a skin disinfectant could be extremely useful more so if it is made from the choicest neem trees found locally at Bhandara. Natural honey from the forests would make life sweeter.
A few women in all innocence had brought colourful bail jhuli used specially for covering oxen without realising that they would not have any market in Mumbai. Maybe such things could adorn your homes.
Now how many would have heard of cashews from Bhandara? Well, an SHG had brought cashews too. On probing, I learnt they had procured them from Konkan for business in their own district and brought them to Saras Bazaar too.
And of course for the lovers of silk , there's some lovely silk material, sarees of Tussar and Gichaa silk, matetial with Warli painting. The sarees in pastel shades of pink, mauve and green were tempting as also the rich Gichaa silk in red, black and green.. Ladies could go ahead and indulge themselves.
The most unique products have been brought by Lakshmi SHG and include dry food mushroom, mushroom papad, mushroom pickles, mushroom powder and mushroom baasundi. Interestingly their pamphlet not only talks about the health benefits of mushroom but also about cost effectiveness in eating mushrooms.
So do visit Saras Bazaar at Gram Vikas Bhavan, buy home made goods and food grains from Bhandara for your home and experience heart's content.....

P.S. SHGs from Bhandara will be at Trimurti Praangan in Mantralay, Mumbai on Thursday, 8th August 2019

33 crores tree plantation in Maharashtra....Devotion to a tree....

33 crores tree plantation in  Maharashtra....Devotion to a tree....

The government of Maharashtra has launched the ambitious programme of planting 33 crores trees between the months of July and September 2019. Hindu mythology speaks about 33 crores Gods and Goddesses. It would be appropriate to treat each tree which has been planted like a God. More so, to ensure that each tree planted is taken care of with the fervour of a devotee.

Planting a tree has always been a great work for mankind from times immemorial. I remember our lessons of History in school which glorified our kings and made special mention of those like Emperor Ashoka who planted trees along the road to ensure protection from the heat and fruits for the needy.
I discovered the importance and relevance of this act of tree planting once again yesterday while supporting my son to memorise the poem, "The Heart of the Tree" by the US poet- Henry Cuyler Bunner.
Written almost 100 years ago, the poem appeared so relevant even today as it spells out all our present day concerns and also beautifully explains the usefulness of planting a tree.
A person planting a tree is glorified by the poet saying that the one who plants a tree helps life on earth.
The opening lines set the tone by asking ,
“What does he plant who plants a tree?” The poet replies to his own query stating that by planting a tree, the man plants a friend of the sun and sky. He goes further and brings out the feeling of patriotism by comparing the leafy branches of the tree to a flag and the stem to the beautiful shaft (pole) on which the flag stands tall.
The trees become home to sweet singing birds and their melody while their presence helps in maintaining the eco-system.
He emphasises that the work of planting a tree is heavenly and glorious.
In this era of global warming it is important we plants trees as they provide us with cool shade and help in bringing rain.
Also the years may pass by silently but the tree will continue to remain through its seeds and keep producing new trees.
Trees can transform barren and plain lands into something green and beautiful. So the poet describes the trees as ‘the glory of the plain’. He also believes in the power of a single tree transforming into a forest . So by planting a tree now, the man plants a heritage of the forest.
We need to preserve the greenery on this earth for the future generations so that they would be delighted seeing so much vegetation and reap its benefits.
By planting a tree the man also shows his love and loyalty for this earth , his sense of civic duty and his blessings.
Directly or indirectly, he contributes to the growth of the nation which is what strikes us in the last line as it talks about the man’s heart, his feelings, dreams and wishes behind planting the tree.
For the poet planting of a tree is highest form of patriotism since planting a single tree also contributes to the growth of the nation.
Only a month has passed since the tree plantation drive begun by the state. If each one of us resolves to plant and nurture a tree the ambitious target of planting 33 crores can easily be achieved.
The lines of this poem can surely be our  source of inspiration.

"The Heart of a tree"
- Henry Bunner

What does he plant who plants a tree?
   He plants a friend of sun and sky;
He plants the flag of breezes free;
   The shaft of beauty, towering high;
   He plants a home to heaven anigh;
      For song and mother-croon of bird
      In hushed and happy twilight heard—
The treble of heaven's harmony—
These things he plants who plants a tree.

What does he plant who plants a tree?
   He plants cool shade and tender rain,
And seed and bud of days to be,
   And years that fade and flush again;
      He plants the glory of the plain;
      He plants the forest's heritage;
      The harvest of a coming age;
The joy that unborn eyes shall see—
These things he plants who plants a tree.

What does he plant who plants a tree?
   He plants, in sap and leaf and wood,
In love of home and loyalty
   And far-cast thought of civic good—
   His blessings on the neighborhood,
      Who in the hollow of His hand
      Holds all the growth of all our land—
A nation's growth from sea to sea
Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.