Lend for water and sanitation: Lend for change....

Lend for water and sanitation: Lend for change....

Happiness has a new address says an advertisement for home loans by a renowned bank. Now drive home with happiness says another bank . Celebrate the festive season and shop till you drop says one more! All these slogans are used by banks to attract consumers for lending loans whether for housing, vehicles, various consumer goods. But how many of us have heard of loans for financing toilets, water and sanitation? Not even a few, in fact a lot of them would be surprised to know that banks could possibly lend for construction of toilets, sanitation and water.
However this is what Water.org, a renowned organisation working in over 13 countries of the world has been doing for over ten years. In fact the founders Gary White and Matt Daman even came forward with the innovative idea of water credit bringing in small, affordable loans and expert resources to make household water and sanitation solutions a reality.
This has also made it possible for them to reach over 16 million people throughout the world. In India they have been working since 2005, in 12 states. With support from the World Bank and other institutions they have reached over 8 million people, disbursed over 2 million loans amounting to almost $ 421million.
MSRLM works for the empowerment of women through community based organisations like the self help groups. It has more than 0.35 million self help groups and over 3.5 million households associated with it. The SHGs of MSRLM follow the Dasha Sutri, the ten cardinal principles of regular meetings, savings, internal lending, repayment of loans and writing books of accounts along with the social goals like emphasising on health, nutrtion and sanitation, education, taking part in Panchayat Raj Institutions, accessing government schemes and sustainable livelihoods. As a part of the Dasha Sutra, water and sanitation are an important aspect among the SHGs. The sixth goal under the SDGs talks about Clean Water and Sanitation.
Water org has been working with various institutions including Self-help groups. An MoU was therefore signed between the two to facilitate the propagation of clean water and sanitation through self groups of MSRLM. The emphasis is on advocacy for lending for a change, lending to facilitate water and sanitation and more specifically for toilets.
The India Water Credit Forum is a step towards that direction to enable collaboration between various stakeholders from the water, sanitation, public and private sectors. It would facilitate learnings about access to affordable financing for safe water and sanitation in India. It would also
explore the new innovations in WSS financing that will move India toward open defecation free sustainability.
Drinking water supply and sanitation in India continue to be inadequate, despite longstanding efforts by the government and communities at improving coverage. The level of investment in water and sanitation, may be low by international standards but has certainly increased in size during the 2000s. For example, in 1980 rural sanitation coverage was estimated at 1% and reached 65% in 2017. Also, access to improved sources of water by Indians has also increased from 72% in 1990 to 88% in 2008. However still many Indians live without adequate sanitation.
The governments efforts through programmes like the Total Sanitation Campaign did initiate a change. The Swaccha Bharat Abhiyaan brought about tremendous transformation with many cities and villages becoming ODF. The amount of Rs. 12,000/- given by the government to build toilets is often criticised and also discussed as a number crunching approach. The fact is that this amount is a grant to promote and encourage construction of the toilet. The individual may add on to the amount if they wish to make it better or include a bathroom. The amount given by the government is sufficient for construction of a basic toilet. Also the drive taken during this period enabled promotion of good hygiene and sanitation. The individual must also be responsive in making quality construction and using it thereafter. The government can only facilitate and motivate. It is the individual who has to take ut forward thereafter.
Looking at the efforts made by Water.org MSRLM entered into an Mou with them to propagate lending for change, lending for sanitation.
A beginning has been made by creating awareness among people for accessing loans to make toilets. Over 200 apllications have been received for loans for sanitation, 93 have been sanctioned and about 60 have been disbursed amounting to Rs. 16 lakhs. That itself is a good beginning.
It has unleashed the power of demand generation in creating awareness about credit financing for WASH.
The support provided by UNICEF, Water.org, the SHG Women and the Water Alliance for designing WASH Financial IEC, training the master trainers, and providing field support has been extremely encouraging.
Looking at the numbers of SHGs, women and families the scale and market potential for financing of toilets through the SHGs of MSRLM is phenomenal. Added to it is the
strong track record of timely repayment of loans by SHGs.
These aspects were highlighted to the practitioners and bankers at the Water Credit Forum held recently at Delhi.
The banks needed to recognise loans for sanitation as capital gains and change their outlook towards financing water and sanitation. Quality sanitation will lead to good health and in turn to better livelihoods and better profits which will ultimately reach the banks. They must therefore be more open to lend for sanitation and Water. They must visualise that construction of toilet is not a loan for consumption but for enhancement of life. Therefore it is as important as a loan for a house and certainly more important than loans for car, jewellery or other goods for consumption specially for rural households wanting to improve the quality of their lives.
The Reserve Bank of India has already widened the scope for loans to SHGs and has included financing products for toilets, bathrooms, drinking water pipeline, water filtration and water harvesting in it.
An idea which had been initiated ten years ago is now on the threshold to facilitate change through sanitation. Banks need to step up, understand the need for deepening financial linkages in sanitation. They must neither hesitate in designing new products for the same nor in marketing them wisely through advertising. Instead of lending for the routine homes, cars, business and markets, they must lend for sanitation. They must lend for change.

R.Vimala, IAS, CEO MSRLM

Of Children's Day.....oh to be a child....

Of Children's Day....Oh to be a child....

At the wrong side of fifty, with a fresh teenager for a son at home it's easy to drift into childhood.
Many times my son envies me and says I am lucky I don't have to study and once home I can just sleep, rest or do anything at home while he has to study. At times I try explaining to him that it is certainly not fun to be an adult with responsibilities and that these naps are the outcomes of burn outs due to work-home balance. At times, i even chide him saying, I have earned this by working hard and reaching a position and that the cat naps at home are few and far in between on occassional weekends.
To be honest for most urban people the week actually never ends. After a hectic 9 to 5 job with a great deal of travel, overtime at work, late nights or carrying work at home to "work from home" , to weekends which may be burnt out doing washing, cleaning and cooking at home or chilling outside , each week drifts into another.
This holds true for our children too. The hours at school are long, the activities after school an add-on and the different types of classes in the evening or the weekend so time consuming that the children are left with barely any time to experience true childhood, more so when children get hooked to games on mobiles, tablets and computers. Gone are the days when children would have time to be themselves, fly a kite, play hide and seek, catching cook and the like.
Firstly there is a dearth of open spaces in cities like Mumbai and other metros and secondly many children get hooked on to video games and televisions and become couch potatoes. Outings are also around malls and movie theatres.
As children, our evenings were full of friends playing boisterosly till our mothers warned us to come home for food. We would still linger a few more moments giggling and laughing till one more final warning. Walking, running, cycling were a part of our usual routine. We did have to challenge ourselves to a Marathon for that monotonous run. We could be running in ales and valleys, on roads and in gardens without fear and without branded wear.
Our child like innocence was limited to occassional sweets and limited outings in contrast with frequent pizzas, burgers and ice creams. We could pluck mangoes, berries and jaamuns from the trees and eat them without the fear of feeding ourselves on chemicals.
Yes, our childhood was different. We never questioned our parents, rarely argued with our teachers or sought endless explainations from them. Our friendships pure and simple and not laced with dates, boy friends and girl frineds right from primary school.
Honestly, do our children really experience any childhood? Our parents just let us be, do what we want. In contrast modern day parents have passed on their burden to perform on to their children so much so that they have almost become gizmos or artefacts churning out skills for the world to appreciate.
Gone are the long hours of sleep, the moments we just whiled away chatting, singing, doing nothing. Children are so hooked on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp that in their anxiety to post their status and latest updates they lose the simple and pure joys of life.
The mad rush for brands which has also been induced by parents and the desire to own them has made them oh so materialistic.
No doubts they are smarter know much more due to their exposure but aren't they losing out on the pure and simple joys of childhood.
Today is children's day, I wonder how many children expereienced unfettered freedom to just be , soak and enjoy in the fact of being a chiild.
When my child envies my lazing, is it because he too has become a cog in the wheel executing tasks in a routine.
As parents we need to introspect. Those of us who are in their forties fifties and sixties have seen phenomenal changes in technology from radio to television. From black and white television to colour TVs, from doordarshan and chaaya geet to hundreds of channels, from 2 or 3 sets of clothes on birthdays and festivals to cupboards overflowing with brands, from pagers, to mobiles, to email and inernet. From our regular baniyaas to malls and Amazon, Flipcart, Big basket and Myntra.
It's been a long jump , nevrtheless it is us who can ensure that the child like innocence we have experienced is sown and harvested into the lives of our children or else our generation would be guilty of depriving them of those joys.
As we celebrate children's day let us remember our childhood, become child like, experience those joys and make our children do so too. They too deserve all that innocence we pine for on this day. Let it not become an event management programme devoid of the true spirit and innocence of being a child. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all strive to make the spirit of Children's day prevail????

Saraswati Poojai.....

Saraswati Poojai.....

Vasant Panchami is normally known to be celebrated as Saraswati Pooja in most of the states in north India.
However in south India it is celebrated one day prior to Dasaharaa or Vijaya Dashami.
In fact in some parts of Maharashtra or Goa the celebrations start from Saptami or Ashtami days of Navaratri.
Saraswati Pooja has always been very special for me, more so because years ago I was born on that day. I was named as Vimala, as a tribute to her blessings. Maybe that is why I have been blessed with the desire to learn and to devote my whole life to gaining knowledge.
My mother a devote believer loved the song, " Annavaahan Devi Saraswati" and my father loves, the beautiful song " Vellai Tamarai poovil irrupaal" written by the revered and renowned poet Subramania Bharati.
No Navaratri would be complete without singing those songs and placing our books in front of Saraswati Devi seeking her blessings. We could not touch our books after that till the next day. This was one more reason why I loved this day all the more.
This year too, our day began with installing the photo and idols of Saraswati Devi and Lord Hayagreevan, the God of learning. Our books, laptops, Vishnu's cricket kit placed before them to seek their divine intervention to bless us knowledge and wisdom.
This is done in most of the homes in South India, where the pooja begins with placing a photo or idol of Saraswati Devi in their own homes along with their books and equipments. Children would be taking out books after worship on the next day, that is on Vijaya Dashami.
Vijaya Dashami is also known for Vidyarambham where children are formally introduced to the culture of learning music, dance, languages and other folk arts. Young ones who would be entering school are also made to write for the first time on rice.
Saraswati Pooja is therefore extremely special in south Indian homes. In fact till we grew up and went to study in University we only knew and performed Saraswati Pooja and never knew about Lakshmi Pooja.
Our son, Vishnu normally sings the shloka,
"Yaa Kundendu tushaara haaradhavalaa,
Yaa shubhravastraavritha, Yaa veenavara dandamanditakara, Yaa shwetha padmaasana, Yaa brahmaachyutha shankaraprabhritibhir Devaisadaa Vanditha, Saa Maam Paatu Saraswatee Bhagavatee Nihshesha jaadyaapahaa...."
As we bowed in reverence before Saraswati Devi and Lord Hayagreevan today we sought their blessings to bless us with the desire to learn, gain knowledge and use it for the welfare of our society.....
May the Goddess Saraswati protect us. May she remove our weariness, sluggishness and ignorance and spread the light of knowledge and wisdom in our lives.....

Mahalakshmi Saras....Umed Milap Conclave at Phoenix Market City, Dublin Square, Kurla West ...

Mahalakshmi Saras....Umed Milap Conclave at Phoenix Market City, Dublin Square, Kurla West ...

Mahalakshmi Sara's is an annual event of exhibition and sale of products made by women of self help groups of the MSRLM held every year in January at Mumbai. People wait for it eagerly for purchasing farm fresh grains, authentic spices, handmade products and handicrafts and also gorge on tasty rustic food. Lakhs of visitors thronging the exhibition reflect its uniqueness and popularity.
The exhibition presents the variety and flavours of the state. From hand pounded rice to aromatic ghee ( clarified butter), from medicinal haldi (turmeric) to hot tingling spices, from pulses and grains including tur dal, soya to raagi, from organic jaggery to tangy tamarind everything from the villages is available there. Among processed foods are various health products like raagi and soya biscuits, soya, Jowar, baajra chivda ( Namkeen) , khoya pedhaas, variety of chikkis and other mouth watering products.
Handicrafts apart from being handmade add value by being  environment friendly with jute and cotton bags, purses, exquisite gond and warli paintings, copper bottles, lamps, banjaraa finery, handmade godhadis. Handcrafted jewellery have their unique place too whether white or black metal, terracotta, silk threads.
Fabrics add their own colours with various weaves and shades from irkals to baatik. Among masalas are a variety including the tambdaa paandhraa rassaa, non-veg masalas, godaa masala, sambar masala, chilli powder, turmeric powder etc. And all this under one roof.
People have always demanded that the products be made available throughout the year. The government has therefore made this possible by creating the Mahalakshmi Saras Mart at Gram Vikas Bhavan Kharghar where all these products are available throughout the year.
To facilitate people's demand a new experiment of making the products available at R-City Mall Ghatkopar was possible thanks to the generosity and kind support of Ms.Sangeeta Lalwaani, FICCI Flo Pune, Bridgestone and the Runwal Group.
Looking at the response and demand ,a bigger exhibition of more products was therefore planned at Phoenix Market City Kurla West on 13th and 14th October. The support provided by FICCI, FICCI Flo Mumbai and Phoenix Market City made this too possible.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr.Aseem Gupta, Secretary, Department of Rural Development and is open till 10 p.m today.
With Dasheraa and Diwali fast approaching, Munbaiites have this fabulous opportunity to shop or place orders for festival gifting at the one and only Mahalakshmi Saras.
So do find time and visit Phoenix Market City today, you will not only be adding to your own smiles but also to the smiles of fiesty rural women from Self-help groups.

Navratri, Maa and blessings....

Navratri, Maa and blessings....

Today is the first day of Navaratri. It is also the first Navaratri without Amma. The installation or Golu, ghatastapanaa by Tamilians is done on Amavasya. So effectively our ghatastapanaa happened day before yesterday. I was in a hurry to leave to Delhi for a meeting and had no time to think or brood as I completed installation of the kalash and praying to God.
I felt the pinch of her absence yesterday as we installed the " Golu". My methodical husband and enthusiastic son were helping me to set the dolls of "Golu" and made things easy.
As Vishnu , called out to me, I remembered my mother, Amma.....
Amma loved festivities, festivals and people . She specially looked forward to Navaratri when many people would come home for the traditional "vettalai paaku" or "Haldi Kumkum". Singing devotional songs and eating yummy "sundal" ( bolied lentils or nuts seasoned in oil with mustard seeds) is an integral part of Navaratri. This was something she loved. It was but natural for me to remember her and miss her even as Appa said on the phone that this was the first Navaratri he too was away from Mumbai.
As I prepared prasadam in the morning , a sudden sense of loss overcame me. How could one reach out to someone is who is no more? The mind, the heart and the umbilical cord kept me connected with her even though physically she was no more. I could almost feel that lump again in my throat when I brushed aside the gloom and started singing praises of Sriman Narayana.
There was a sudden transformation in my thoughts as I connected with the Lord. I was in unison with Him as I stirred the prasadam and sang praises of the Lord.
I had managed to channelise my thoughts positively and remember my mother fondly without despair. Of course the void created by her physical absence was there but mentally, I felt more composed and agile, more connected to her.
I could sense her smile, her appreciative nod and soundless claps as I sang, " Kurai Ondrum Illai" a very popular tamil song written by the Governor-General of India, C. Rajagopalachari. Sung by the revered M.S.Subalakshmi the song is unique as it expresses thankfulness to God.
It goes on to say that he had no complaints against the Lord as he knew that he was sustained by the Lord who was compassionate and bountiful to grant him everything without asking for it!
Much at peace with myself after chanting Govinda Govinda, I realised that ultimately it is the mind which makes us strong, it is the mind which enables us to reach out to our souls and it is the mind which makes us follow the correct path in life.
Navaratri which essentially emphasises on the victory of good over evil and the empowerment of our minds through shakti was an occasion to strengthen our minds through the blessings of Devi.
Amma as a mother was no less than that. My mind free from clutter I continued chanting Govinda Govinda as I stirred the prasadam seeking his blessings to receive as well spread the sweetness in everyone's life and to make each one's life truly blessed.

Haatkargha, Handwoven, Handmade with FICCI at Constitution Club....

Haatkargha, Handwoven, Handmade with FICCI at Constitution Club, Delhi....

"A thing of beauty is joy forever" and when that thing is handmade it brings greater joy. India has always been known as a country housing timeless art, tradition and culture. Handicrafts were an integral part of this legacy. They prospered under the royal patronage from immemorial times. However, the industrial revolution created a dent in that lineage. Within a capitalised economy assembly line clothing became a norm due to its easy availability and lower cost. Indigenous art and crafts dwindled till Mahatma Gandhi gave the call of Swadeshi. Khadi became a part of every home and created a revolution. Despite all the honour attached to it, Khadi or handwoven and hand spun was not considered trendy. It had also not changed with the times. As result it had to bear the brunt of low patronage.
Interest in Khadi was renewed when it was metamorphosed into trendy colours and softer weaves. Similarly handicrafts and handloom as a cult have been preserved by the policy makers and saviours of the cottage industry.
It is therefore encouraging that FICCI has organised the Haatkargha, a B2B conclave where artisans could display their art and also promote their business.
The event was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Minister for Textiles, Ms.Smriti Irani. In her address as the Chief Guest and also during her interaction with Facebook she emphasised on the need for upskiling artisans to keep pace with the times. Recognising an artisan was the first tribute to his art. When we buy a piece of art from him we literally buy from a piece of his legacy. We therefore needed to recognise the craft. Some weaves are languishing despite geographical importance. We needed to nurture and protect them by adding value and also by hand holding such arrists to upgrade their skills.
She emphasised on the need for better packaging, branding while stating that simple products in the international market made a mark due to appropriate presentation, packing and branding. We needed to learn to design, package and present. We also needed to diversify the product range.
Handloom was not necessarily expensive neither had it remained coarse. It had transformed over the years into beautiful colours, shades and weaves. Another advantage is that it also lasted long. Most of handicrafts had stories to tell of the people, the tribes, the villages and their culture. They spoke the local dialect. In fact the essence of a craft was in it's mothertongue. The artists should be free from our conformations. We had to conform to their way of life. It was therefore important for us to speak in the language of the artisans instead of them speaking in English because their art spoke their language. She also suggested propagating handicrafts by attaching it to tourism, homestays, local art and cuisines.
FICCI had to recognise the potential business in handloom and strive towards making it more succesful.
During the last four years the government had exported handicrafts over Rs.1,36,000 crores. Efforts were also being made to educate the weaving community through NIOS and IGNOU. Over 100 Community Service Centres, CSCs were working to make weavers IT enabled. The idea of Direct to weavers would also make the buyer as well as seller happy.
Handloom was all weather and lasted long. Youth should also be attracted to use handlooms by infusing digital design and marketing its uniqueness.
Handmade was therefore something made exclusively with love and care by the artist seller for the buyer.
And in reality, when we buy a hand made product, we are buying more than just an object, we are buying hundreds of hours of failure, experimentation done by the artist, we are buying days, months and weeks of frustration, moments of poor joy, we are not just buying anything, we are buying a piece of the artist's heart, a part of his soul , moments of someone's life, we are buying time for the artist to do something more passionate
It was therefore important to value craftsmanship instead of valuing ruthless efficiency. Mecahnisation has made our lives dreary but we are not machines. Art and crafts are not luxuries. As humans we need them as much as we need to pause and look at handiwork and to see their beauty amidst utility.
The Haatkargaha Exhibition at the Constitution Club in Delhi till tomorrow is one such opportunity. MSRLM Umed through its MILAP programme in collaboration with FICCI has sent 10 different artist.
Please do visit and take home with you a beautiful part of Maharashtra and India....

DDUGKY, Dhatri Foundation, Stars and Superstars....

DDUGKY, Dhatri Foundation, Stars and Superstars....

Soft spoken and gentle Ms.Hyma of the Dhatri Foundation, an award winning PIA under DDUGKY at MSRLM came to my office one afternoon and said that she wanted to organise an alumni meet for about 150 girls who had been trained at her DDUGKY centre in Nagpur and placed in Hyderabad. She wanted me to be there for the event to felicitate the girls. Hyma's undying spirit and passion is exemplary. She runs 'only girls' batches and not only mobilises them personally but also pays personal attention to them by calling them and visiting them in their establishments. I had always been curious to see how she managed to spin off this success and readily agreed.
The event was organised at Hotel Swagath Grand in Habsiguda at Hyderabad which incidentally employs 105 girls trained under DDUGKY at Dhatri Foundation in their various establishments.
As I entered the hall I saw over 100 girls smartly dressed, full of life and enthusiasm, chatting chirpily, savouring the moments of their success.
Yes, all these girls were from villages near Nagpur and Wardha, from poor families. They all came to know about DDUGKY in the mobilisation camps of Dhatri. All of them had to take a tough decision for staying away from home to get trained. And after training they had to take a tougher decision for moving to Hyderabad for work far away from their families, in a new place.
But the trade off was worth it , all of them were successful in their jobs, earning over seven thousand rupees.
Sanjana trained in hospitality and working in Swagat Presidency last 10 months feels at home in Hyderabad because her employers treat her like their daughter. She manages her own expenses from the tips she receives and sends her salary to her parents.
Sweety switched over to Airtel from Megas and earn over Rs. 14000.
Everyone was amused with SoorjKali working with Levi's Jean's. A girl who had health issues and was afraid as she had never stayed without her parents didnt hesitate to market Levi's Jean's to the gathering. She has a bank balance of Rs.80,000 and dreams of making her sister a graduate.
Pooja is a daredevil who literally ran away from home to do the course. She is from the first batch working at Metro Cash , earns over Rs 8700 salary. She has 2 of her friends working with her and feels elated at the confidence reposed in them as they handle cash worth Rs. 2 Crores at times. In fact she singularly handled cash of Rs.50 lakh once.
Namrata working in Naari Mann was so shy of her bad voice that she would avoid speaking but is full of confidence now as she expresses gratitude to her employer who encouraged her to speak and put life into her and her friend Priyanka who also rarely spoke. Today both of them could stand in front of this audience and both earn about Rs.8000 each and send almost Rs.6000 home.
Whether Aarti working in Dwarka Restaurant or Archana and Ujwala at PVR Cinemas, Priyanka at K.S.Bakers, Damini of Megas or Priya in DMart each shared a story of success.
Nilofer Sheikh's confession of getting freedom despite being a girl from the Muslim community and her plea to all from the community to give a fair opportunity to girls from their community wrenched each person's heart. She is proud to have gifted a mobile to her brother. Her parents had come all the way from Nagpur to share her joy.
Sooraj Kali's father, a farmer living a hand to mouth existence was grateful to DDUGKY for giving this opportunity to his daughter who now sends him money for managing their house. He sees a marked change in her attitude as she has got over her stage fright and has become very confident.
Among the employers, Ms. Nessie form Megas says she is really happy to get trained  and good quality staff who put in a lot of effort. She now does not have to struggle for manpower and contacts Dhatri whenever in need of good personnel.
Mr.Tyson of Asian cinemas has taken 7 girls and15 boys feels that DDUGKY is a great initiative.
Mr. Balram of the Swagat group has taken 105 students feels that the opportunity is unimaginable. He admires the attitude and dedication of the girls along with their interest to learn. Their transformation from
Nagpur to Hyderabad is remarkable.
Mr. Anwar of Dwarka felt that they are stars and Dhatri was the super star
Mr. Satya of K. S. Bakers pvt Ltd took cudgels against his organisation which had never employed girls for 19 years and convinced them to take 7 girls. He now has more than 40 girls.
One rarely comes across any project in which all stakeholders are happy. That's was the most amazing part of the evening.
It is significant to note that all these girls came from remote villages near Nagpur to Hyderabad. They had never left the safe haven of their homes. They neither knew the language nor the industry. None of them were accustomed to the hyderabadi food and did not like it. Yet each one had a desire to listen and learn. They had the capacity to assimilate and adapt. For them it was not just any job but an opportunity to realise their tremendous potential. Today their language has changed and they have become polished, suave and stylish with the right attitude.
Each student was full of praise and gratitude for Hyma, Prabhakar, Naveen, Pranjal and the Dhatri team. The passion and compassion of Hyma and the day to day management of the team, their continuous touch and interaction with all the girls placed in Hyderabad gave them the confidence of being in a protective family.
Dhatri, like the mother earth had laid the foundation for these budding flowers to blossom. Me and my team too had many reasons to smile.....