By Mamata Ghosh
SIB’s schemes repaired the cruel COVID months of 38 women. On June 27, SIB partnered with an NGO, Safal, under United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to launch a workshop on marketing and financial linkages for 38 women micro-entrepreneurs in rural Devanahalli.
- SIB provided financial aid to five women to restart their businesses.
- Four silkworm-rearers got subsidies from the government’s sericulture department and four retailers were facilitated with Mudra loan documents to operate Xerox machines.
- The operations were speeded up due to SIB’s advice on using the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) through Google Pay, Bhim Pay, PayTm and Phone Pe apps.
In July, under NASI’s Asha project, three members agreed to become ‘guardian angels’ to three affected women who were scrutinised through their Aadhar, ration cards, bank details and photographs. Each woman was given a sum amount.
- One vegetable vendor revived her greens shop at a sheltered spot in Infantry Road and increased her earnings from Rs 12,000 to Rs 14,000.
- Another retailer bought a month’s stock and hopes to open a grocery shop.
- A washerwoman is running a poultry business that has helped her to educate three girls.
In March, when COVID spread out its tentacles, SIB reached out a hand to the rural, tribal women under the care of the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM). SIB donated towards their treatment. Founded by a group of medicos in Sarjapur, near Mysore, the SVYM has taken on the task of submitting a consolidated report on the donation and identification of every paise, how they helped to get people relief as well as work during harrowing times.