8.
SEWA BANK
8.1 INTRODUCTION
Shri Mahila SEWA Sahakari Bank Lt. which cane into being in the year 1974 and
was established at the initiative of 4000 self-employed
women – each of whom deposited Rupees ten as their share
in the new venture- is an offshoot of the SEWA movement,
and today, the very backbone of the parent organisation.
SEWA Bank is
a registered
cooperative bank. The Bank functions economically and independently
of SEWA. SEWA Bank has presently been able to lend 1/3 of
its capital to borrowers, while 2/3 of capital remains with
the Bank. The Bank operates with independent books of accounts
and decision-making structures headed by the Managing Director.
While
the objectives are manifold: from inculcating the habit
of saving to providing credit and promoting insurance benefits;
as also enabling members to get out of the clutches of unscrupulous
money lenders building their own assets and capital; equipping
them with technical and managerial capabilities; and more,
the motto has remained the same- to make the poor self-employed
women, economically strong, safe, sound and self-reliant.
Today, the SEWA Bank stands
out as the only bank of its kind in the country and is still
growing by attempting to reach out to the maximum number
of poor women engaged in the unorganised sector speaks of
the long journey ahead.
8.2 ACTIVITIES
DURING THE YEAR
·
Targets set for the coming years
- SEWA Bank will make increase in savings up to
16 crore.
- 75,000 more women will be joined.
- Working Capital 110 crore
will be issued.
- 20 crore worth loan
shall be provided.
- 12,000 women shall be given loan.
·
Account holder women were linked-up with the PDA technology.
·
Up scaling of operations was done by bringing together
women.
·
Loan procedure was simplified and loan appraisal procedure
was made further stringent.
·
Monitoring of NPA overdue was further made strict.
·
Provided more technical support in rural areas for
upgrading the Savings group from C grade to B grade and
B to A.
·
Loans were provided for releasing the lands along with
required monitoring and linkages
·
In affiliation with the SEWA Research conducted a study
on the land release loan and energy need assessment.
·
Technology developed by SEWA bank facilitated the women,
as medium of instruction was Gujarati.
·
Financial planning training was imparted to women and
their children, which helped them to plan their future from
their childhood.
·
Business counselling training was provided which facilitated
women to calculate profit-loss and imparted knowledge about
expansion of their trade and employment.
Banking
At SEWA BANK
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