Hindalco boost to Sambalpur SHG women

Not long ago, Basanti Maharana from the Hirakud village of Sambalpur district was struggling to meet daily needs like two square meals and a roof above her head for her two kids and her husband.

Like all mothers, Basanti too nurtured aspirations – sending both her children to a good school and giving them a quality education. But her family’s condition, as well as her husband’s meagre income as a daily wager, could get her nowhere.

But one day, life changed for Basanti and her husband, and families like theirs. Hindalco, Hirakud, a unit of Aditya Birla Group, started promoting “Sanskar”, a Self Help Group (SHG).

Rajesh Gupta, Head of Hindalco’s Hirakud Cluster, says, “We are concerned about the welfare of women from this region, and by promoting SHGs, we want to instil among them a sense of entrepreneurship and independence so they can live with dignity and self-esteem.”

“We have seen visible progress taking place in Hirakud. Our engagement not only promotes SHGs but also empowers women to become entrepreneurs by helping them start an independent business such as tailoring, phenyl production, etc.” Gupta added.

Founded with only 13 members in December 2008, Sanskar has come a long way. Initially, Basanti and many other women from the village were motivated to deposit Rs100 each to the group’s common fund. With the accumulated fund, they were lending small sums amongst themselves, to those in need of funds, either to do some business or to meet family urgencies.

Hindalco helped the group open an account with the local UCO Bank.

They were sanctioned loans to start their small business of manufacturing papad and badi– both food items. Hindalco facilitated their training for maintenance of the books of accounts. The group began their business with a working capital of Rs 2,600. Today, this SHG has been assigned by the Government to supply 180 quintals of Chatua per month to 105 anganwadis and the average revenue generated is Rs.49.68 lakh per year.

The per capita income of each member after meeting all expenses, on an average, is Rs 7,500-Rs 8,000 per month. This has made a substantial difference to their income and led to a qualitative change in their lives. They have now become social change agents in their area.

So far, Hindalco has promoted 50 SHGs, with a total deposit of about Rs 55.43 lakh and Rs 72.70 lakh as loan from the bank for their enterprises.