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A Case Study of THE ANDHRA PRADESH RURAL LIVELIHOODS PROJECT”
The women of Ravipadu made a name for themselves through their efficient village organisation.
95% of the women in Ravipadu Village of Cumbum Mandal in Prakasam district are illiterate. They worked in the fields along with their husbands, took care of their children at home and did household chores. There were twelve self-help groups in Ravipadu and only half of them functioned well.
The watershed programme changed the scenario. 33 groups were formed and these groups in turn constituted the village organisation to manage the watershed programme and livelihood activities. The poorest women among the self-help groups were identified and provided with loans for income generation activities such as:
• Photography studio 11
• Tailoring 6
• Saree trading 6
• Flour mill 2
• Small provisions shop 12
• Hair cutting saloon 1
• Grinder 2
In addition to the above, 21 women were given loans of Rs.12, 000 each (total outlay of Rs.2, 94, 000) under the productivity enhancement fund. Besides, 150 members were given loans
For goat or sheep rearing. Through the loans, the village organisation has ensured livelihood activities for almost all the families. So far 250 of the village organisation members have been
given loans. They all had to follow certain rules:
• If the repayment was not made on time the member would not get another loan.
• The capacity to repay was to be assessed for higher loan amounts.
• Two group members were to stand surety for a member seeking a loan.
As a result of the good regulation for granting loans, the village organisation’s livelihood corpus, including interest, increased to Rs. 28, 50, 000 in three years.
Loans for buying buffaloes were in demand. Before the watershed programme started there was one milk centre in the village with a collection of 300 litres per day. With a focus on milk production, there are now three milk centres with a milk collection of about 1,500 litres per day. The village organisation appointed a worker to take care of the milk collection.
The Ravipadu Village Organisation attended all the meetings of the Mandal Mutually Aided Co-operative Society (MACS). Those who witnessed the developmental activities undertaken by the village organisation were very appreciative, and it was identified as a good village organisation. The members built good relationships with officials of the government at village and Mandal level and successfully availed themselves of all possible facilities.
M V Guravamma of the Ravipadu Village Organisation was elected Vice President of the MACS. M V Guravamma showed courage in meeting the DRDA, DWMA Project Directors and the Collector. She put forward member’s requests and opinions before them without any hesitation. As appreciation for her work the MRO entrusted her with the responsibility of monitoring the Grihini Scheme. She was also given the responsibility of creating market linkages for products of the village organisation members and to oversee the old-age pension disbursal.
The Ravipadu Village Organisation has performed very well and put their village on the development track.
Ravipadu, Rural Livelihoods, Sustainable Living, Self Help Groups, SHGs, watershed programme, Mandal Mutually Aided Co-operative Society, MACS, DRDA, DWMA Projects, Grihini Scheme,
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