An awareness programme on “Joint Liability Group (JLG)” was jointly organised by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Nagaland Regional Office and National Rural Bank (NRB) in collaboration with Nagaland State Social Welfare Board (NSSWB) and State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) on May 12 at the village council hall, Chedema.
In the programme, Nagaland State Co-operative Bank, branch manager, Vizo Kere gave the introduction on JLG saying it was an effective credit product for small farmers, marginal farmers, tenant farmers, share croppers and oral lessees for which NABARD has launched the Scheme. NABARD assistant general manager Bendang Aier, highlighted the difference between Self Help Group (SHG) and JLG. He said that SHG, as the name suggests, works on the principle of self-help while JLGs objective was for income generating economic activities i.e. for farmers as well as small business. Speaking on the difficulties of availing loans from banks in Nagaland, he said NSSWB would act as an agent to monitor the activities of the target group and recommend JLGs to banks. Bendang Aier further emphasized on the importance of bank account for each individual and the social responsibility of all banks to aid in taking rural India forward. Rural Bank Kohima assistant manager, Lhuvileno Punyii, also informed that Rural Bank was working hand in hand with NABARD.
Speaking on ‘Nari Ki Chaupal’, SRCW assistant state coordinator, R. Juliana Medom encouraged the villagers to clear their doubts regarding JLGs and further mediated between the villagers and the banks present. SRCW women helpline team, Visekolie Khate, gave the introduction to Women Helpline-181, for which SRCW has been appointed as the nodal agency. Khate said the women helpline with toll free no:-181 has two priorities: it targets any women or girl facing violence within public or private spheres of life and seeking information about women related schemes or programmes, she informed.
The programme was chaired by SRCW women helpline team, Chothalii Phesao and vote of thanks was delivered by Chedema village council chairman, Sabeituo Mechiilho. It may be noted that the objective of the scheme was to augment the flow of credit to especially small farmers, serve as collateral substitute for loans, built mutual trust and confidence between Bank and target group. General features of JLGs is that of an informal group comprising of 4-10 members coming together for the purpose of availing loan as individual or through group mechanism against mutual guarantee. Members would offer a joint undertaking to the bank that enables them to avail loans.