SBI recently extends auto loans to 11 women who were trained in driving by Rudcet
SBI Chief General Manager Hardyal Prasad interacts with the women auto drivers in Anantapur on Friday. (Photo: DC)
Anantapur: C. Naga Lakshmi, 39, is an example of a self-driven woman -- in more ways than one -- as she is an auto rickshaw driver who also owns her own vehicle, a first of sorts in the Rayalaseema region. The State Bank of India, Anantapur, recently extended auto loans to 11 women who were trained in driving by Rudcet, an agency that helps the rural unemployed acquire vocational skills. The autos were handed over to the overjoyed women at a function recently.
Nagalakshmi, whose husband is a labourer, and has her daughter in her Intermediate and son in Class IX, said that in spite of the training she had received in driving, she could not earn enough to meet her children's educational expenses nor buy her own auto rickshaw.
The 10 other women, who had also been similarly trained, said that they would now be able to carry out repairs and maintenance on the autos and clear their dues easily from the income generated. If the vehicles were not their own, they would have had to pay rent to the three-wheeler owners.
Ms Sk. Shashabi, 28, a mother of two, whose husband was a carpenter, recalled that her family income was earlier Rs 7,000 per month and she had found it difficult to make ends meet every month. But now she was confident of earning Rs 800 per day on an average. "I am very happy as I will be able to supplement my husband's income and our standard of living will improve," she said.
SBI Chief General Manager Hardyal Prasad, who gave away the autos to the women, said, "This is a unique and innovative idea, a pilot project for the empowerment of women. Such activities will benefit not only the families of women and service sector, but also power social change and the economy as Indian women are well known for their patience and skill in turning any activity into an economic activity." SBI Regional Manager for Anantapur M.V.R. Murali Krishna gave details about the scheme.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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