Kohima, July 13 (MExN): A one-day awareness programme on Joint Liability Group (JLG) was held at Jotsoma Village on July 5, organized by National Rural Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in collaboration with Nagaland State Social Welfare Board (NSSWB) SCA of State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW).
The programme was chaired by Asalie Alex Kruse, Project Manager of NMDFC. He delivered the keynote address and gave a precise overview of the programme to participants.
Bendang Aier, AGM, NABARD introduced the Joint Liability Group (JLG), which is a concept under NABARD to provide an effective credit product for small farmers, marginal farmers, tenant farmers, share cropper and oral lessees. He gave a briefing about the features and the necessary requirements to form such a group and to avail loans from the bank subsequently. Bendang encouraged the JLG members to save regularly and reminded the participants that the quantum of loan to be given to the groups would be related to the credit needs of the enterprise. He also spoke on the various operational models of JLGs and gave a clear distinction between Self Help Groups (SHGs) and JLGs.
S.K Chetri, Manager, UCO Bank, Kohima spoke on the importance of having a bank account and the various benefits linked with it. He encouraged the participants to be ‘good customers’ by ensuring timely payment of loans and also be mindful of the practical difficulties faced by the banks in reaching the rural areas. Chetri said the villagers could reap the maximum benefit from banks through timely repayment of smaller loans to avail much larger loans by gaining the ‘good faith’ of the institutions.
Seikhao Sitlhou, Manager of Lead Bank, assured the participants to help in its capacity as the leader of consortium of banks in the area to ensure that the loan process to the JLGs is successful. The role of Lead Bank is to oversee the arrangement of loan syndication and coordinate the efforts of all banks in the area for credit expansion to sectors which are important to the economy.
Resource person from North East Development Agency (NEIDA), Tiarenba also shared some insight from their expertise in their field. Through direct field engagement, NEIDA works towards improving the quality of households through improved agriculture and horticulture practices and dissemination of knowledge on various issues. He particularly emphasized on improvised piggery practices as it is widely practised in the village so as to reap the maximum benefits from the livestock while maintaining the highest standards of hygiene.
An interactive session followed, where the participants cleared their doubts on the various processes and paperwork involved in opening bank accounts and forming Joint Liability Groups. The programme was brought to a close by Vikhotsolie Khate, NSSWB, who made the concluding remarks and the vote of thanks.
