Khushi Eco Products Pvt Ltd

Sita Buldi, Nagpur, Maharashtra

Known as ‘Arogyalay Yojana’. NCT is promoting SHGs since 2001 for NABARD and DRDAs. The SHG movement started by NABARD has created a visible awareness with respect to health and sanitation in rural areas. Women SHG members are empowered by this movement. NCT has taken up sanitation and plantation of trees as main social activities through SHGs since 2003. NCT conducted a survey of its 8600 SHGs during 2007 and found that 87% of SHG members do not own a toilet and they are eager to build one, if the required money is made available. The reason for not owning a toilet was mainly that of lack of resources. Over 70% says that they could not construct toilet with the existing source of income or construction of toilet is not a priority with existing source of income. Almost every woman member of SHGs demanded ‘low cost, affordable loan’ for this specific purpose as, they are the worst effected by not having a toilet. It is also found that open defecation is very embarrassing to adolescent girls besides causing health hazards to one and all. NCT tried hard to convince the Bankers with whom the SHGs are linked to provide loans specifically for construction of toilets. NABARD’s specific circular dated 26th March 2008 was also used to convince them. However, even for the local banker, providing loan for sanitation was not a priority. Between 2006-2009 only 1386 SHG members of NCT promoted SHGs could construct toilets from routine bank loan. NCT approached NABARD and other lending institutions for low cost fund in the form of soft loan for on lending to SHGs. Again here also, except NABARD, other lending institutions were not understanding the entire issue and declined the request or such loaning do not exist in their loan portfolio and nobody from the senior management was ready to take a decision.