“I had heard that an ocean is made up of drops of water and now I see that women can generate incomes with money accumulated through petty savings,” said Shanti, who is secretary of Srijana Mothers´ Group.[break]
Like Shanti, many mothers in Bhadaure have now become rich putting their petty savings to good use. Laxmi and her friend Sangita Gurung also have 10 goats each and easily earn over Rs 20,000 per year from goats alone as a single billy goat fetches around Rs 10,000. “We are also earning money with vegetable cultivation,” Laxmi said.
There are nine mothers´ groups in Panchase and surrounding areas running with help from Machhapuchchhre Development Bank, and they have combined savings of Rs 2.1 million. The total savings of Srijana Mothers´ Group alone are around Rs 300,000, deposited with a local cooperative.
President of the group Durgi Maya Gurung said apart from helping women run income-generating activities the savings come in handy during times of domestic and social difficulties. “We have also been using the money for treatment of illnesses, apart from conducting skills trainings. We are likewise using the money to improve sanitation and roads and to initiate a Gurung museum,” Durgi Maya disclosed.
The group currently collects Rs 50 from each of 55 mothers in 53 households at Talibrang village of Panchase-2.
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