Andhra Pradesh

World Bank team impressed with government assistance

KADAPA: A World Bank team led by Paramesh Shah expressed satisfaction at the government assistance to village organisations, self-help groups, food security scheme and Pala Mitra group members through Indira Kranthi Patham during their tour of Railway Kodur, Pulampet and Vontimitta mandals on Saturday.

Mr. Shah and team members Wahida Haq and Indira Kranthi Patham officials Nagi Reddy and Jamuna interacted with Pala Mitra group members and self-help groups at the bulk milk chilling unit at Kodur.

Women imbued the saving habit and getting back their encroached lands and earning reasonable income by raising milch cattle and procuring milk with government assistance, Mr. Paramesh Shah said.

Similarly those selling forest produce and labourers under A.P. Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme were saving at least Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000, which was a welcome feature, he remarked.

SHG members told the team that were procuring 2,000 litres of milk at Rs. 13 a litre, as against the BMCU capacity of 3,000 litres.

They enquired about the progress of SHG women in Lakshmipuram ST Colony in Kodur mandal.

The SHG members said the village has eight groups and three of them were extended financial assistance of Rs. 40,000 each. Twenty acres of encroached lands were restored to them through para-legal volunteers, the women said. They said they sold authorised forest produce, educating their children and getting Bengal gram, oil and essential commodities at reasonable prices under food security scheme.

In an interaction with Yanadi Mandal Samakhya members in Railway Kodur, women said 1,593 Yanadi families in 43 villages formed 103 groups.

The government allotted 568 milch cattle to them and they were raising fodder in 155 acres of land, the women said. SHG women of Toorpupalle ST Colony also said they were earning a livelihood through milch cattle and raising required fodder.

The government allotted 40 acres of mango orchards to women and each member was earning an annual income of Rs. 12,000, women explained.

They sought assistance for raising ram lamb and wanted another borewell sunk in addition to two existing ones. DRDA project director K. Ashok Reddy, Rajampet RDO Venkataramana Reddy, district programme manager (dairy) Naraynaswamy Reddy, other officials and people participated.

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