FAIR PROGRESS
Women prove to be better managers
Malvika Bhatnagar

Women have emerged as the better managers not only in the corporate world but also in the remote villages of the country where the fairer sex has managed to successfully provide micro finance to alleviate poverty.

'Nalajhiri', a remotely situated village in Madhya Pradesh boasts of such women who have emerged leaders in a drive against poverty. About 77 women from the village have set an example and inspiration to all by successfully revolving the available fund of Rs 80,000 up to twice of its value.

The women members of a common interest group scheme availed of loans from the village fund 'Apnakosh' and have been prompt in repaying the amount, marking a recovery rate of 100 per cent in micro-finance. The micro financing unit in the Nalajhiri village of district Rajgarh is a part of the Madhya Pradesh District Poverty Initiatives Project (MPDPIP) funded by the World Bank which is being implemented in 14 districts of the state.

"The Village Development Committee (VDC) has given loans for Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 to persons who needed to get a tube-well dug, for buying equipments for farmings, seeds and fertilisers etc," Manju Bhargava, the VDC secretary and a resident of Nalajhiri says.

The project became effective from March 2001 and the total outlay for the project is Rs 521.55 crore out of which Rs 59.92 crore would come from the contribution of community and share of the state government. — PTI

Tribal girls turn airhostesses
Ajitha Karthikeyan

Until an year ago, Shanmugapriya, a tribal girl from a village near Madurai in south Tamil Nadu had seen planes only in films. Today, she is busy preparing for an interview for an air hostess' job in an international airline, thanks to an initiative by the state Government.

As many as 100 tribal girls, hailing from remote areas across the state, are undergoing one-year air hostess training programme at a private academy here under a sponsorship scheme launched by the State Adi Dravidar Welfare Department.

"I've always been awe-struck by the sight of huge aircraft in the air. I never dreamt that one day I'll be flying in them," Shanmugapriya says, sitting in an upright posture in her classroom.

Impeccably dressed in a suit and wearing a perfect make-up, the daughter of a mill operator, who hardly earns Rs 1,000 a month, has come a long way from being a shy village girl who scurries for cover at the sight of strangers.

Praveena, daughter of a farmer at a village near Nagapattinam, says the programme has made a world of difference to them. — PTI