The DEAL Foundation offers training to promote self-reliance among women with disabilities, providing various development opportunities. It established a self-help society for women, including those with physical challenges, offering training in areas like saffron cultivation, candle making, paper bag production, and dairy farming. In addition, the foundation facilitated bank loans to support their financial independence. As a result, many women with disabilities across each taluk have achieved self-reliance and recognition in their communities.
This Mahila Self-Help Society demonstrates that women can achieve anything when given opportunities and direction. A Mahila Self-Help Society has been established by the Livelihood Officer in every taluk, although there have been delays in employment opportunities. The Sivaganga Self-Help Society in Bellatti village, Shirahatti taluk, is one such organization making a difference.
Speaking about this association, Rekha Maddi, a Livelihood Officer representing the DEAL Foundation in Shirahatti taluk, created a self-help group for women and individuals with physical challenges, providing them with employment opportunities. Inspired by this, other women decided to form their own self-help society. During a visit to the MBK office, Rekha connected with the women there, discussed the idea with them, and helped them prepare to establish a women’s self-help society.
They went on to form a self-help society with ten women, naming it the ‘Shivaganga Self-Help Society’ and opened an account at KVG Bank. Each member now saves one hundred rupees every month. Rekha later provided them with training in bookkeeping and leadership skills to strengthen the association.
Six months after forming the association, all its members discussed obtaining a bank loan with Rekha. Together, they prepared the necessary documents. Rekha then applied for the loan on behalf of the group, but the bank informed them that they needed to wait until the association had been active for one year before a loan could be granted. The members requested Rekha’s assistance in securing the loan as soon as possible.
Later, Rekha informed the MBK office about the association and requested a loan for its members. The officers approved the request and asked for all the members’ documents. Rekha submitted the required documents, and the association was granted a loan of ₹75,000. With this loan, Kavitha Gangi, a member of the association, took ₹50,000 to open a grocery store, which she successfully set up on a larger scale in Bellatti village to support her family. Similarly, Jayashree Ganagi took a loan of ₹25,000, purchased a tailoring machine, and began a tailoring business, improving her financial situation with family support. After a year, the remaining members applied again for a bank loan to start their own ventures, aiming to improve their financial stability and livelihoods.
All the members of the association shared their appreciation for the support provided by the DEAL Foundation. After marriage, many women feel confined to their homes but also wish to work and achieve financial independence; the members of our association are no different. With the help of Rekha from the DEAL Foundation, we were recognized, organized into a self-help society, and received valuable training. Rekha informed us about various resources and facilities available to us, which has helped us save and prepare for any future challenges. Even small amounts of money are being collected through the association’s savings program, and DEAL Foundation has also guided us in obtaining bank loans to pursue work we are passionate about. Often, women are undervalued, so we ask for continued support from DEAL Foundation to help us grow. On behalf of all the members, we extend our heartfelt thanks to DEAL Foundation and Rekha for their invaluable support.
Here’s a refined version of your text:
“The DEAL Foundation is working with women in every taluk, aiming to improve the economic lives of women with disabilities and to ensure they gain recognition within society. The foundation hopes to expand its efforts to support all individuals with disabilities and women, not only at the taluk level but also at the district level.
If you have any questions regarding this blog or need assistance, please contact us at Info@deal-foundation.com. For more information about our work, visit www.deal-foundation.com.
Thank you!”