The Deal Foundation continues to set goals for the economic development and self-reliance of women and persons with disabilities. As the saying goes, if a Guru has a goal in front of them, anything can be achieved. The foundation’s initiatives include awareness training for persons with disabilities and women, community sensitization, baseline surveys, the establishment of initial self-employment centers, the creation of women’s self-help societies, bank and market linkages, the formation of farmer producer companies, and the establishment of cooperative societies at the taluk and district levels. In this way, Livelihood Officers are working in every taluk under the guidance of Gurus to support the development of persons with disabilities and women.
In the development of persons with disabilities and women, Livelihood Officers conducted a step-by-step survey to identify individuals with disabilities and informed them about the activities and training programs offered by the Deal Foundation. They then formed self-help groups for both persons with disabilities and women. Later, these groups received training and were engaged in various employment opportunities. As a result, women in every taluk have come to realize that they are just as capable as anyone else. Hombelaku Mahila Self-Help Society of Gadag Taluk is one such successful self-help group.
Speaking about this association, Veena Shakhnavar, a Livelihood Officer in Gadag Taluk, visited every village panchayat to survey persons with disabilities and met with local officials to provide information about the Deal Foundation. To support persons with disabilities and women in each village panchayat, she collaborated with the respective panchayats’ Village Rehabilitation Workers (VRWs). Through these efforts, she identified individuals with disabilities and women, encouraged their participation in self-help groups, and provided them with employment opportunities.
Similarly, Veena selected persons with disabilities and women from a specific area of Kotumachagi Gram Panchayat and brought them together to inform them about disability rights, the Deal Foundation, and government benefits available to them. She also provided detailed information to the women about the advantages of forming a self-help society.
Ten women who were interested in this initiative formed a self-help society and named it “Hombelaku Mahila Self-Help Society.” With Veena’s support, they opened an account at KVG Bank. All the members collectively decided to save ₹200 every month.
Later, Veena provided disability awareness training and bookkeeping training to the association in 2016. Similarly, Shivakumar Shirol, the Training Coordinator of the Deal Foundation, visited the association and provided information on financial leadership training and job training to its members. He also motivated them to engage in employment opportunities.
Inspired by this, all the members of the association decided to take steps toward improving their financial stability. Accordingly, they took loans from their savings and began engaging in various employment activities. Hanumavva took a loan of ₹10,000 and started a dairy farming business.
Thus, all the remaining members decided to apply for a bank loan. Veena submitted the loan application along with the enrollment details of all the members. The bank sanctioned a loan of ₹1,00,000 for the association.Among the members, Najma Vaddatty took a loan of ₹20,000 and is engaged in agriculture. Akkamma Mudhol took a loan of ₹30,000 and started dairy farming. In this way, the members of the association are actively working and repaying their loans without any arrears.
After receiving this loan, the remaining members also decided to apply for loans and engage in employment. As a result, every member of the self-help society is now involved in some form of work.
All the members who benefited from this initiative shared their thoughts about the Deal Foundation. They expressed that after marriage, women are often confined to their homes. However, if given an opportunity, they can achieve great things in life—they just need a chance. The Deal Foundation provided them with that opportunity. By forming the association, they not only gained employment but also became financially supportive of their families. On behalf of all the members, they expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Veena and the Deal Foundation for recognizing their potential, helping them establish the Self-Help Society, and providing them with various training programs. They also requested continued support and cooperation in the future.
In this way, the Deal Foundation has provided financial support to persons with disabilities and women, making them employable and recognized in society. Everyone is hopeful that the Deal Foundation will continue to grow and reach even greater heights.
If you have any specific questions regarding this blog or need assistance, please contact info@deal-foundation.com or visit www.deal-foundation.com to learn more about the work we do.
Thank you.