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The Story of Chandralatha |
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Sri Nishshankamallapura is a village where people live on hard labour with little hope for the future. B.M.Chandilatha is a widow with a disabled child. She led a hard life and fed her disabled child with her earnings from hard work in a stone quarry. It was very difficult for her to get medicine for her child as prescribed by the doctors. She was so depressed that she even considered suicide.
Luckily, she joined a small group in her village and became a member of Nisshankamallapura People's Company. The People's Company conducted training on production of brooms and Chandralatha too participated in this programme with a new hope. She then joined the project started by Sri Nisshankamallapura People's Company to produce brooms and actively worked there with interest and hope. Gradually she began to earn a substantial income sufficient for her living. She decided to get the membership of the Village Savings and Credit Organization and thereafter got used to the habit of saving. Later on, the Company identified a good demand and local market for the brooms and the members decided to start their own businesses to produce brooms and earn money on their own. Now Chandralatha had a different problem. She did not have enough money to buy raw materials. But at this moment the small group members lent their hand to her and stood guarantee for a loan of five thousand rupees (Rs. 5000) from the Savings and Credit Organization. Her neighbour, Aberathna came forward voluntarily to sell her brooms in the market. She did not forget to pay a sum for Aberathna for his help. Later on she received loans, Rs 10000 at first, and then Rs. 15000 from the Savings and Credit Organization. Now, she plans to obtain an even bigger loan from a commercial bank and expand her broom production business. Chandralatha's story is just one example of the success, hope and the new life the project has offered its participants. |
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