supports many self-help groups serving a diverse group of agriculture related activities. As the area is rich in paddy, banana, and livestock the Bank supports majority women run groups achieve economic and social empowerment through the SHG model. There are 90 LFGs including Akshyasrees and Kudumbasrees who are working together under the guidelines of the bank. Bank provides loans for Kudumbasree for various agricultural activities such as cultivation of paddy, Banana, Tapioca, Vegetables etc. Bank has organised training programs and meetings for farmers by experts from IFFCO, FACT, Other Agricultural Institutions.
Kudumbasree
was conceived as a joint programme of the Government of Kerala and Nabard implemented through Community Development Societies (CDSs) of Poor Women, serving as the community wing of Local Governments. The Kudumbasree Mission is popularly called Ayalkootams which is the Malayalam term for neighborhood meetings or assemblies. Kudumbashree is formally registered as the “State Poverty Eradication Mission” (SPEM), a society registered under the Travancore Kochi Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act 1955.
It has a governing body chaired by the State Minister of LSG. There is a state mission with a field officer in each district. This official structure supports and facilitates the activities of the community network across the state. Kudumbashree differs from conventional programmes in that it perceives poverty not just as the deprivation of money, but also as the deprivation of basic rights. The poor need to find a collective voice to help claim these rights.
Akshayasree Mutually Aided Sustainable Development Mission
Akshayasree Mutually Aided Sustainable Development Mission is an NGO established by Sahakar Bharati- Kerala, for the promotion of Self Help Groups and for the social, economic and educational upliftment of the Society, Promotion of education, literature, science and fine arts and to facilitate and support every person liberate themselves from insecurity and exploitation and lead a happy and dignified life
and to enable them to use their capabilities in realising their life goals and for the advancement of objects of general public utility. The main object of the Akshayasree Mission is to promote Self Help Groups and form associations or Federations for them. Akshayasree Mission is a three tier institutional framework comprising Self Help Groups at the Primary level, Regional / District Federations and state level Apex Federation (Mission).
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF VSCB
Each Primary Agricultural Credit Co-Operative Society was designed to be a village level credit society into which the farmers brought in share capital, deposits and provided loans to each other. The neighborhood Groups meet weekly at the house of a member on a rotating basis. The members of the group elect a five member volunteer committee(President, secretary, community health volunteer, Income generation volunteer and infrastructure volunteer) for administrative purposes. The mission conceives women empowerment and community development for poverty eradication. Thus the membership of the Missions community network is limited to women. During the initial phase, the membership consisted of women from below-poverty–line households but currently all adult women are eligible for membership to the Neighbourhood Groups –the basic units of Kudumbasree’s community network. Veliyathunad Service Co-Operative Bank has always been in the forefront of committed activities aimed at betterment of the social scenario of the village communities.
PADDY
Paddy occupies the largest area among the annual crops. Under the high yielding variety programme, substantial increase in paddy production has been achieved, even though the percentage of area sown under paddy is decreasing year after year, due to conversion of paddy fields for other purposes. Our bank provides loans for 6 months without interest to paddy farmers and manure will be provided on subsidy basis.
BANANA (PLANTAIN)
Bank provides agricultural loans to banana farmers and gives a 3% subsidy for prompt payment. Besides loans manures are also supplied to them on subsidy basis.
TAPIOCA
Bank provides all necessary facilities to its farmer members for their agricultural activities. Various types of vegetables such as Cucumber, Palak, Tomato, Ladies finger, Pumpkin, Bitter gourd etc. Banks provided loans to these groups without interest. Veliyathunad service co- operative bank plays a vital role in the agricultural activities of its farmer members. Bank conducted various meetings for farmers and also gave guidance to them for the new activities related to this field.
