The financial drive consisted of two focus areas.
1. Meeting with the Village Panchayat:
We spoke with the Panchayat Secretary about the Government subsidies reaching the intended recipients and its mode. We were informed that nearly 90% of the residents had basic savings bank accounts, through which the central government benefits and subsidies were reaching the villagers, including the MGNREGA 100 days wages.
We had formulated a questionaire regarding basic banking services availed by the residents of Akalpoush. We decided to use it the data obtained while addressing an audience comprising of some business segments among the locals. The results of the survey can be found here>>>
We addressed two SHG groups regarding their business. We asked about issues they faced while availing loans. We also gave a short video presentation on "Chalo bhai, bank'e jai" by RPCD, Kolkata RO. Then we informed them about the Note Refund Rules and Security Features of Indian currency notes. We also gave an over all idea about some initiatives started by the government of India.
We were happy to answer their question regarding NBFCs, chit funds, scams, Business correspondents or Mitr and objective of maintaining a good credit history. Some villagers had questions regarding credit facilities for their SME businesses. A small snippet of the conversation is provided here>>>
2. At the local school, Shri Arabindo Ghosh Uchcha Vidyalaya, we were invited by the school Headmaster, Shri Amaraksya Mondal, to meet with the 600 students studying in the school. We organised a video presentation and an informal chat with school students of classes V to X. We also shared jigsaw puzzles for them to solve and get to know the Rupee notes of different denominations better while identifying security features, noting refund rules, and so on. We gave away some charts to the school, Panchayat building, and library as study resources for the future. We received a very enthusiastic response from the school especially.
At the library, we shared some comic books on financial literacy. The librarian, Shri Nrisingha Prasad Goswami, was happy to tell us about the history of Akalpoush and the many luminaries that the village had produced. He also informed us that the village had recently been equipped with solar lights by the roadside which illuminate long stretches of previously unlit roads. This was very welcome because with the recent increase in State buses the roads had become unsafe for pedestrians and people on bicycles.
The warmth of the people and the excitement our little tour had generated made us feel humble. We were contributing in meagre ways to the service of our organisation and our fellow citizens.