JOIN USHer determination reaped benefits
The story of Padma Satish, a resident of Neralekere, Srirangapatna Taluk, Mandya District, is a perfect example of how perseverance pays rich dividends. Padma was one of the participants to receive a smart card and zero balance account offered by Canara Bank, here on Saturday.
Hailing from a rural background, Padma, who once used to tend to livestock and work in her four acre farm in order to make ends meet, now employs around 20 women in her village to prepare a wide range of homemade products.
Her array of products include snacks made out of ragi including biscuits, papads and pakoda. She is also responsible for manufacturing edibles such as jamun mix, puliyogare mix, badam malt and inedibles such as candles, soap oil, phenyl and a range of other products that has takers in the neigbhouring villages.
Recalling her growth through the last four years, Padma said earlier by cultivating only paddy and groundnuts, she used to earn only ` 25,000 per year. However, undergoing training at the Zilla Krishi Kendra changed her life, she added. She mentions that selling products made out of ragi itself fetches her anywhere between ` 40,000 and ` 45,000 per annum.
When she headed to take part in the training programmes, Padma recollects the opposition she had to face within the family. However, with a firm goal of succeeding, she started selling products in the village. Over a period of time, Padma’s products became widely popular in the neigbhouring villages too.
Having passed only in SSLC, Padma takes hour long class for B Sc students who visit Ragi Research Centre at VC farm, in Mandya.
Also understanding the importance of education, Padma mentioned that she had worked hard to ensure that her three children pursue their studies. She mentions with pride that her eldest daughter is studying engineering at GSSS Institute of Engineering and Technology for Women in Mysore.
Financial Inclusion
Canara Bank Circle Office, Mysore, had organised a programme on Financial Inclusion and loan linkage for Self Help Groups and other weaker sections of the society. Participants also zero balance accounts on the occasion.
Around 1,200 smart cards were distributed to SHG members of 22 villages under the Mysore Circle Office, under the programme. Executive Director Jagadish Pai inaugurated the programme. General Manager N Ramesh, Deputy General Manager Subramanya Iyer and others were present at the programme.