LAKSHMI

Getting tech savvy

The 46-year-old Lakshmi from Madhuramangalam village is semi-illiterate and married to a farmer. Her life would have continued the same way but she took two major decisions. First, she ensured that her son Bhaskar got a college degree. Second, she joined Hand in Hand’s Roja self-help group. Hand in Hand trains women like her in basic enterprise skills and makes them eligible for micro-loans. Lakshmi got an INR 20,000 loan and set up a Citizens’ Centre Enterprise at her village, which today earns her family INR 20,000 a month.

Lakshmi’s Citizens’ Centre Enterprise (CCE) is an exciting new venture for her family, till now involved in farming. The centre offers computer courses plus photocopying, printing, photography and binding.

When Lakshmi joined the self-help group, she was part of the general training that is offered to all the women. She also signed up for Hand in Hand’s 150-day Literacy Programme, which teaches the women basic literacy skills and helps them gain confidence to take up jobs and start small businesses.

Lakshmi was ambitious enough to join the basic e-literacy programme, which taught her the basics of computing. She knew this business could give her family a future, and applied for an INR 20,000 loan to set up a CCE. She then roped in her educated son to run the centre. The son was happy to join up because now he does not have to leave his parents alone in the village and look for a job in the city.

Business has been good, and it has been possible to invest the profits back into the centre. With 18 neighbouring villages using this CCE, it is very busy. Lakshmi says proudly, “About 150 customers come here every day.” She has even employed two men at INR 3,500 a month each to help. The family is happy that their fortunes have turned. Lakshmi’s farmer husband makes about INR 80,000 a year, and the additional income from the CCE is a real bonus.