8 stories of transformative contribution from Bhubaneshwar

Documented at Bhubaneswar on 30.01.2010

(CitizenSBI Blog thanks Shri B.K.Dash, IL-I, Bhubaneswar for sending us these wonderful stories.)

A small step taken by Sri Dutta 25 years back has become a giant leap. Till date the team 'Swarag Yatra' has cremated more than 30,000 dead bodies and provided medicines and food to innumerable patients in the hospital. This has become the preferred destination for helpless and poor people.
Shri Dullava Patel had to abandon his MBBS midway and join Bank. He later helped 3 students to complete MBBS who have in turn supported several others to become Doctors.
Just read on... 



The First Story
Milk Route
Source: Shri Subash Pradhan,Dy,Manager(Systems)

Background
• Name: Shri Subash Pradhan
• Designation at that time: Dy.Manager(DBD),Dungripalli Branch,Bolangir
• Designation now:Dy.Manager(Systems),LHO,Bhubaneswar
• Place: Kapasira Village in Bolangir District.

The Initial State
• Most of the people in the service area of the branch were engaged in cultivation of paddy as it was a source of their lively hood.
• The people of the area were little interested for allied activities like dairy poultry, piscicultur etc.
• As Manager (DBD) Shri Pradhan took interest in dairy as most of the people in the locality were not getting milk & sometimes it was selling at Rs.8.00 per litre.
• Shri Pradhan took the matter with local VAS and discussed about the suitability of the dairy farming where he found that small dairy units will be suitable for the area.
• Lastly the branch decided to finance small dairy units by forming an SHG in the village Kapasira .
• There was no milk route in the locality .The Dy.Manager(DBD) took the matter with OMFED authorities for the purpose. But they did not show any interest in stretching the milk route as the milk production was very less.
• But the OMFED authorities suggested that if the milk is brought to the milk route they will pay @ Rs.0.02 per KM per litre towards transportation expenses.
• The other problem encountered was lack of cooling plant in the locality which was causing damage of the milkdue to delay in transportation.

The Proposed Solution
• After forming the SHG ,the branch financed under SGSY and small dairy units were established.
• The branch along with govt. authorities surveyed other 12 villages and selected 10 farmers in each village.
• The branch could see more & more persons came forward for establishing dairy unit.
• In the process the branch financed 160 units of dairy unit amounting to Rs.0.80 crores.
• The branch also finances a mini truck to for transporting the milk.
• The milk production increased to 200 litres per day & subsequently increased to 1000 litres per day.
• Then Sri Pradhan helped in forming 4 co-op societies with the help of OMFED authorities.
• Then Sri Pradhan met the General Manager OMFED for establishment of a cooling plant for cooling of the milk.
• After lot of persuation the cooling plant was established in the village, Kapasira which solved the problem of damage of the milk. For this purpose the branch financed a housing loan to a person in whose house the cooling plant was established. The OMFED authorities paid a house rent of Rs.500/- per month for the house.
• The vehicle which was financed by the branch was utilized by the OMFED which was carrying the milk two times in a day to the centre.
• OMFED authorities paid & Rs.9/- per litre to the societies which were inturn deposited in the bank and installments were credited to the loan a/cs
• Branch along with Govt Authorities and OMFED gave suitable training to the borrowers.

Realized End State
Customer Wins
• In the process a large number of borrowers earn their lively hood from the dairy unit and became self sufficient.
• They formed societies and managed their own affairs themselves.
• The milk route was created and cooling plant was established which helped the milk from destruction.
• Increased the earning power & became economically sound .
• Did not depend on money lenders for their lively hood.

Bank Wins
• Branch’s advance portfolio increased.
• Recoveries were not a problem as money was being deposited regularly to the a/c by OMFED
• Assets were created .
• The NPA percentage of the branch was reduced.
• More loans were given for backward & forward lonkage.
• The Bank’s image in the locality enhanced.
• Verification of the assets became easy.

Sustainability Dynamic
• The branch faced a lot of problem initial for the purpose but took up the matter with concerned authorities and finally became successful in the activity. More & more people were involved in the process which created an awareness in the locality. People got more profit in dairy unit than the paddy. Subsequent branch authorities took interest in carrying forward the mission.


The Second Story
Transport In Remote Khajuripada
Source: I C Sahoo,Facilitator

Background
• Name: Shri I.C.Sahoo
• Designation at that time: Asst.Manager(Adv.) of Khajuripada Branch in Kondhamal District of Orissa from 1993 to 1996
• Designation now: Manager(Trg.),SBLC,Gopalpur-on-sea,Bhubaneswar Circle
• Place: Khajuripada,a block head quarter having predominantly SC & ST people.

The Initial State
• Khajuripada was remote area in Kondhamal district in orissa having almost more than 90 % population as SC &ST .
• There was no transportation facility in the area.People were depending on the pickup van for transportation .
• Only 1-2 pickup vans were plying once or twice in the locality as a result for any work if one wants to go to near by town, Phulbani ,he will have to wait for almost 5-6 hours.
• Some times people were traveling in the luggage carrier of trucks along with ships, goats and other materials.
• When Shri Sahoo,Asst.Manager(Adv.) joined the branch ,he also traveled in luggage carrier of a truck full of cement and became white coloured when he reached the branch.
• Branch manager was Shri P.C.Nayak,MM-II

The Proposed Solution
• In the first meeting of BLBC,Shri Sahoo, A.M.(Adv.) ,Khajuripada Branch suggested for financing the IRDP borrowers in a group basis instead of individual basis and stressed on financing transport vehicle.
• Though it was initially opposed by block staff ,later on It was accepted in the minutes of the BLBC meeting .
• In first phase 6 groups of 10 borrowers each mostly SC & ST people were formed and they were financed @ Rs.2.50 lacs per group for trekkers and Mahindra jeep for carrying passengers.
• The person who was literate in the group was made the leader of the group and given the charge of collecting money from the passengers and depositing those into the a/c in bank.
• There was no SHG concept at that time ,so a little bit training on book keeping was given by Sri Sahoo in Dutimendi Panchayat Office to the borrowers

Realized End State
Customer Wins
• In the process a large number of borrowers earn their lively hood from the vehicles and became self sufficient.
• They took interest in day to day management of the vehicle and rotated the ticket collector periodically.
• Increased the earning power & became economically sound .
• Did not depend on money lenders for their lively hood.
• The transportation problem in the locality was solved to a large extent and the people need not have to wait to go to different places.
• Further groups were formed and a bus was also financed to one of the groups.
• The borrowers educated their children.

Bank Wins
• Loan amounts went up .
• Recoveries were not a problem as money was being deposited regularly to the a/c .
• Assets were created .
• The NPA percentage of the branch was reduced.
• Branch got first prize in the district for IRDP finance from DRDA.
• The Asst.Manager(Adv.) got appreciation from AGM(Region).
• The Bank’s image in the locality enhanced.
• Verification of the assets became easy.
• For the first time the branch was converted to a profit making branch.
• Inspection rating of the Branch also improved.
• Other Branches in the district followed the same

Sustainability Dynamic
• Recovery became easier for the branch which helped in reducing the NPA and for the first time the branch was converted from a loss making branch to profit making branch & other branches in the district followed the same path &there was a self sustaining dynamics in the process.


The Third Story
Extending A Milk Route

Background
Ø Name: Mr.Surendra Nath Jena
Ø Designation now: Chief Manager, ASpl.PBB Mangalabag, Cuttack.
Ø Designation then: Branch Manager, Kantagaon SAB. (Difficult Centre)
under Nowrangpur District,Orissa.
Ø Time: During the year 2001-02
Ø Place: Kantagaon, Dengpadar, Jhoriguma (Cluster Villages)

The initial State
Ø Previously rope making was a common activity under IRDP
Ø SHGs were formed nurtured and graded
Ø Capacity building through credit linkage, arranging meetings with the help of govt. departments viz.Block and DRDA.
Ø Group members were having cows of local variety(very low yielding ) and they had basic knowledge how to take care of the cows and calves.

The proposed Solution
Ø Extended Milk Route upto Patraput(nearby village)
Ø Milk Society formed
Ø Accompanied the members to purchase HYV cows from Tuni(AP) alongwith some govt. officials. So the members became more confident.
Ø Each members provided with 4 milch cows(in 2 phases @2 in each stage) in a cluster of 3 villages.
Ø 30 such members were financed.
Ø Milk were lifted from the doorsteps/ some times from Patraput nearby village.
Ø Since payments were coming through Dist. Verterinary Office who was monitoring the scheme, loan accounts were regular and also regular earning for the farmers/beneficiaries.
Ø Regular Health Check-up Camps for the cows which not only kept the health of the animals good but it was also very educative for the farmers.
Ø Improvement in income generation of the family.

Realized End State
Customer Wins
· Improvement in monthly income from Rs.1500/- to Rs.3500/- compared to the traditional roper making.
· Use of milk route by other farmers.
· Other farmers got encouraged.
· Created a milk movement in the area.
· Some beneficiaries started different milk products.

Bank Wins
· Boosted the image of the Branch in the locality.
· Loan accounts were standard.
· Played a leading role for improvement of economic condition of the rural poor.


The Fourth Story
Financing To Cultivate Vegetables

Background
• Name: Mr Jeetendra Jena
• Designation now: Branch Manager,Bhapur Bazar Branch,Berhampur,Orissa
• Designation then: Branch Manager,Charbahal,Kalahandi district,Orissa
• Time: 1993 to 1997
• Place: Charbahal,Kalahandi District,Orissa

The Initial State
• Dumal Singh was a poor landless labour having a wife and two children.
• He has no money to purchase cloth for his wife.
• All were living a life of almost starvation and in semi naked condition.

The Proposed Solution
• Financed a DIR loan of Rs.5000/- for a sweet stall.
• Followed by a IRDP loan for a dug well.
• Requested the district collector for allotting a small patch of land for cultivation to Sri Dumal Singh.
• Financed a pumpset for irrigation & cultivation of vegetables.

Realized End State
Customer Wins
• Sri Dumal Singh became a successful entrepreneur and cultivated different type of vegetables.
• Lived a lively hood. Sustained the family members.
• Educated the sons who later were inducted to Indian Army
• Now a man having social status and economically sound.
• Became an example for others in the locality.
• Others came forward and their life style changed

Bank Wins
• Bank increased its loan portfolio to Sri Dumal Singh.All the loans sanctioned & disbursed were well repaid.
• Many people came forward by following the foot steps of Shri Dhumal.
• The banks name & fame increased and the BM got appreciation from seniors & district administration.
• The customer still remembers the Branch Manager after almost 17 years.


The Fifth Story
An Old Age Home Is Established
Source: CITIZEN FACILITATION, BERHAMPUR

Background
• Name: Shri Balaram Panigrahy
• Designation at that time: Sr.Asst, Berhampur Branch
• Designation now: Sr.Asst. RASMECCC
• Place: Berhampur

The Initial State
• Old people being driven out from the family were forced to begging for sustenance of their lively hood.

The Proposed Solution
• Took initiative for solving these problems by establishing an old age home
• Took the support of friends and colleagues for making contribution for the sustenance of the old age home.
• Sending requests to the colleagues to contribute at least Rs.700/- per annum , which is equal to one day’s expenses.
• In the process 120 persons became member and contribute Rs.700/- per annum each.
• At present 17 inmates got shelter in the Old Age Home.

Realized End State
SELF WIN
• Self satisfaction
• Created a name for himself and scope for the society.
• Many persons came forward to support the programme.

OTHERS WIN
Ø 17 old age persons got shelter in the oldage home.
Ø They got some job for making a little bit of income.
Ø Did not become burden on their family and to the society.

Sustainability Dynamic
Sri Panigrahy is personally involved in the process and regularly visiting the old age home for supervising the day to day activity .

The Sixth Story
Sakha

Name: Miss Kabita Mohapatra
Designation: Assistant
Place: Cuttack

At first sight
Twenty years back, Miss Mohapatra was on her morning walk. She came across an old man lying helplessly on the bank of a canal. Like others, she also overlooked and went passed without giving any heed to the plight of the old man. Next day, she also came across the same sight and stopped there to identify the person and ascertain the reason for being left uncared for. On enquiry, she came to know that the old man was a helpless poor laborers without any one to look after him. The pitiable condition of the old man and helpless look moved her. She took the old man to the hospital by a cycle rickshaw and arranged for his treatment. She met entire expenditure of his treatment from her own pocket. She visited the hospital everyday after the office hour till the old man was discharged. Thereafter, she took him to a destitute home called ‘Vasundhara’ for rehabilitation. After few days, when she visited the destitute home, she found the old man taking his lunch happily. This gave her immense pleasure and a sense of fulfillment for serving others.

Transformative contribution
After this incident, Miss Mohapatra made it a point to help out the helpless destitutes. Since destitute home Vasundhara could not accommodate the increasing number of destitutes, she thought to set up another organization for the purpose. She joined with some like-minded persons and set up an organization named ‘SAKHA’ spending the entire cost out of own resources.

Sustainability Dynamic
This noble mission caught the attention of local prominent persons from different walks of life. Now the organization has become a ray of hope for the helpless destitute by providing food, shelter and clothing. At present, contribution from others has started flowing in to take care of the financial needs.


The Seventh Story
Swarg Yatra

Name: Sri S.K.Dutta
Designation: Assistant Manager
Branch: Cuttack City, Bhubaneswar Circle
Background:Friend at crematorium

Sri S.K.Dutta is born and brought up at Cuttack. From his college days, he was in the habit of visiting the hospitals to help the poor patients. He used to provide food and medicines to the patients. Again, he was also taking keen interest in carrying the dead bodies fro the hospital to the crematorium.

Transformative contribution
Strong commitment of Sri Dutta for this philanthropic activity impressed some of his college mates to join him. A team named ‘Swargayatra’ was formed under the leadership of Sri Dutta. Other team members also took the responsibilities to make the efforts of reaching more and more people day by day.

Sustainability of contribution
Small step taken by Sri Dutta 25 years back has become a giant leap. Till date the team has cremated more than 30,000 dead bodies and provided medicines and food to innumerable patients in the hospital. This has become the preferred destination for helpless and poor people.


The Eighth Story
Helping Others Become What I Unfortunately Could Not...
Source: CITIZEN FACILITATION, BHAWANIPATNA

Background
• Name: Shri Dullava Patel
• Designation at that time: Asst.( Cash & Accounts)
• Designation now: Dy. Manager, Bhawanipatna Branch
• Place: Bhawanipatna

The Initial State
• Joined in MBBS course in 1976 and could not study because of financial crises and left for joining in the Postal Department as a clerk on the basis of High School Mark.
• Joined State Bank of India, as a clerical staff in 1982.
• Searched for poor MBBS students who are unable to undergo the course due to financial crisis.

The Proposed Solution
• Provided financial help of Rs.300/- per month to a poor medical student through out the study.
• Also supported two other students for 72 months to undertake the MBBS course.
• The students after becoming Doctors also supported to other similar poor students to undertake their studies.

Realized End State
SELF WIN
• Self satisfaction
• Self is suffering from cancer now but getting all the support from the persons whom he helped , now they are doctors.

Others Win
• Created an image in the society
• The Doctors are affectionate and serving the society with a human concern.
Sustainability Dynamic
Sri Patel is carrying the good work of supporting the needy students of MBBS who are in turn carrying the mission forward.