PV Krishna Rao in Indian Express: Atreyapuram- famous for `Putarekulu (paper sweet) and mango jelly is an example for development and women empowerment. But the DWCRA groups engaged in the preparation of Putarekulu and mango jelly lack sufficient support from the government, despite the latter boasting of extending loans to these groups at 25 paise interest.
Majority of landless poor, including DWCRA groups in the village are busy in preparing Putarekulu, mango jelly and pickles. They prepare and market their product without depending on either the government or middlemen.
Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu visited the village and praised the role of women self-help groups in achieving economic upliftment through these cottage industries.
But there is no organised marketing for the products, though they supply Putarekulu - to people of far off regions, including United States and Kuwait. A self-help group member S Satyavani of Jeevan Jyothi said that more than 150 self-help groups were working in the village and she had bagged a memento for best mango jelly at the Mango Show organised at Public Gardens in Hyderabad recently. She said that though the officials were claiming of distributing loans at 25 paise interest in reality it was working up to 50 paise. She urged the Government to extend more loans for DWCRA groups and provide better marketing facilities.
Danturi Chittibabu, who is into mango jelly preparation since his childhood, said that they prepare mango jelly and market the product on their own. He said that he was marketing his product in both the Godavari districts and some times he received orders from Chennai, Mumbai and Gujarat. While over 600 families eke out their livelihood by preparing Putarekulu, hundred families are engaged in preparation of mango jelly. Some women self-help groups were engaged in preparation and marketing of pickles. An old woman, Mantena Pallamma, said that she prepares 250 Putarekulu every day adding that she was paying Rs 250 every month for the Rs Rs 5,000 loan she has borrowed. Another villager M Suryanarayana Raju, who prepares mango jelly along with his family members said that as the banks provided him only Rs 25,000 loan at Rs 1 interest, he was forced to borrow Rs 70,000 from money lenders to set up the mango jelly unit.
He said that the banks should sanction required loans for the DWCRA groups. He is confident of clearing his loans when the mango season comes to an end. District Rural Development Agency officials said that the self-help groups should pay an interest of Rs 1 initially after six months prompt payment the excess payment would be reimbursed and 25 paise interest would be collected.
Majority of landless poor, including DWCRA groups in the village are busy in preparing Putarekulu, mango jelly and pickles. They prepare and market their product without depending on either the government or middlemen.
Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu visited the village and praised the role of women self-help groups in achieving economic upliftment through these cottage industries.
But there is no organised marketing for the products, though they supply Putarekulu - to people of far off regions, including United States and Kuwait. A self-help group member S Satyavani of Jeevan Jyothi said that more than 150 self-help groups were working in the village and she had bagged a memento for best mango jelly at the Mango Show organised at Public Gardens in Hyderabad recently. She said that though the officials were claiming of distributing loans at 25 paise interest in reality it was working up to 50 paise. She urged the Government to extend more loans for DWCRA groups and provide better marketing facilities.
Danturi Chittibabu, who is into mango jelly preparation since his childhood, said that they prepare mango jelly and market the product on their own. He said that he was marketing his product in both the Godavari districts and some times he received orders from Chennai, Mumbai and Gujarat. While over 600 families eke out their livelihood by preparing Putarekulu, hundred families are engaged in preparation of mango jelly. Some women self-help groups were engaged in preparation and marketing of pickles. An old woman, Mantena Pallamma, said that she prepares 250 Putarekulu every day adding that she was paying Rs 250 every month for the Rs Rs 5,000 loan she has borrowed. Another villager M Suryanarayana Raju, who prepares mango jelly along with his family members said that as the banks provided him only Rs 25,000 loan at Rs 1 interest, he was forced to borrow Rs 70,000 from money lenders to set up the mango jelly unit.
He said that the banks should sanction required loans for the DWCRA groups. He is confident of clearing his loans when the mango season comes to an end. District Rural Development Agency officials said that the self-help groups should pay an interest of Rs 1 initially after six months prompt payment the excess payment would be reimbursed and 25 paise interest would be collected.
First Published : 05 Jun 2009.
