by samagra | Jun 1, 2018 | News / Updates
With an objective to train Social Family (SF) members on various aspect of financial governance, SAMAGRA organized two day Training of Trainers (ToT) on financial governance on Chaitra 5-7, 2074, Chaitra 14-17, 2074, Baisakh 20-22, 2075 at Lahan, Lamjung and Rautahat respectively. The participants were trained to make entries on passbook and ledger book making it easier for SF members to track their savings, loan disbursement and recovery. In addition to this they were trained to write minute and application letter while approaching service providers. Finance Manager, Mr. Bhubneshwor Singh and Program Officer, Mr. Amar Adhikari facilitated all the training...
by samagra | Jun 1, 2018 | News / Updates
Though Dowry Prohibition Act is already in place to eradicate ill practice of dowry system, it is still deeply rooted in Terai regions and has tortured woman both physically and mentally. Laws, dowry act, rules and regulation related to dowry system is fragile in terms of implementation due to poor attitude and lack of awareness among people. To address this vital issue, interactive advocacy meeting against dowry system was held with presence of Chief of rural municipality, Deputy Chief of rural municipality, Head of Administrative office, ward chiefs, head of police office, representatives of Woman Development Office, SF members and SAMAGRA staffs in Koshi rural municipality in Sunsari on 12th Chaitra, 2074. The participants expressed their sufferings and sought solution from concerned authority. Akali Devi Sada, Dalit Woman Member, Koshi rural municipality-5 said, “Guests came from Maina Kaderi with marriage proposal for my daughter. After the proposal was accepted, the groom side demanded four hundred thousand rupees but we could not afford such a huge amount therefore we bargained for hundred fifty thousand rupees instead. After hearing this, the groom side made an excuse saying that the marriage will be final only when a groom’s maternal uncle will meet our daughter. We have not heard from them from that date.”Suleman Mansuri, Ward Chief-3 said, “Compared to men, women are seen more demanding as they view dowry as social prestige. Women are quite competitive when it comes to taking dowry which has increased the practice. Raj Kumari Shah, Ward Chief, Koshi rural municipality-1 noted lack of education and awareness as major causes of dowry practice and suggested girls education and...
by samagra | Jul 4, 2017 | News / Updates
Local level and local bodies have a key role in service delivery and right fulfillment at the grass-roots level. This is ensured only when there exists good governance and the local bodies/representatives are accountable towards public. To address this issue SAMAGRA organized interaction program with newly elected local leaders on accountability and good governance on June 6, 2017 at Marshyangdi Gaupalika, Lamjung. The interaction program was attended by 112 participants which included 24 locally newly elected leaders ( Gaupalika Chair, Vice Chair, All ward members, Particular ward elected, non-elected of major political parties), 68 SF members, SAMAGRA’s central and district staffs and media personnel. The interaction program aimed to orient the newly elected local leaders on their function as per new constitution and instruction circulated by GoN and provide an interactive platform to SFs and local leaders to interact on accountability and governance issues. Mr. Dornath Neupane, Executive Director, SAMAGRA felicitated all the local representatives and wished them for their successful tenure. It was then followed by a brief presentation by Mr. Amar Adhikari, Program Officer, SAMAGRA to shed light on functions of local elected bodies/representatives as per new constitution and instruction circulated by GoN. This was fruitful to both the local leaders as well as public as it helped to build a common understanding on local representatives/bodies function and made them accountable towards public. During the interaction session participants had an opportunity to share their problems/expectations to their newly elected local leaders. President of Sungava SF said, “I have been using four plastic tunnels for vegetable production but due to inadequate irrigation I have been facing lots of...
by samagra | Mar 29, 2017 | News / Updates
Samagra Bikash Sewa Kendra organized an Interaction program on “Socio- Economic Rights of Marginalised people and Micro Finance and Cooperative” on March 24, 2017. The main objective of this interaction program was to analyze whether Microfinance and Cooperatives’ objective of social and economic right enhancement of marginalized people has been fulfilled or not. The program further aimed on identifying the policy related challenges that have been obstructing socio economic right fulfillment of marginalized people and finding a way out to overcome those challenges. Hon. Keshav Badal, Member of Finance Committee of Parliamentarian Committee and President of National Cooperative Federation, Hon. Rameshwar Fuyal, Parliamentary Committee member, Mr. Narayan Prasad Gyawali, Deputy Registrar of Department of Cooperative, Mr. Dev Kumar Dhakal, Director of Microfinance Promotion and Supervision Department, Nepal Rastra Bank, Dr. Harihar Acharya, C.E.O of Centre for Micro Finance, Mr. Ram Chandra Ojha, C.E.O of Rural MicroFinance Development Centre Limited , Ms. Shova Mishra, AGM of Chhimek Lagubitta Bikash Bank and borrowers (who are also social family members) from Lamjung, Gorkha, Udaypur, Siraha and Kathmandu were present on the program. Despite an easy access to finance provided by Microfinance and cooperatives to marginalized and low income people, inadequate training on entrepreneurship and financial literacy to borrowers and mismatch between borrowers’ income and repayment schedule has brought up many problems lately. Problems like domestic violence, group conflict, migration and suicide are some to name a few. “(Sarkini) BK- Hiletaksar,Lamjung gave up her life as she was unable to repay the loan that she took from a Microfinance” said ChijaMaya Majakoti of Lamjung. Similarly, ReelMaya Pariyar burst in tears as she was...
by samagra | Jan 2, 2017 | News / Updates
SAMAGRA recently organized “Review and Reflection Workshop” on 8th, 9th and 10th July, 2016 to review quarterly progress of 13 districts and plan for the upcoming quarter. District coordinators from 13 districts shared their challenges faced while working and discussion took place on finding ways to overcome those challenges. They were oriented on writing case studies and success stories. In addition to this, district coordinators were oriented on new reporting format with GESI elements aligned with its donor GF’s reporting format....
