Bimal Pradhan

Ilam, July 28:

Micro-saving programme, locally known as Khutruke, is slowly gaining popularity in Ilam district. At the end of every month, two women employees visit more than 300 houses in Ilam municipality collecting money saved by each house in an iron Khutruke (piggybank). The money thus collected is then deposited into a passbook. The Khutruke programme, being run in active participation with local women by Women Awareness Association (WAA) for last five years, is ensuring a better future for children. The programme, which was started with 35 members, has 355 members at the moment. Under the programme, all members are collecting money in the Khutruke, said Bishnu Dahal, president of WAA. The money is saved in the name of children who are given membership to the programme. Children upto the age of 10 years can get memberships to the programme.

A member is given an iron Khutruke to put money into it. At least thirty rupees is to be put into a Khutruke every month. WAA provides 10 per cent annual interest on money saved by children, which is added on to the current amount of member children, according to WAA Dahal. Members of the programme are found to be saving a minimum of Rs 30 to a maximum

of Rs 15,000 every month, said Tulsha Dhakal, money collector, adding Rs 90,000 is being collected every month at an average. According to her, during the period of four years, Rs 129,000 has been saved by one of the members of the programme.

WAA is collecting money saved every day by members in the name of Setidevi Saving Group. 20 per cent of the money is invested every month, Kamala Ghimire, another staff of WAA said. According to her, 20 per cent flows out as loan to locals at an interest rate of 10 per cent. Three more employees have been appointed from the amount of interests and on the top of that, some money is still going to the organisation as profit. “I am saving the money in the name of my three children under the Khutruke programme running in the district,” said Tara Devi Thakuri, member of the programme. She is saving at the rate of Rs 100 in name of her each child. Since the money is saved in children’s name, it is more effective and gaining popularity in the district, opined Indira Pradhan, member of WAA. Although it seems to be a little money being saved at the moment, it will become huge after the children grow up, said Pradhan.