The Working Women’s Forum (WWF) and Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW) Chennai, bestowed the, ‘Best-poor women entrepreneur’ awards to nine women micro-entrepreneurs on February 8, 2021. The award ceremony was held on the 89th birth anniversary of the legendary Indian cooperator and social worker Late Dr. Jaya Arunachalam.
For over forty years, WWF and ICNW have been working in many states of South India to enhance the social and financial independence of poor women, providing low-interest loans and encouraging women’s entrepreneurship and growth.
Dr. Nandini Azad, Chairperson of ICA Asia and Pacific Committee on Women and President of ICNW and WWF said, “the recipients of the awards were recognised as COVID-19 warriors and heroines. These women are members of WWF-ICNW who stood strong and fought their way through the pandemic that resulted in the loss of livelihood and income for many.”,
The awards were given to nine women micro-entrepreneurs aged between 48-69 years with an average literacy of 10th standard. Some were widows, some have handicapped husbands, and the large majority are the sole bread-earners for the family. These women micro-entrepreneurs have received loans up to Rs. 3,50,000 – Rs. 5,00,000 in 10-35 loan cycles/years which they repaid without default, even during the Covid-19 pandemic. They are engaged in diverse micro-businesses including idli-making, xerox shop, lamination shops, petty shop or kirana, etc. Many of the women micro-entrepreneurs have taken loans to invest in their children’s education (particularly girls) who are pursuing courses such as engineers, management, ITI, nursing, etc.
The winners were selected from 1,500 nominations, who qualified the criteria of timely payments and no defaults. They also took the highest number of loans and have been members of WWF for a long time. The CEOs of each branch of WWF-ICNW were involved in shortlisting the nominees and the final winners were selected by Dr. Azad based on the socio-economic criteria of the nominees.
The awards were sponsored by local Indian banks. Dr. Azad during the award ceremony noted that “it is important for both the formal and informal sector to work shoulder to shoulder to enable empowerment and work for such causes. We are looking at a future where the informal sector cooperatives thrive and get the needed attention.”
Courtesy: WWF, ICNW and indiancooperative.com https://www.indiancooperative.com/from-states/nandini-to-honour-poor-women-entrepreneurs-on-jayas-bday/
