KALYAN, MARCH 23, 2011: The Don Bosco Research Centre and the Karunya Trust, Kalyan organized an orientation program on social and financial inclusion for village headmen from different districts of Maharashtra. Presidents and Vice Presidents of Gram Panchayats from the villages of Ambernath, Kalyan, Varapgaon and Bhiwandi appreciated the efforts made by the Connect All India Network of Don Bosco Research Centre to ensure that the marginalized gain access to maximum capital through Identity Instruments, Door to door Banking/Savings, Investment, Income Generation methods & Capital Building Measures. The Sarpanches were of the opinion that accessing government schemes, pension & insurance plans and no frill bank accounts could solve many developmental issues in their villages. A majority of the villagers were unaware of government schemes and services available for them and about fifty percent of the rural population lacked bank accounts. Most housewives still relied on their husbands’ bank accounts for financial purposes.
Mr. Rajiv Ranjan Toppo’s presentation of UTI’s micro pension scheme garnered maximum attention. Sister Edith, the coordinator of Karunya Trust, mentioned that the database created by the Don Bosco Research Centre about various Government schemes and measures could lead to positive and long term changes in marginalized people’s lives.
The presidents of the Gram Panchayats invited the Don Bosco Research Centre to their villages to explain to the villagers the finer details of the various schemes and policies. The meeting concluded with some of the Gram Panchayats expressing their interest in joining the Connect All India Network and submitting their profiles and details to the Karunya Trust, Kalyan.