ESAF, a microfinance agency based in Kochi, has been selected as the implementing partner for the project Sanchar Sakthi scheme in Kerala and Tamil Nadu along with Sasken Communication and Technology group.
Sanchar Sakthi project was launched by President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi. It is a programme under the Department of Telecom's Universal Service Obligation Fund to promote life skills related to mobile value-added services and Information Communication Technology (ICT) for women SHG members in rural India.
In the Vyaparsewa project, which is part of Sanchar Sakthi, products of SHGs in Tamil Nadu and Kerala will be marketed with the help of NGOs in Delhi. The products include food products like pickles, honey, and medicinal products.
ESAF has now signed an MoU with Jharcraft (Jharkhand Silk, Textile & Handicraft Development Corporation Limited), for working together in training, value-addition and promoting craft and related activities in Santhal Pargana region of Jharkhand. The MoU was signed between Dhirendra Kumar, managing director, Jharcraft, and K Paul Thomas, executive director, ESAF.
ESAF will also implement various social security schemes for the 200,000 artisans of Jharcraft in Jharkhand. A plan is on the anvil for developing at least seven craft clusters in the next financial year and to train more than 2,000 artisans in various crafts. These programmes will be supported by the government of Jharkhand through Jharcraft, and by Nabard, according to a release.
