Amrita Co-op Society proves power of co-op model again!

Amrita Primary Multipurpose Cooperative Society in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan is a story of grit to prove the power of the cooperative model.

Notwithstanding the much trumpeted “Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana” (PMJDY) at least in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan the scheme had run aground as banks were not willing to allow rural people to open their accounts. It was in this background that Amrita Primary Multipurpose Cooperative Society was set up in 2014 to help the villagers.

Located at about 180 km away from Jaipur Amrita Primary Multipurpose Cooperative Society never looked back after its inception. Recalling the history of society chairperson Rukmani Devi said “At the time of establishment there were 16 members and we started with a share capital of Rs 1600; now there are more than 17,000 women members and we boast a share capital of about 37 lakh. It has also earned a profit of more than 20 lakhs in cumulative years, she added.

The A P M C S is having a net worth of Rs 5 crore and loaning of about 4.5 crore, Rumani Devi said to Indian Cooperative. In Jhunjhunu district, there are 6 thousands active Self Help Groups being promoted by Amrita Primary Multipurpose Cooperative Society.

Rumani is never tired of thanking then District Magistrate of Jhunjhunu Dr Arushi Malik who had started a project in the name of “Shakti” to empower the women of the district by opening their bank accounts.

The activities of APMCS are not only limited to finance as it has distributed more than 1.55 lac of GK books to the students, said Devi.

Last year, the cooperative setup a Sanitary Production Unit to provide sanitary pads under the brand name of Anandi- a Mumbai based NGO which is providing technical know-how. Nearly 1000 pads are sold every day through a network of women who go door to door to sell them. The cost of one Anandi sanitary pad is Rs 25 as a part of profit is shared with the women who take the pain to sell it, Devi said.

“In the next six months, we are planning another unit using wood pulp to make biodegradable pads”, she added.

When Indian Cooperative tried to cross-verify the information an official of the government women department Viplav Neola said it is true that the society is giving loans to women at the cheaper rate of interest and also provides them with 7.5% interest rate on their deposits. It sells insurance schemes too,he added.

Neola said women making sanitary pads get Rs 150 as daily wage. The Sanitary unit was established at the cost of about 22 lakh and land and building was provided by WED. Two experts from Mumbai had come to train the women,he said.