Anandiben, a frank orator who speaks simple things based on her experience(video)

Ahmedabad, 7 June 2014

Anandiben is not bad orator. She has improved her oratory. She speaks simple and straight. Not quotes, no dramatization, she speaks simple things based on her experience in government and society. Presented below are glimpses of Anandiben’s address to a function of cooperatives in Gandhinagar based Mahatma Mandir today:

A frank admission:

Anandiben started her speech by admitting she has not much experience to deal with cooperatives. She said I have handled various departments barring cooperatives. Whenever someone walks to discuss something on cooperatives related issue, I send him to Shankarbhai.This department is called cooperatives, but its not as simple. This is for the first time that I am attending some event on cooperatives.

Women:

Anandiben said whenever women visit bank to get loan of few thousand Rs, the banks ask her to produce something as a guarantee in exchange of loan. Unfortunately due to our social structure, women hardly enjoy ownership. The state government therefore discovered a new way out. To connect the strength of women to state’s development journey was extremely important and therefore the state government set up over two lakh Sakhi Mandals. The women started saving money which ultimately arrived at banks, and with this saving, women started getting micro finance. Even before this initiative, the government took a decision that any property bought in name of woman will get exemption from stamp duty. Thanks to this over 15 lakh women have become richer in Gujarat. The state has suffered loss of Rs. 262 crore due to this, but it has pushed women ahead in direction of Compared to males, women are more efficient in paying back the loans. The state government has taken a decision to contribute 5% to banks directly when it comes to women applicants.

Farmers:

Due to state government’s continuous efforts, agri-production has increased, but now farmers have to sell their produce at lower price. It’s good if farmers can get loan to build godown to store their produce and sell it when prices are good. Banks should come forward to extend their help.

For last five years, we were making demands, but only due to political reasons we were not granted permission, but now we will get permission to install gates over Narmada dam. Due to this water will reach in canals. We will need to widened the network of drip irrigation to save water then-after. The state government already gives subsidy for drip irrigation, but cooperatives should also help small farmers for this cause.

Awareness:

Stressing on need for awareness campaign, Anandiben gave an example of her cattle health camp visit at Vyara and said: Yesterday I was visiting a cattle health camp in Vyara. I saw one buffalo had 10 kg tumor in neck. It was unable to look in upward direction, it was not able to consume fodder. I asked its owner, wasn’t he aware that government operates cattle for free and bears entire cost of its treatment? He said he wasn’t aware! We need to spread the message about services government offers, so that more people can take benefit. Cooperatives should print and distribute pamphlets to propagate the services offered by state government.

Anandiben appealed farmers to use i-kisan portal and application to get best knowledge and guidance on farming practices. Newly launched Jyotirmay health insurance scheme.

Simplification:

Anandiben asked insurance people present in the function to simplify the procedures for approval of insurance claims. She gave an example and said, when a 5-year-old child dies, its parents generally don’t like to allow postmortem. In such case, just due to lack of postmortem report, insurance companies refuse to pass the claim. Insurance companies can simplify the process and pass the claims, but they don’t. The state government covers 75% of its people through insurance scheme. The scheme should get 80% success at least, and technology should be used to simplify the process.

Giving another example of need of simplification Anandiben said: Yesterday in a meeting, our party worker told me that water supply scheme in their village is complete, but water supply has not started due to pending power connection application. I asked my officers why they are unable to give power connection for last six months? The officers in their reply gave a suggestion. They said, power company should be informed about the water supply scheme when scheme is proposed and tender is passed. If order is given to power company at the same time when order for water supply scheme is issued, the task of supplying water and electricity can progress simultaneously. What happens presently is that process to get power connection is started when water supply scheme is completed. Power company then take time as they have to supply power from five kms away.

Trust:

Anandiben told cooperative sector giants present in the function that they should protect the trust of depositors at any cost. She said people have started investing in gold, because of trust. Keeping trust intact must be the first priority of cooperatives.