- Bank friend Asha Ekka became a support for the elderly and the helpless.
- Bihan’s Didiyaan are connecting the rural economy with the digital revolution
The “Bihan” didis are playing a crucial role in empowering women in rural areas and bringing digital banking to every household. Asha Ekka, a resident of Kanti Prakashpur village in Surguja district, has become an inspiration for women in the district who want to leave the confines of their homes and pursue economic independence.
Asha Ekka, associated with ‘Bihan’ (National Rural Livelihood Mission) since 2017, has made good use of her education till 12th standard and has taken up the responsibility of Bank Sakhi and Bank Mitra
. She is not only a housewife but has also become the main link in the banking system of the village. Asha tells that her husband is a small farmer and runs a grocery shop at home, but after joining Bihan, there has been a big change in both his identity and income.
Asha , a support system for the elderly and the helpless,
isn’t limited to transactions; she also serves with a spirit of service. Whether it’s elderly women in the village who have to travel far to collect their pensions or MNREGA workers who have to make the rounds of the bank to receive their wages, Asha ensures that payments are made within the village itself. She says, “For those who can’t afford to visit the bank, I go to their homes and provide banking services. When they happily bless me, the fatigue of the work vanishes.”
A 5 Crore Rupee Transaction and Self-Reliance:
Mrs. Asha Ekka has completed financial transactions totaling approximately 5 crore rupees so far. This work generates a respectable income of 10,000 to 12,000 rupees per month. This financial support allows her to provide quality education to her two children.
Crediting
her success to the welfare schemes of the central and state governments, Asha said that the Bihan Yojana has made poor women like her self-reliant. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai for this opportunity and said that today thousands of rural women like her are setting a living example of women’s empowerment, not only supporting their families but also connecting the rural economy with the digital revolution.