The flower that follows the sun does so even on cloudy days. We present one such profile of a woman who proved that success is found in industry, cooperation, and perspiration.

It was a childhood dream of Smt.Kasarla Jayaprada to be lawyer. It remained a dream unturned when she got married after matriculation and moved to Dwarakapet. In November 1992 she had an opportunity to meet volunteers from Sahavikasa. Two days later, with the cooperation of villagers, the women`s thrift cooperative (WTC) was started with 120 members and Smt.Jayaprada as its president. She has been holding the responsibility with a commitment to serve the womenfolk of her village, for eleven successive years.

Women`s thrift cooperative (WTC) which was started in 1992 with 120 members with Rs.1200 as their total funds, has 470 members as of 31 Dec`02. With Rs.19,33,839 of total funds and Rs.14,71,550 (of which Rs.11,69,050 was given to 192 members as loans during the year 2002) of loans outstanding with members.

Vikasa Tarangini WTC was in association with women`s thrift cooperative(AWTC), Makdumpuram, until 1994, when 6 cooperatives around Narsampet formed AWTC with 1200 members, once again, with Smt.Jayaprada as its president. AWTC has 14 member cooperatives with 4970 members as of 31 Dec 2002.

Role of Smt.Jayapradha: At one particular instance when Smt. Jayapradha was questioned regarding the clarity of the annual financial statements, she was forthright in reminding the official that no formal training was provided and was left to them to learn by doing. Consequently, the need to conduct training programs on book-keeping and accounts was immediately identified and provided.

Changes in her life: As an individual, She is of the opinion that it is self-assertion that she gained all through these years. This according, to her, is the greatest achievement in life. “I acquired something that cannot be stolen by anyone”, she said with sheer content. Another noteworthy feature is that after the setting up of the cooperatives there is also greater mingling and equality among women of different religions, castes, communities, and classes.

Economic: She says that there has been major improvement financially as she was able to incur the loans availed from the cooperative in the purchase of sheep which served as a regular source of income.

Challenges: The year 2001 has seen a few unfortunate instances where the cooperative funds were embezzled by its bookkeeper. Smt. Jayaprada shouldered her responsibility with commitment in times of need. In WTC, Dwarkapet, the members came together and with the help of the association, took possession of the embezzler`s land to make up for the stolen funds. These experiences illustrate the fact that there has been significant improvement in the way in which the members with strong assistance from their leaders handle difficult situations shrewdly and judiciously.

Achievements: Kasi Vishwanatha Reddy memorial award was conferred to her in the year 1999. Vikasa Tarangini WTC received the Best Cooperative Award twice in 1997 and in the year 2000 under the leadership of Smt.Jayaprada.

Future Plans & Proposals: The AWTC has a profound interest to initiate the following in the near future:

• Health Centre for members of the cooperative and
• Learn other languages (English or Hindi) to communicate better.

Smt. Kotte Laxmi – from a timid housewife to a model cooperative leader

To promote action, people often need to be told `You can do it. In this issue, we present a profile of one such woman, who, with strong determination and willpower, has been serving as the president of the Kothapally association of women`s thrift cooperative (AWTC) for 12 successive years. Let`s explore.

Educational & Family Background: Smt.Kotte Laxmi, 44yrs, hails from an agricultural family. Due to the non-availability of educational facilities in her village, her education came to a halt after her primary education. She moved to Kothapally after her marriage where she had an opportunity to meet volunteers from Sahavikasa. In the year 1990, she joined the cooperative movement. Sri Laxmi women`s thrift cooperative (WTC), Kothapally was started in November 1990 under her leadership with a membership of 247 and thrift of Rs.10 per month. It has 730 members at present with its own funds of Rs.31,77,030 as of 31 December 2002. In 1991, an association of thrift cooperative (AWTC), was started in the surrounding villages of Kothapally with Smt.Laxmi as its president. In 1998, the association split into two and got registered in the same year as Sri Vishwa Bharathi AWTC. Supervision of audit of all WTCs in the association was managed single-handedly in an effective manner 

Challenges: Conflicts among the board members of Gopalpur WTC led to the closing down of the WTC as a whole. When the board approached Smt.Laxmi her metaphorical illustration made the members realize the situation.

The auditor refused to certify the accounts of the association, as there was a difference of Rs 0.04. She checked thoroughly the entire accounts and identified that the difference was in the interest paid by the bank where the association holds its account. She went to the bank and got the mistake rectified and subsequently, obtained the certificate from the auditor. She could have paid the difference which happens to be infinitesimal when compared to the actual transactions of the associations and compromised as done by many a bank. Her responsibility and accountability were not confined to the association. She handed a similar situation of a member cooperative with equal commitment.

Changes in her life :

• As an individual: Social etiquette, confidence to speak and answer questions, mobility(initially, she was hesitant to move even to a neighboring village).
• Professional: Her ability to deal with professionals like bankers, auditors, department officials, etc., and provide relevant information is an indicator of her capacity as a professional.
  Preparation, as well as supervision of accounting statements of not only the association but also the member cooperatives by a person with primary education, is a remarkable professional

Economic: She was able to raise funds required for the completion of her children`s education.

Social: The department officials attend to her quickly when she visits them to file the annual financial returns. That is not all, she is even offered a cup of tea!

Smt. Laxmi opines that it is a great privilege for being invited to preside over school functions, for example, flag hoisting on national days.

Future: She hopes to computerize transactions of the cooperatives in the near future, to avoid exploitation and trickery of innocent women.