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Vanita Shakti Banks to encourage saving habit among women

by Nadira Gunatilleke

The Women's Affairs Ministry will launch "Vanita Shakti Banks" countrywide to encourage the saving habit among rural women and to provide them funds for self employment and other family needs. Already six such banks were opened by the Women's Affairs Minister Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake in the Hambantota district recently, Coordinating Secretary to the Minister, Major V. B. Karunarathne said.

Major Karunaratne said that the banks were opened at Puwakdandawa, Godakumbura, Dammulla, Thalagahamwaduwa and Hakuruwela in the Beliatta Divisional Secretariat division and Hungama in the Angunakolapelessa Divisional Secretariat division.

These banks will be funded by the members. Funds will also be obtained from the savings shares and deposits. The Women's Affairs Ministry has provided facilities and equipment including books, account documents, office automation for the administrative activities of those banks. The Ministry has also made arrangements to train rural women to fill vacancies of those banks such as "Financial Secretary" and "Administration Secretary".

According to Major Karunaratne women are good savers by nature and they like to save than men. Earlier the Women's Affairs Ministry introduced "Kantha Ran Divi Maga" loan scheme and 78 per cent of loans have already been paid. In some districts the loan repayment percentage is 100 per cent, he said.

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