Loan Dispersal to Women of Janta Nagri, Lucknow
After the extensive Covid-19 relief efforts during the lockdown by the Socialist Party (India) by feeding over 1 lakh meals across 23 ‘Community Kitchens‘ and providing other kinds of support to over 30,000 community members with donation close to INR 20 lakh (see table at the end of this page), the SP(I) now moves on the next phase of the relief efforts – to improve the livelihoods of the community members affected by the crisis.
Most community members are facing severe difficulties in restarting their businesses after the lockdown due to the unavailability of capital. Towards this effect, the party has decided to launch a ‘Micro-credit Program’ that offers interest-free and collateral-free loans to various community members and a ‘Food Security Program’, through which it will offer langar type services on a daily basis in a few districts across Uttar Pradesh. Please see below the details of the programs.
Micro-credit Program:
The Loans were handed over by Dr. Nuzhat Husain, Director, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow on 14th June 2020, Ajay Kumar Lallu, UP Congress President on 27th June 2020, and by Sanjay SIngh, Member of Parliament representing Aam Aadmi Party on 1st July 2020.
Loans are being disbursed either to members of communities associated with the party or even to individuals upon requests. The only information required for availing loans are personal details and Aadhar card.
“Local Committees” in all communities take a decision of the members who are to be given loans and they are also responsible for recovery. In case the local committee is unable to come to a mutual decision on the loan applicants, they will approach the ‘City Level Committee’ for assistance.
A Loan Recovery Committee has been constituted for weekly/ fortnightly/ monthly collection of fixed amounts from the loanees, which is decided by the loanees themselves. All details of the Micro-Credit Program, including the names of the committee members, the donors, loan amounts and collection details can be found here. In addition, Yasmeen Mirza is maintaining all the details of the loans using Khata Book app.
Here is the summary of the loans provided:
| S. No | Description | Amount |
| 1 | Principal Amount Invested | 288600 |
| 2 | Total Loans given out | 308600 |
| 3 | Total Collections | 25300 |
| 4 | Total Collection Due | 283300 |
| 5 | Number of loanees | 62 |
| 6 | Total Cash in Hand (from Principal) | 5300 |
Other Micro-Credit Projects: 1. 37 women involved in Chikan work are being provided employment through Mohd. Ahmad, Vice President, SP(I) Lucknow, with material worth Rs. 1, 04,391. 2. Material worth approximately Rs. 57,000 including Mats, Wiper, Doormats is being procured for stonecutters community in Gosaiganj, Lucknow for 15 people for vending on the request of Guddi, President, Socialist Mahila Mahasabha (who ran a community kitchen during the lockdown)
Food Security Program: The Socialist Party (India) has also launched a long term ‘langar’ food security program in three districts: 1. Ram Janki Temple, Ayodhya (Mahant – Acharya Yugal Kishore Shastri) – managed by a committee headed by Danish Ahmad. 2. Temple in Aseni Village, Barabanki – managed by a committee headed by Fakire Ali, assisted by Amit Maurya (construction of kitchen adjacent to the Temple is going on currently. Langar will start as soon as the construction is complete). 3. Asha Ashram, Hardoi – managed by Bhagwandeen.
Other Updates: 1. 6 sacks of flour was received from Adv. Pushpila Bisht out of which 4 were sent to Hardoi Asha Ashram, 1 was sent to Ayodhya and another was given to a Madrasa in Lucknow through Yasmeen Mirza.2. Rs. 5000 was given to Siraj for reconstruction of his home in Lucknow through Yasmeen Mirza3. SP(I) volunteer Dar Mohd. Shafi with the support of Jagori Rural, Delhi provided dry ration kits to 32 families in Jammu & Kashmir consisting of 183 community members. 4. Food provided on 16th July for 50 people whose temporary shelter was demolished by Municipal Corporation of Lucknow.
How can you contribute? Anyone wishing to contribute to either of the two programs – Micro-credit Program or Food Security Program can transfer money to the following bank account:
Account Holder Name: Socialist Party (India)
Account Number: 39560200000471
Name of the Bank: Bank of Baroda
IFSC Code: BARB0JUHAPU
Address of Bank: Juhapura, Ahmedabad
Bank Contact Number: 9904150217 (Kaushar Ali Saiyad)
Since the party’s Lucknow Bank account is currently not operational, we are receiving funds in our Ahemdabad account. Kindly send an email with the confirmation of the transaction / screenshot of transaction to ashaashram@yahoo.com.
For all details about the latest programs, please check out the SP(I) website.
Please see a summary of the community kitchen initiatives below:
| S. No | Key Metrics | Unit | Amount |
| 1 | Community members provided with free ration or vegetables | Nos. | 19015 |
| 2 | Community members provided with subsidised ration | Nos. | 8140 |
| 3 | Number of free meals provided at Community Kitchens | Nos. | 106173 |
| 4 | Other community members reached | Nos. | 1816 |
| 5 | Total cost of community kitchens | INR | 1,632,866 |
| 6 | Total Communities members reached | Nos. | 135,144 |
| 7 | Total donations received | INR | 1,927,489 |
| 8 | Total expenses | INR | 1,736,841 |
| 9 | Cash in Hand | INR | 190,648 |
