Dharmasthala Pattadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade and his wife Hemavathi V. Heggade with a 38-member delegation from Lanka Microfinance Practitioners’ Association that intends to study Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project model of microfinance, at Dharmasthala on January 23, 2025.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
A 38-member delegation from Lanka Microfinance Practitioners’ Association visited Dharmasthala to study the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project model of rural development and microfinance on January 23.
Addressing the members, project chairman and Dharmasthala Pattadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade said, “Rural India is the true reflection of the country, following which Mahatma Gandhi had dreamt of building Rama Rajya by developing rural India. SKDRDP, established in 1982 in Belthangady taluk, has become successful as it focused on developing rural India.”
Mr. Heggade said everyone has equal opportunity and chance in development and growth. Beneficiaries of the SKDRDP are the stakeholders of development, while the project succeeded because of the active cooperation and participation of people. Microfinance was implemented through self-help groups under the Business Correspondent (BC) model. There is no end to development, he said adding children in rural India are getting higher education following improved lifestyle of people.
Stating that the dealings and programmes of the project are transparent, Mr. Heggade said anyone is welcome to examine the transactions of the SKDRDP (BC) Trust. The Rajya Sabha MP is willing to implement the SKDRP model in Sri Lanka. All necessary information, experience and expertise would be provided to the mircofinance association, he said.
Association President Vasantha Gunavardhana complimented the SKDRDP model and said they wanted to emulate the model in Sri Lanka.
Hemavathi V. Heggade, SKDRDP Executive Director S. S. Anil Kumar, and Regional Director Anand Suvarna were among those present at the meeting.
Published – January 24, 2025 12:39 pm IST
