13

Theme- Micro-Finance & Technology

To help him/her set up business, different

It also facilitates access to information

factors have to be in place:

by other stakeholders such as banks and

enable them make prior assessment

1.

A ready-made market of about 150

about the health of the groups.

SHGs

It creates a computerised base for any

2.

The groups are ready to receive

future IT interventions/improvements

services from the CM and pay

(Simputers, PDAs).The system that is

appropriately for it

being designed is the basic framework

3.

There is a data flow system in place

and revolves around the basic back-

end software such as the McFinancier.

Then the CM has to be equipped with

Since it is a PC-based system, the basic

adequate infrastructure such as

data entry at the SHG meetings is done

computer, the software, power back-

manually. So there are manually

up systems, a printer and so on. Once

maintained components in the system.

the business is set up, the PRADAN

As technology evolves there are

professional will have to provide

possibilities that the front-end, that is, the

monitoring  and  trouble-shooting

data entry in the SHGs also could get

support for about one to two years to

automated. The present system would

see that it runs smoothly.

be able to take in such changes in

Story of Sumanta Singhadeb of

technology without making redundant

Balarampur, Purulia, West Bengal

any of the existing components. Such a

system can be dovetailed with other

My Story

services (such as health etc) for

1.

Name: SUMANTA SINGHADEB

information transfer.

2.

Father's

Name:

Late

The system, as it is being designed, is also

PADMALOCHAN SINGHADEB

a system for online data transfer from

3.

Mother's Name: KALPANA

the SHGs to the centralised computer

SINGHADEB

and back. Various other data transfer

4.

Permanent  address:  Vill-

requirements could be dovetailed on to

Lakshmanpur,

P.O.-

this system with only incremental

Bhawanipur

additions. These could be related to

5.

Dist.- Purulia (West Bengal), Pin-

information on services, production

723143, Ph. No.- 9434050328

information, market information etc.

6.

Date of Birth: 04-08-1982

Training of Computer Munshi

7.

Marital status: Married

8.

Sex: Male

It is obvious that the CM would require

9

Academic

Qualification:

strong support and handholding initially

Passed

Matriculation

to set up the business. Yet it will be

Examination in 1998 in the 2nd

important to verify his/her basic

Division.

credential before recruiting him/her.

Out of experience we have found that

Once the business

the  following  qualifications  are

is set up, the

desirable:

PRADAN

1.

Education up to a minimum of Class

professional will

XII grade, that would equip him/her

have to provide

with minimum working knowledge

monitoring and

of English

trouble-shooting

2.

Working knowledge of computers

support for about

if possible

one to two years

3.

Possess some business motivation;

to see that it runs

preferably has some background

smoothly.

of entrepreneurial behaviour

4.

High amount of social maturity;

interpersonal skills in dealing with

SHG women

5.

Sound clerical aptitude

Wherever possible it would be desirable

to shortlist one CM from a group of four

or five through a process of a clerical

aptitude test and interview. If the person

already has some knowledge of

computers and the basic software then

he will be introduced straightaway to

the software. If not, some preliminary

computer skills training will be imparted.