Survey of actual effectiveness in villages and hamlets
To evaluate the actual effectiveness of the model of "Sustainable Savings and Loan Groups associated with community activities" (abbreviated as Loan Groups), representatives of the Provincial Social Policy Bank in coordination with grassroots units, authorities at all levels, associations and unions in Con Cuong district attended the activities of Hua Na village, Luc Da commune and Xieng village, Mon Son commune. Thereby, together with the people, they exchanged and discussed the activities and results after a period of implementation.
In Hua Na village, the village's Loan Group has 46 members, of which 38 households currently have loans; current outstanding debt is over 2.1 billion VND, savings balance is over 120 million VND and there is no bad debt.
Head of the Hua Na Village Loan Group, Ngan Thi Hien, said that 46 members are currently participating in regular monthly activities. During the meetings, members exchange experiences in borrowing capital, investing in production, and raising funds to support each other in life. Members also exchange and learn from experiences in effective economic models. Thanks to that, in 2022, Hua Na village reduced the number of poor households from 58 to 48; in the first 10 months of 2023, 5 poor households were reduced.
Secretary of Hua Na village Party cell Luong Thi Phuong also affirmed that through the activities of the loan group, the members of the group have been united and operate more effectively. Combining the activities of the loan group with community activities helps the members to be excited and participate actively. Especially, integrating the loan and savings activities with the activities of the folk song club, the young family club, etc., often attracts more than 40 participants.
Thanks to attracting members to participate in activities regularly and fully, the collection of interest and mobilization of savings is more secure, the amount of savings increases compared to before, and the interest is collected quickly. For example, Hua Na village has the advantage of raising ducks. Every month, when the group meets, when a member needs to borrow capital, the members bring 200,000 VND to contribute to the group fund to help that member's household buy breeding animals.
With a similar approach, in Xieng village, Mon Son commune, through discussions with local people and officials of the commune People's Committee, local associations and organizations all affirmed the positive effects of the sustainable savings and loan group model associated with community activities.
Ms. Lo Thi Mau - Chairman of Luc Da Commune People's Committee also affirmed that the establishment of 4 sustainable savings and loan groups associated with community activities in 11 villages of Luc Da, the Commune People's Committee has also thoroughly instructed the group leaders and members to comply with regulations, promoting community solidarity. Commune officials, branches and organizations will support and help the groups to promote their effectiveness. This new model aims to further support people in economic development, improve their lives, and overcome the previous unfair loan assessment situation.
Proposal to maintain the model
After surveying, evaluating, and listening to the opinions of people in the villages, on the afternoon of November 21, the working group had a discussion with the associations and unions of Con Cuong district on implementing a model of sustainable savings and loan groups associated with community activities in the area.
At the discussion, after summarizing the situation and information that people had exchanged with the working group, the working group members summarized, evaluated, discussed and proposed directions for implementation.
Representatives of the Provincial Social Policy Bank hope that along with bank loans, the government and people will integrate economic, cultural and social activities to make good use of loan capital, promote mutual support in life to improve the material and spiritual life of the people.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Nam - Director of Con Cuong District Policy Bank said that initially, this model was deployed in each commune, each association had 1 group. In 2020 - 2021, Con Cuong organized 67 groups, including 18 Farmers' Associations, 31 Women's Associations, 7 Youth Unions... Currently, many groups operate regularly and cohesively. Members of the savings and loan groups actively support disadvantaged households to effectively utilize loan capital. Others help each other in life through group activities.
Ms. Lu Thi Khuyen - President of the Con Cuong District Women's Union expressed her opinion that through the activities of the savings and loan groups associated with community activities, the economic development loan models of the women's union members have been effective, with no bad debts. From the loan source, Con Cuong women have had more opportunities to participate in local economic development, especially in livestock farming and community tourism. Even from the loan models of the Social Policy Bank, many women have risen to become well-off and written applications to escape poverty. If there is a case in the group that is at risk of not paying interest on time, other group members will contribute to help that member pay interest on time, even contribute savings on time.
Besides, through the group's activities, in addition to borrowing capital, women can also exchange and update knowledge about civility and politeness, cultural lifestyle, reduce bad customs and participate more in community activities.
The Con Cuong District Farmers' Association also recognized the positive effects of the model. Along with the savings loan activities, through the activities of the loan group, it is possible to effectively propagate the Party's guidelines and policies that the locality needs to implement to the people. On the bank side, there is also close coordination with the association at all levels, so the loan disbursement, savings mobilization and community activities at the grassroots level are more frequent to attract more people to participate.
Representatives of the Veterans Association and Con Cuong District Youth Union also said that through the actual implementation of loans by members of the Veterans Association, it is shown that this is a positive model that should be maintained. However, to expand or select an area for implementation, it is necessary to choose a suitable locality. The operating regulations of the group also need to have specific and unified regulations; periodically evaluate the effectiveness, learn from experiences, and exchange so that the model can be increasingly promoted better.
In addition to assessing the positive aspects, the working group also pointed out shortcomings and obstacles that need to be overcome. For example, the regulations on documents are not strict, leading to the loose and unorganized operation and organization of some groups, which partly affects the quality. In some localities, the number of members participating in the groups is still low due to unclear community activities in the locality./.
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