ROTARY MICRO LOAN SCHEME (MLS) – PANCHAMUL VALLEY
Micro Loan Scheme (MLS) was first introduced to Panchamul Valley by visiting Rotarians from Rotary International District 1040, England, United Kingdom in late 2012. Rotary International district 1040 and several Rotary clubs, namely, Harrogate Brigantes, Northallerton, Northallerton Mobray, Bingley Airedale, Knaresborough and individual Rotarians have contributed in this scheme. The latest projects listed below have been ongoing since the dates as shown below:
- Ward nos 4 and 5, Panchamul Syangja:
- Project launched in November 2013. This project has completed 9th recycle in March 2023.
- Ii. Total budget RS290,000
- Iii. Beneficiaries as of December 2022: 36 households
- Iv. Investment breakdown as of December 2022:
| SN | Nature of investment/Amount | Beneficiary Households | Total investment (Rs) | Remarks |
| a. | Goat Farm (Rs8000 per household) | 11 x 8000 | 88,000 | |
| b. | Poultry (Rs5000 per household) | 8 x 5000 | 40,000 | |
| c. | Buffalo (Rs10,000 per household) | 13 x 10,000 | 130,000 | |
| d. | Vegetable (Rs8000 per household) | 4 x 8000 | 32,000 |
TOTAL investment at Ward nos 4 and 5, 36 households = RS290,000
- Changeover: Nov/Dec every year.
- NO defaulters to date
2. Ward no 3, Ramche, Syangja:
- Project launched in March 2015. This project has completed 7th recycle in March 2023
- Total budget RS112,000
- Beneficiaries as of March 2023: 11 households
- Investment breakdown as at March 2021:
| SN | Nature of investment/Amt | Beneficiary households | Total (Rs) | Remarks |
| a. | Vegetable (Rs12,000 per household) | 1 x 12,000 | 12,000 | |
| b. | Goat Farm (Rs 10,000 per household) | 4 x 10,000 | 40,000 | |
| c. | Bee farming (Rs10,000 per household) | 6 x 10,000 | 60,000 |
TOTAL investment at Ward no 3, Ramche, 11 households = RS112,000
- Change over: March every year
- No defaulters to date
3. Ward no 1, Arghamdi, Mula, Syangja:
- Project launched in November 2013. This project has completed 9th recycle in November 2020
- Total budget RS65,000
- Beneficiaries as at December 2020: 8 households
- Investment breakdown as at December 2020:
| SN | Nature of investment/Amt | Beneficiary households | Total (Rs) | Remarks |
| a. | Poultry (Rs5000 per household) | 3 x 5,000 | Rs15,000 | |
| b. | Goat Farm (Rs10,000 per household) | 5 x 10,000 | Rs50,000 |
TOTAL investment at Ward no 1 Arghamdi and Mula, 8 Households = RS65,000
- Changeover: November/December every year
- NO defaulters to date
4. Ward no 2, Dhakalthok, Panchamul Syangja:
- Project launched in April 2015. This project has completed 8th recycle in April 2023
- Total budget RS88,000
- Beneficiaries as at April 2021: 11 households
- Investment breakdown as at April 202:
| SN | Nature of investment/Amt | Beneficiary households | Total (Rs) | Remarks |
| a. | Goat Farm (Rs10,000 per household) | 5 X 10,000 | Rs50,000 | |
| b. | Vegetable Farm (Rs5000 per household) | 5 x 5,000 | Rs25,000 | |
| c. | Fish Farm (Rs13,000) | 1 x 13,000 | Rs13,000 |
TOTAL investment in Ward No 2, Dhakalthok, 11 households = Rs88,000
5. In addition to the projects mentioned above several additional projects in 2017 and in 2018. The projects in brief are as follows:
- a. Goat Bank 1, Vakimle, Syangja: Goat Bank 1 was the first project of it’s kind in Panchamul valley. The entire goat herd was under one roof with a dedicated goat herder. The project had a great start with visiting Rotarians from the donor club Northallerton Rotary inaugurating the Goat Farm. For the first 8 months or so, all was going well. However, with rapid proliferation of the goats the shade became too small and the herder also had difficulty managing it proper. It was then decided to divide goats into several smaller herds for the ease of administration and management. The herds are now managed by 4 smaller farms run by a family. Rotary club of Northallerton are thanked for making the fund available.
- b. Goat Bank 2, Dhakalthok, Syangja: The project site/location and the person in charge has been changed from Dhakalthok to Malkudanda, to suit the circumstances. The new location Malkudanda is North of Sirubari village. The area is open grazing land and is suitable for Sheep grazing. The farm has Sheep’s instead of Goats.
- The funds for the Goat Bank 1 and 2 came from Northallerton and Northallerton Mobray respectively.
- Periodical updates are sent to the donor club with informative photographs
6. Poultry Farm Sirkhu, Syangja:
- Project launched in November 2020
- Total fund received: ￡00
- Funds collected at Kids Aloud 2019 performance was made available by Harrogate Brigantes Rotary club.
- Project is progressing well.
7. Conclusion: For the past 9 years or so many needy people in Panchamul valley have benefitted immensely from the Micro Loan Scheme. It was even more so during the lockdown period due to COVID-19 as MLS was only means of income for survival to the locals as there was no alternative way of making money.
The project has been a great success due to hard work and dedication of the Group Leaders. I thank the Group Leaders for their selfless devotion to work.
On behalf of all MLS beneficiaries in Panchamul valley and RC of THE HIMALAYAN GURKHAS I would like to thank the Rotarians LATE Barry Pollard, John Proud and Lyn, Duncan Davison and Jan, Tom Banfield, Gill Poole, Mike Bamford and many more. who initiated and collected fund in the UK for the MLS projects and all clubs for their most generous contribution.
