So What Do I Do Now?
Firstly, thanks for all the private mails from the few people who stayed in touch this last one year. I quit my earlier employment in the mining sector in June 2009 and more recently joined a group of social entrepreneurs, based out of Hyderabad. We work with rural agricultural cooperatives across the State of Andhra Pradesh – no, we are NOT a microfinance institution.
What we do is provide last mile services to members of these agricultural cooperatives, i.e. the farmers and other members in the areas of banking, insurance and agri-procurement. We help them obtain credit – for their cropping season, Rabi or Kharif or to buy farm equipment. We help them secure insurance for themselves, to protect their crops from weather and for their farm equipment. We help them sell their produce in a timely manner for a fair price and more importantly ensure they receive their money within 2-3 days of the sale.
The Indian government has also established the regulatory framework that enables organisations such as ours to work for rural upliftment through these and other mechanisms. It is a highly satisfying experience and one that I am enjoying. The smiles of satisfied farmers says a lot about our teams and the work we collectively do.
On the personal side, I spend more time with Atri (work is not too rushed and I rarely travel like I earlier used to). I also run a lot these days, averaging 80-100 km on a good week and between 60-70 km on others.
Signing off on this one with the Farmer’s Song by Neil Young.
More later
S