Occupation: Mahila Pradhan Kshetriya Bachat Yojana Agent

“Thirty four years ago, a newspaper advertisement I came across, led me to being a Mahila Pradhan Kshetriya Bachat Yojana (MPKBY) agent. I had gone with a neighbour and enquired about the job possibilities. She didn’t join, but I did. The appointment is made by the Collector after a short interview. A MPKBY agent has to renew her agency every three years. Renewal is based on your performance and the deposits for the past six months are evaluated. Agents who do not have enough depositors, will have their agency reneweded only for a year. Thankfully, I have always got a three-year renewal.

When I began in 1980, things were not easy. People had not yet warmed up to the idea of small savings schemes in which the agent came home, collected money and deposited it in the post office. They probably did not have much trust in the system which was relatively new. There were often days when I walked the entire neighbourhood without winning a single depositor. Even when they joined the scheme, they would make incredibly small monthly deposits, say for Rs. 5.

But by 1986, things started changing. I moved to the Vellimadukkunnu region and since then it has not been tough. Now, of course, things are considerably better. I am now a regular feature in the lives of my depositors. On an average, depositors make a monthly contribution of Rs. 500. There are a few whose contributions are much higher. I get a commission of four per cent on each deposit. Earlier, the State Government gave us an allowance and bonus every month which was five-and-a-quarter per cent of a deposit. But that was stopped couple of years ago. Now it is given as a reward for performing additional tasks like spreading awareness about plastic disposal and rainwater harvesting. The agents are given training in spreading messages on these subjects in the households we visit. However, this money is not given on a monthly basis. We also pay tax on the commission we get.

My day usually begins close to 10 a.m. Each MPKBY agent is allotted two days a week to deposit their collection at the post office. Mine is on Tuesdays and Fridays. On these days, I reach the post office before 10. I would sit the night before and enter details of the collection made on the computer, transfer data on a pen drive and hand it over at the post office. In the past few years I had to learn the computer to master this part of my job. I did find it difficult initially, but have got used to it now. Once my work at the post office is done, I go for collection. Most of my depositors live in the area between Vellimadukkunnu and Chevarambalam. Some of the younger agents have a vehicle. But I walk. It is routine for me to walk 5-6 kms a day, rain or shine. I begin my collection by the 4 of every month and it goes on till the 25. I earmark a region and visit about 30 houses a day. After the 25, I wind up with the houses I missed out the first time. Some houses would haven been locked, others may not have the deposit money. So I make a second visit. Now I have close to 500 depositors and I deposit about Rs. 3 lakh in the post office every month.

Over the years, I have a built a warm bond with my depositors. Most of them share the developments in their household with me. They also are enthusiastic about their small saving schemes. They like the fact that they have nothing much to do. Somebody comes and collects the money, deposits it in the post office and shows them their updated pass book. Some even tell me to collect the amount when it has matured. I often have to cajole them to come to the post office and collect it. The recurring deposit is for five years and most of them take a new one after a term ends. Depositors are not unduly worried about the 8.5 per cent interest. They bank on the fact that they don’t have to endure any difficulty to make this saving. By the time I finish the collection work, it would be around 7.30 p.m. After household work, I usually sit down to jot down the day's collection. I am also a Standardised Agency System agent. But the commission on the SAS scheme is a mere 0.5 per cent. So I concentrate more on MPKBY.

My family — my husband, son and daughter—has been a great support. Whenever I am late, I give them a call and they come and pick me up. My children helped me learn the computer. I am also part of the National Savings Agents Association.

The job has made my life easier. I intend to do it as long as I have my hands and legs.”

As told to P. ANIMA

A column on men and women who make Kozhikode what it is.