Lalitpur is known as a city of good craftsmen and beautiful monuments, pagodas, shrines, temples and monasteries. Most of the people in this city is associated with handicraft works such as, carving, filigrees goods, metal statue buildings, wooden carving. masks production and silver ornaments and so on. These artisans are still following traditional techniques only. It seems there is lack of collective action within the artisans, they could not modify and promote their occupation even though they have skills and manpower because of lack of sufficient working capital. The access of credit is difficult for them. They are also very hesited and unfamiliar with bureaucratic system in formal financial organization to enhance credit in need.

Artisans andcraftsmen families therfore need to be organized into sizable and effective groups. In aiming to develop artisans group capacities and strengthen them to be able to function autonomously in managing their development affairs, a group of young people have started to run a saving and credit co-operative Ltd. named SCOPE Saving & Credit Co-operative Society Ltd. It was registered on September7, 1993 under the Co-operative Act of 1992 of His Majesty Government, Nepal. This co-operative Ltd. is based on its internal resources i.e. saving deposites and share capital.

As Co-operatice idea is practically sound to the members, each member introduces the idea to non members of different communities. SCOPE has promoted several savings and credit groups among artisans and craftsmen in 18 different places in Patan Municipality and two groups in Junebeshi in Salleri villages of Solukhumbu district of Sagarmatha Zone from eastern Nepal. Among them 6 groups have already registered as co-operative Ltd. under co-operative act 1992. Approximately 1200 people are benefited from its program. It has been providing training as per the need of the seld-help group in different places in Patan.

Goals

The main goal of SCOPE is to promote saving and credit program for the upliftment of member’ economic condition for their self-reliance.

Objectives

• To make local people aware on the importance of Saving & Credit Co-operative Society Ltd.
• To make people the habit of savings and aware them to reduce unnecessary expenses.
• To participate in different workshop, seminar and training program to enhance new ideas.
• To learn new ideas for income generating activities participating in different exhibition and trade fair.
• To make easy access of credit to its members for promoting their micro entrepreneurship business.
• To facilitate members for strengthening their economic condition in carrying out skill enhancement training.
• To promote saving groups within artisans and craftsmen in Lalitpur.