Make Women in Rural India Financially Secure

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Seva Mandir!

Hope you are well. The monsoon has come to Rajasthan last week. Everyone is excited to have clouds in the sky and hoping to have a good monsoon year.

I am sharing the annual report of our Self Help Group (SHG) program that you are supporting. The report accounts detailed information on the total number of SHGs currently running as well as the total savings of these groups. In the last two years the efforts have been made in strengthening the smooth functioning of SHGs. A number of trainings and workshops that were organized during the reporting period which helped the participants learn skills of auditing of SHGs, profit distribution, qualitative monitoring, standardization of SHG norms and streamlining MIS (monitoring information system).

This year the SHGs took a step ahead and began to contribute towards the costs for auditing and book keeping. The groups are happy at their self-reliance they are achieving gradually.

The performance of SHGs is measured on the basis of six main indicators – regular meetings, regular savings, regular attendance, principal repayment, interest repayment, and safe portfolio.

After the audit in March 2010, for the first time, during April – June 10, profit distribution was done in all the SHGs. For this initially the criteria for profit distribution was discussed with the groups and it was decided that since it was being done for the first time, it should be based on total savings of members.

Seva Mandir has collaborated with a team of consultants for a short course (6 months) on Rural Entrepreneurship, Administration and Management. It’s a curriculum designed and taught by industry professionals, NGO Leaders and academicians. It’s a part time MBA program designed for rural businessmen and employees of NGO’s running various livelihood projects. For more details please see the report enclosed.

Following is a brief fact sheet for your quick reference –

1.   By the end of March 2011, we had 528 SHGs with 7,981 women members.

2.   The total savings of these SHGs is Rs. 19,055,983 (USD 423,466).

3.   The SHGs in the urban settings are outperforming the ones set up in rural areas. Interest repayment rate is 95 to 100% for all blocks except for Jhadol. The portfolio at risk is very high for Kherwara and Badgaon Block. Please see the report enclosed for more details.

4.   The members received a profit of Rs. 2,385,169 (USD 53,004) from their SHGs.

5.   During this period 85 campaigns (one day each) were organized in all blocks, in which 2,556 women from 174 SHGs participated. These campaigns mainly focused on the concepts of SHGs, performance indicators and addressing the specific problems of the SHGs.

6.    Six training programs were organized focusing on enhancing the skill for accountancy.

I very much hope that you will enjoy reading all the progress these women are making with your help. Many thanks to all of you for your continuing support to this program. Please do write to us if you have any queries. We will keep you updated about the progress of this program as well as about the monsoon.

With warm regards,

Deepti

• SHG annual report 2010-2011 (DOC)