Make Women in Rural India Financially Secure

Dear Friends,

Hope you are well. We are very grateful to your continuing support to our project “Rural women support their families and villages”. I am writing to share with you the progress report of the project. As you know the project aims at bringing rural women together for saving and credit activities (Self help Groups or SHGs). The hope is to instill confidence for women financially and create opportunities for women to share their concerns with one another. In the process the project also provides women with an opportunity to access external sources of finance to initiate a variety of income generation activities.

With your support, the project focuses on empowering women both at individual and collective level. Following are some snapshots of the enclosed mid-year progress report for 2011-12:

• There are 534 SHGs with 8,161 women members.

• A total of Rs. 23,885,387 (USD 508,200) is occupied by these 493 SHGs.

• A variety of income generation programs have been taken up by several women you are supporting including goatery, dairy, fisheries, pottery; tofu making etc.

• A short term course viz “Course in Rural Entrepreneurship, Administration and Management” was held for some entrepreneurs focusing on
  finance and accounting, sales and marketing, operations management and strategy management. Find more details in the report enclosed.

Also, below my letter there is a story of a woman who has been benefited by the program you are supporting. I really hope you will enjoy learning more about her.

Thank you once again for your steady support. We hope you will be able to visit us someday. Please do share your thoughts and feedback on the report.

With regards,

Deepti

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Story of Transformation

Rodi Bai, lives in Falasia. She became a member of self help group (SHG) in her village in March last year. In the beginning she was saving Rs. 25/- every month  (USD ½), which gradually increased up to Rs.50/- (USD 1).

She and her husband have three sons, one daughter and a daughter-in-law. The economic condition of her family is not too sound as her husband is the only breadwinner of the family. His income isn’t enough to meet the ends meet. After being a member of the SHG, Rodi Bai thought of reviving her traditional family business of pottery. Unfortunately, she didn’t have enough money to start and the saving which was pooled up by the SHG wasn’t sufficient either to meet her requirement of cash. Subsequently, the SHG applied for a bank loan under a Government Scheme ’SwarnaJayanti Gram Swarojgar’. The group was successful in obtaining a loan of Rs. 312,500 (USD 6,250) from a bank. Rodi was provided with a loan of Rs. 50,000 (USD 1,000) to start her pottery business.

Rodi bai and her husband have started making clay pots and other items. They sell their products in the local and main markets of Udaipur city. Rodi has begun to earn an annual income of Rs. 60,000 (USD 1,200). She has been able to repay more than half of the loan she owes to the bank. Rodi bai and her family is doing well and is very proud of their traditional business.

Links:

• Read more about MBA course in Rural Entrepreneurship

• Mid year update report 2011-12 (DOC)