Microcredit Marvels: Empowering Women

Summary

Empower 50 women start or expand small businesses of their own by providing micro-credit loans or grants.

Challenge

The Indian women face many challenges in their life such as poverty, illiteracy, gender inequality, social evils such as dowry etc., This put them under disadvantaged group. The women also get into the trap of money lenders who suck their blood by charging exorbitant rate of interest. Many studies show that bringing people out of poverty cannot be done through charitable efforts alone. It needs strong effort by the government and non-profit organizations. By providing micro credit, we make them to be more self-reliant.   

Solution

This project aims at providing small grants or loans (free or low interest) to women pursuing small businesses of their own. The awarding of loans and grants will be done based on their established business or to start their own business by interviewing them and to see their business plan. Prime Trust already has a fair trade store in Puducherry that sells products that are made by women from our self-help groups. These women expressed their desire to have additional funding to expand their business.

Long-Term Impact

The objective of this project will be fulfilled when the women have their own business. This project empowers women to become self-reliant and self-sustaining. It gives them the financial independence that they rightfully deserve. The women deserve respect and regard in their families. Violence against women will be slowly eradicated. Additionally, there are added opportunities for employment opened. They are also able to meet other small business owners through our Akshaya store meetings.

Resources

http://www.primetrust.org
Prime Trust Webpage
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Twitter

Summary
To empower 1000 women by motivating them to form Women Self Help Groups to start their own business and to provide additional support to those who have existing business.

Challenges
In the Indian patriarchal society, women are not considered as equal to that of men and hence, they lack equal opportunity. Most of the women are made to take care of all domestic chores and taking care of the elders and children. The women are subjected to all forms of violence. Even as the girl child, they are not treated as their brothers and they receive secondary treatment. Again education is a big question. Most of the women are not given an opportunity to go beyond their school education. They are made as dependent on her father and brothers.

Solution
To overcome this condition, Prime Trust took an initiative since 2002 to form groups in rural and urban community to bring changes and make the women self-reliant. For which we form groups and try to get credit from banks. In addition to that, they also get training on how to make a successful business.

Long-Term Impact

With the long term involvement of Prime Trust, more number of self-help groups would be formed and facilitated to receive credit from banks. Also through our vocational training centres, the women will get skill training on tailoring, embroidery, door mat weaving and handmade printing. With our support, women can be more independent and her support would benefit her family. She will get respect and have the chance to take decision along with her spouse.

Updates

With the support of our donors, Prime Trust was able to provide cows to the women in the rural community. So far 5 groups got the benefit of receiving cows. Prime Trust recently started a production unit of making bags for textile shops and 6 women are employed. With our retail outlet for selling products made by women, we are making a good profit and support the women. We are also trying to form new women groups and entrepreneurial development programs are also offered on a regular basis.
 

Resources

http://www.primetrust.org
Facebook