Microcredit Marvels: Empowering Women

Summary

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

 Challenges

The women in India face the fallowing challenges:

Dowry:  It is a based ritual of transfer of property including cash, vehicles, household goods, etc. A Dowry is defined as the property that is received by a Man from the family of his would be Wife during the process of their Marriage. Being totally illegal this ritual is still practiced all around India. Gifts and cash are broadly exchanged between the two families calling it to be a Tradition that has been followed from ages.

NO Education:Another most famous and popular challenge that woman’s face is related to low educational level. Although a lot of new schemes and plan are being introduced as a medium of improvising this condition, as a result situation is for sure getting better but only to some extent. Still large no of girls, constitute a large body of underprivileged citizen. They are taken away from this basic necessity of life, forcing them to make their involvement in household work. Most in backward caste these women have to face Lack of Education and attention as compared to boys. It is believed that until these backward groups hold a major responsibility for future development of the country. Still, this sector of society, either ignore or sideline the law of “Right to education” of girls, who wants to explore the world. Women Trafficking:Famous for enforcing young girls or woman to enter the world of Prostitution or Drug Dealing as means for their livelihood for survival this is another most threatening situation for a woman. Once trapped in this cage, possibility of getting free becomes next to impossible. This so called business not only hears a woman physically, but mentally and socially too. She eventually loses her identity, feels isolated and becomes unfamiliar with the outside world. The shocking truth of this industry is all ages is not a limitation her youngest to eldest woman are pushed into it willingly or unwillingly either-way resulting to lost childhood of little. Female-infanticide: Another most disheartening issue that a woman’s face. We hear a lot of cases every other day related to the killing of a girl child in the womb or soon after she takes the birth. Nation like India is still fighting against female infanticide. It’s totally bizarre act done by some shameless and heartless people who call them themselves to be human. Looks like it’s not the mother to decide whether to keep the child or not. Due to certain laws and new schemes, the act has descended to some extent but hasn’t stopped totally.

Thus, it still needs to be uprooted. This discrimination on the basis of gender is for sure, isn’t genuine, but mindsets of people even today revolves around some old myths or misconceptions that needs to end soon.

Solution

Keeping in mind the challenges faced by the women in India, prime Trust offers small loans from the banks and motivate the women group to start a small business and to generate income. Prime Trust interacts with other financial institutions and facilitate the groups in getting credit. The objective of this program is to make our women as a small entrepreneur.

   Long-Term Impact

This project empowers women to become self-reliant and self-sustaining. It gives them the financial independence that they rightfully deserve. Additionally, there are added opportunities for employment opened. They are also able to meet other small business owners through our Akshaya store meetings. This ability to form networks with other women gives them access to support systems and safety nets that they otherwise would not have within their own families.

 Resources

http:/ / www.primetrust.org
https://www.facebook.com/Primetrust.Puducherry

https://twitter.com/trust_prime

https://www.instagram.com/primetrust/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/in/savarinathan-maria-arasu-87a912aa

Summary

Empower 100 women start or expand small businesses of their own by providing micro-credit loans or grants and also by providing training.

Challenge

From the history, it is very well understood that just by charity, the poverty can’t be eradicated. It could be achieved only through empowering women by making them self reliant. The women face societal ills such as low literacy rates, unemployment predatory lending and the resulting into `debt trap` restrict women from having expandable income.

Solution

This project aims to provide small grants or loans (free or low interest) to women pursuing small businesses of their own. The awarding of loans and grants will be based on established small businesses or clearly outlined new ideas. Prime Trust contacts banks and facilitate women groups to get credit. Prime Trust already has a fair trade store in Puducherry that sells products that are made by women from our self-help groups. Prime Trust takes initiatives to provide them employment opportunities so that they can find a job or they can earn independently.

Long-Term Impact

This project empowers women to become self-reliant and self-sustaining. It gives them the financial independence that they rightfully deserve. With our training on tailoring, embroidery, jewel making, door mat weaving, paper bag making, the women can have a decent income. Through their financial independence, they are equally respected in their families and get chances to take their own decision.

Updates

Recently, Prime Trust took initiatives in setting up the folloiwng training/income generation programs: Jewel making, paper bag making, embroidery work. 

Periodical training programs for Accounting were conducted. Through our resource person, an orientation program on how to run a successful business by applying simple logics was conducted.  

Resources

http://www.primetrust.org
Prime Trust Webpage
https://www.facebook.com/Akshyaconfederation/