Micro Finance

SSP enables the women poor to access capital and build credit. The capacity to manage financial resources and the confidence acquired through such activities become the basis for women’s participation in numerous village development activities. Through the spaces create by self-help groups (SHGs), women are able to discuss day-to-day problems, organize themselves and act to share market information and request and approve loans.

Since 1998, SSP has mobilized grassroots women's network to form savings and credit groups (15-20 women mobilize savings, lend for household needs and access microfinance) and member-owned federations at the local level. It involved a three-tier community structure that placed SHGs and federations in direct contact with one another. The cumulative savings of women in the SHG network supported by SSP stands at Rs.6.8 million. Federations unite the growing network of women who are increasingly linked to local institutions, banks and business opportunities.

With growing demand, SSP established a community driven microfinance institution (MFI) called Sakhi Samudaya Kosh in February 2006. As of June 2009, SSK has disbursed Rs. 104 million to over 16,000 women self help groups members for small business / trade and agriculture.

For poor women, launching of the MFI meant ready acces to capital and enhanced creditworthiness in the eye of banks and improved access to markets. The MFI has a potential outreach scope of 60,000 women across 10 districts in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.