Mercury Self Help Group, Buniyadabad promoted by Yuvasakthi on 21/09/2010 with 14 members. The Group started collecting saving at their monthly meeting and deposited in the savings bank account maintained with ANSC Bank Ltd., Haddo. There after they started lending among themselves and increased savings Rs. 36,400/- Yuvasakthi has arranged credit linkage with ANSC Bank for Rs. 25,000/- during 18/02/2011 and Mercury has successfully completed the loan again the group has approached Yuvasakthi for loan to enter into individual income generation. On due assessment a sum of Rs. 2,00,000/- was sanctioned on 26/06/2011. In this loan facility Smti Chitra Ravi has availed Rs. 25,000/- and invested in her business (Fancy Stores). She purchased fancy items and school stationary etc. earlier she had arranged this shop through bank loan. Now she is doing the turnover of Rs. 40,000/- every month and earning Rs. 4,000/- to Rs. 5,000/- and she is repaying the loan amount in time. Her children are studying in good school and she is not depend on her husband for any of her family need. She expressed her gratitude to Yuvasakthi RMK loan support which enabled her to become what she is now.

• Mrs. Jhansi Lakshmi wife of Shri B. Guruvamandadi is one of the group members of Balaji Sangham Dasarimatam Self Help Group sponsored by Rashtriya Seva Samiti (RASS). She was given proper training for Mango - Ginger Pickle making, Mango-Avakaya, Lemon, Ginger, Ginger with Garlic, Ginger without garlic, Onion, Red Chillies, Bitter Guard, Amla, Pudina,Tomato, Gongura, Gongura without garlic etc. This business is showing good results and the woman is getting good return on these products. Her profit has made her life comfortable. Her status in society has increased. She intends to expand the business after some improvement. Her business is attracting other women of the area to form SHG and do some business collectively. This would have been possible by micro-credit assistance from RMK through RASS.
• Mrs. N. Shiva Parvathi is a member of Tirumaleswara Sangham consisting of 14 group members.Before joining the group she was working with a photo frame shop and earning a little which was hardly to meet her requirements.After joining the group she underwent group training.The training inspired her to start her own business.She received micro credit assistance from RMK through the grass root NGO – RASS.With her hard work, she was able to expand her business, which gave her additional income.Her business is quite attractive and profitable.Her husband has subsequently joined her.From a very negligible income the husband wife are earning around ` 8000/- per month.This has raised their living standard and earned respect in the society.This change in her life was possible through micro-credit programme of RMK and efforts made by the NGO.
• Mrs. Muntha Santha wife of ShriM. Samasiva Rao is a agricultural labourer and belongs to a very poor family.Due to very meager income it was very difficult for her family to live a good life.She came to know about the SHGs being formed by a local NGO called Gramasiri.She joined the SHG and got micro-credit assistance from RMK through the NGO to start a small business.She started a small vegetable vending shop.In this business she earned a good profit and as such she purchased a shop.The income from the vegetable shop has raised her economic status.Now she is able to give good education to her children. The micro-credit support has helped Mrs. Muntha Santha live a life of dignity, respect and self-reliance.Mrs. Muntha Santha now intends to construct a good house and lead a comfortable life.Mr. Muntha Santha says that it would not been possible if there would have no financial assistance from RMK and GRAMASIRI – NGO.

• Mrs. Rajakani is a widow and belongs to a very poor family.She formed a SHGs with other women of her village sponsored by Aid India, through its grass root NGO.Inspired, by, the progress made by other members of the SHGs, she thought becoming a member as she wanted to go in dairy business. For this she wanted to purchase cows for which money was required. She approached Aid India for micro-credit assistance from RMK.On receipt of loan from RMK she purchased 2 milking cows and started milk selling business successfully.From the sale of the milk she earns\ed Rs. 100/- per day as profit.This income has made her self sufficient and able to stand on her own feet.This has also helped her to live a life of respect with dignity in her community. She has now enrolled her children in a school with a view to give them good education.She is thankful to RMK for making her economically independent.
• The Jan Jagran Kendra, a local NGO in Hazaribagh District of Bihar is assisting its SHG members including the Kiran Bachat Samiti by extending them micro credit from RMK.Kiran Bachat Samiti (SHG) is a group of 20 women in a village called Sindpur of Barhi Panchayat Samiti in Hazaribagh District. The group members individually get loan from the Samiti to purchase animals like cows, goats etc. with a view to increase their monthly income.But one of the members Mrs.Geeta Devi had other plans in mind.She applied for micro-credit assistance from RMK through the NGO for starting a Bicycle Repair Shop.She got success in the trade.Mrs.Geeta Devi has achieved a greater economic status in her family.She has a greater say in the decision-making process of the family. The micro-credit support has helped Mrs. Geeta Devi to live a life of dignity, respect and self-reliance.Mrs. Geeta Devi is of the view that for her success the credit should go to RMK and the local NGO Jan Jagran Kendra without their help this was not possible.
• Smt. Sheela Devi a member of Schedule Cast Family, lives with her husband in Patwa Toli in rural area of Vaishali district in Bihar. Her Husband is an agricultural laborer, the family is economically weak. As the income of her husband was seasonal, the family lived in extreme poverty.

Integrated National Development Centre for Advancements Reforms and Education (INDCARE) a Delhi based NGO after obtaining financial assistance from RMK is successfully working with slum urban and rural poor women in different part of the city with a view to improving their living conditions and quality of life.INDCARE promotes such SHGs, Cooperatives, Mahila Chetna Munch, which are instrumental in catering the immediate social and economic basic needs of the poor women.

INDCARE has formed 1600 SHGs of nearly 50,000 women. In Delhi the organization with the help of MCD and Delhi Administration is implementing the Mid Day Meal Schemes for 1,00,000 children of 164 government run Primary Schools. The SHG Members have been facilitated in such a way that they directly involved themselves in the management part of the programme. 1500 women are currently engaged in this programme. INDCARE is extending them vocational skill development and training with a view to increase their technical and social competencies and working methods. The pilot project is working successfully.

• Mrs. Subhadra Mahto from Village Damudhi in Potka Block of East Singhbhum district, got married when she was very young. She could study only upto 6th class, but had big dreams. She always thought that how she will be able to earn of her own? Will she ever be independent? But with such poor educational background, how can she do so?

  On the other hand the husband of Mrs. Subhadra’s was a labourer working with a contractor. The couple had no adequate farm land for livelihood. So there were crisis in the family, as day to day expenses were difficult to manage. The situation was more difficult during drought and famine. Her husband suddenly met with an accident and got his leg injured. As a result of this his monthly income was reduced to Rs. 250/- per day from Rs. 380/ per day. Conditions were turning bad to worse for them. Daily bread and butter was at stake.

  A Ray of Hope and answer to all her questions was found immediately after her joining SHG. She realized that she is not alone. There are other women in the group to help her.

  The representative of the NGO explained to her how she can take loan of Rs. 10,000 - Rs. 35,000 from RMK under Main Loan Scheme to meet emergency situations which can be house repair, medical emergency or starting a business enterprise or advance agricultural farming etc.

  Mrs. Subhadra approached Kalamandir a Rashtriya Mahila Kosh partner NGO in Jharkhand. She was sanctioned loan of Rs. 12,000 for house repair and ` 10,000 for poultry. Poultry of 300 chicks had been a promising source of livelihood for her. She sold chicken and earned Rs. 3000 - Rs. 5000 per month. Now she doesn’t have to rely on anyone. She is now self-sufficient and is able to generate reasonable money to run her family smoothly and educate the kids. Her status in the society has gone up. Her voice is heard properly in all matter both in the family and society.

  Now, she is a woman for whom Rashtriya Mahila Kosh stands for a CHANGE MAKER. She never thought that SHG and RMK can bring such a change in her life.
   

• Kiran Bachat Samiti (SHG) is a group of 20 women in a village called Sindpur of Barhi Panchayat Samiti in Hazaribagh District. The local NGO viz Jan Jagran Kendra, is assisting its members of Kiran Bachat Samiti by extending them micro credit from RMK.

  The group members individually get loan from the Samiti to purchase animals like cows, goats etc. with a view to increase their monthly income. But one of the members Mrs. Geeta Devi had other plans in mind. She applied for micro-credit assistance from RMK through the NGO for starting a Bicycle Repair Shop. With this innovative and very successful idea, Mrs. Geeta Devi has achieved a greater economic status in her family. She has a greater say in the decision-making process of the family. The micro-credit support has helped Mrs. Geeta Devi live a life of dignity, respect and self-reliance.

MP State Cooperative Dairy Federation Ltd.. Bhopal is working for the empowerment of women by forming them in SHGs. The Federation has a number of SHGs. The Dairy federation received micro-credit assistance from RMK for its members. All the members associated with the federation not only got financial help but also received training for heir capacity building etc. Smt Basanta Manohar is a member of Love Kush Mahila Self Help Group, which is affiliated with the federation. She belongs to a very poor family. It was difficult for her to feed her large family before joining the Group. Through the group she received financial assistance from RMK for purchase of a cow of good breed, which gives around 10 litre of milk per day. By selling cow milk to the Milk Samiti she gets good return. After meeting all the expenditure she has a regular income of around Rs. 1500/- to Rs. 1600/- per month. This income has made her to live with dignity in the society. She could arrange a better marriage for her daughter and also give education to her children, which was not possible before becoming the member of the SHG. She has put her children in school. The micro-credit support has helped Mrs. Basanta Manohar to live a life of self-reliance. Mrs. Basanta Manohar says that the change in her life would not have been possible if there was no financial assistance from RMK.

Similarly Mrs. Mamta Subhas is a divorce and member of the Jai Yogeshwar Self Help Group. She belongs to a poor family of agricultural labourers and was leading a very poor life. She and other members of her group approached RMK through the Indore Milk Federation for micro credit assistance. Through her group she got micro credit assistance from RMK for the purchase of a buffalo. She started selling milk to the Cooperative Milk Society, Indore. Now she has repaid the loan and earning a monthly income of around Rs. 2000/- per month. She does not depend on any one since she has a regular income of Rs. 2000/-, which is sufficient for her to live a life of dignity in the society. She is thankful to the Indore Milk Federation and R.M.K. for the extending her micro credit help.

There is yet another example of Jai Durga Self Help Group consisting of 20 members associated with Dugdh Sahkari Samiti, Marya, Bhillai. The group got micro-finance help from RMK for purchase of milking animals. Before joining the group the women members were working as labourers and living a life full of misery. On receipt of micro credit assistance from RMK these dedicated women purchased cow/buffalos and started selling milk to the Samiti and earned a good profit, which was shared by the members. This, however, created awareness among the group members for better maintenance of milking animals. Not only this, these women started selling cows to other members and making a good profit for the group. The micro-credit support has helped the group members to live a life with dignity in the society. The members of the SHG are thankful to RMK for providing micro credit at a reasonable rate of interest.

All Backward Classes & Economic Development Organization (ABCEDO), Samaram Bazar, Thoubal District of Manipur is implementing a number of socio-economic development programmes through Self Help Groups. One of the remarkable achievements of the organization is its Micro-Credit Programme supported by RMK. The organization has 64 Women SHGs. Some of the Groups have taken up vegetable farming to promote their economic status. Some of the members of these SHGs took 2 Hectare of land on lease at Rs. 40,000/- and planted 50 thousand number of cabbage plants and also some seasonal vegetables. This investment of Rs. 40,000/- gave them a profit of Rs. 2,39,000/-. This has encouraged them to go for agricultural inputs like tractor and encourage other members of group to join the SHGs so that they also become financially strong and independent.

LUPIN Human Welfare and Research Foundation a grass root NGO working in the selected villages for its economic development. Nagala Harchand in Block Kama of Bharatpur district is one of the selected villages. The villagers in the village are generally agricultural labourers and are not only backward but also very poor. The NGO formed a number of SHGs of men and women. Women were more enthusiastic than men. Therefore, they took active part in formation of several groups. Proper training was given to the groups by the NGO for different trades. Women preferred Tulsi Mala making and animal husbandry. A request for micro credit assistance was made to RMK through the local NGO. Loan from RMK was provided to these groups by the NGO. The business of Mala making picked up and the sale increased. Similarly income from the sale of milk was increased. The economic condition of the village improved to a great extent. The social status of the villagers rose to a great extent. The women of the village joined the mainstream of development. It helped in raising the educational standard of the villagers. All the evil activities prevalent in the village being backward reduced substantially and the village achieved its full economic development. The micro credit assistance given by RMK to the SHG members through the NGO – Lupin Human Welfare & Research Foundation made all the economic and social development of the village possible.

Mrs. Krishna Devi from Lalla Ka Purva, Block Sohawal, District Faizabad, UP is from a very poor family. Her family consists of 4 members but their house is situated at some distance from the main village and as such initially she was not aware of any SHG.

However, once she came to know about the SHG and the benefits of micro-credit assistance she joined the group. She approached PANI a grass root NGO working in that area.and NGO partner of RMK for micro-credit assistance that was sanctioned to her. With the credit, she purchased a sewing machine. Her husband being a tailor could work on her behalf. Slowly she expanded her activities and went for another set of improved sewing machines. This helped her to raise her monthly income. Again she took loan from RMK through PANI. She diversified her business from a tailor shop to electronic goods shop. This diversification gave her courage for a big shop and business. She is now running a shop and selling electronic goods. Her monthly income has gone up. Her standard of living has also gone up. She sends her children to a good school and living a life of self-respect Her husband gives her full support and treats her as equal partner in the life. This gives her much satisfaction. She is thankful to RMK for extending micro credit assistance and making her life joyful.

Women’s Development Organization (WDO) is a registered organization under Societies Registration Act 1860 since 1990. WDO is working as an “Apex Body” for marketing of products manufactured / produced by rural folk/women. WDO is working with 4-tier system i.e. WDO-head office on all India basis- State projects office-related registered Societies – at grass root level and – Self Help Groups.

Generally Self – Help Groups (SHGs) consist of 10 to 20 members. But the area where WDO is working formation of large group is difficult. Therefore, SHGs formed by WDO consist of 5-15 members at grass root level in the village, remote and backward areas. These groups are mobilized after providing necessary training for capacity building apart from facilities available through training for woolen & cotton articles.

WDO organized 10 groups with 15 members each for making Barrack Blankets Thus 150 members were grouped for barrack blankets making. Separately there are 450 family members associated with these groups in different villages. Thus 600 members of traditional weaver families were associated.

Similarly 300 women members in 20 groups with 15 members in each group were formed by WDO. In these groups about 900 family members were associated from traditional weavers families. Thus WDO was able to add 1200 more families’ members in their SHGs. Another 20 groups consisting of 15 members were formed in the subsequent years These groups nominated 10 members from their groups to form a Federation and registered it in a society. All the members of these 50 SHGs consisting of 900 families indirectly became member of the Federation so that all the 3000 members jointly can work at their convenience. In the bringing the WDO representative viz the Secretary guided the federation, till it become independent and self-sustainable.

• This is story of village Usilampatti under Palaapatti Panchayat of TN. It is a drought prone village too. The people of this village belong to Muthuraja caste and are most backward and poor. The village is gender biased and thus the condition of women is pathetic. However, the Society for Development of Human Abilities and Environment called OAZONE a grass root NGO partner of RMK started forming Self Help Groups (SHGs) with a view to get rid of them of from the clutches of moneylenders. A group of 30 women was formed and given training for rope making. Rope making was their traditional occupation. For making ropes, fibers from the leaves of a plant called Agave are used as raw material. This plant is found in drought prone and wastelands area. Therefore, some women started harvesting the leaves of AGAVE for making ropes. Before joining SHGs these women use to sell their product to the middleman who in-turn paid them less money and kept some amount as deposit with him. The condition of these women did not improve. However, after joining the SHGs they could get micro credit assistance from RMK through the NGO – OAZONE. With this loan they started Producers’ Cooperative to oversee the production and marketing activities of their product. The micro credit helped them in procuring raw material. They are now in a position to get good return for their products and are free from the clutches of moneylender. They have a regular income of Rs. 100/- to Rs. 150/- per day. The regular income has raised their standard of living, social status and their say in the family affairs.
• Madhar Nala Thondu Niruvanam (MNTN) a grass root NGO formed a number of SHGs. One of the SHGs is. – Sun Self Help Group consisting of 15 members. The economic condition of the group members was very poor before joining the SHG. The MNTN imparted the group training for income generating programme. After obtaining proper training, MNTN approached RMK for micro-credit assistance for the group. A loan was sanctioned to the Self Help Group for milk dairy business. This business gave them enough profits. The profit is shared among the group members. This has enabled them to raise their standard of living, their status in the society, given them the opportunity to educate their children and live a life of self-respect with dignity. Encouraged by the success of the group other women of the area followed the model for their SHG. The group members are all praise for the financial assistance given by RMK through the NGO.
• Two SHGs consisting of 26 members mostly Dalits and Backward of village Thavalaiveeranpatti of Trichirapalli District started a dairying unit after taking micro-credit from Rashtriya Mahila Kos (RMK) through LEAD a grass root NGO. Initially the unit was started with a loan of Rs. 76,000/- but subsequently another loan of Rs. 2.99 lakh per group helped the unit to develop. The production of the unit was raised to 200 liters of milk per day. With the increase in the output the unit has been able to improve the livelihood of all the group members. The unit has provided additional employment of 3 women worker for managing the unit, collecting milk from the members and for maintaining the accounts of the unit. The profitability of the unit is more than 25 %. Keeping in view the fast growth of the unit the women has started growing fodder grass and trees in their farms. It is said that the progress made by these women is much more than that of men in any case. This growth has encouraged the women to start a cattle feed mixing unit and artificial insemination centre. The members of the group are selling their milk through the Dairy Cooperative but they are planning to go to the market directly with a view to get better price and profit.

• This is a story of Mrs. Rosonara Halder, W/o Abu Siddik Halder, Vill. – Nij Uttarpara, P.S. – Joynagar, Distt. – South 24-Parganas, West Bengal a member of one of the SHGs formed by Human Development Centre (HDC). HDC is a grass root NGO partner of RMK. Mrs. Halder is from a very poor family. In the absence of regular income her family was very much disturbed. It was very difficult for the family to survive. The family consisted of husband wife and 2 children.
  Mrs. Rosonara Halder came to know about HDC NGO through her neighbours. She joined one of the Groups. HDC applied for loan from RMK. Micro-finance assistance received from RMK, a loan of Rs. 3,000/- was sanctioned to Mrs. Halder. She opened a small tea stall by the side of her house. Gradually she expanded her business with regular help from HDC. Her financial income improved in the course of time. This helped her to educate her children. The children are now studying in a school. Apart from the Tea Stall she has now opened a meat shop also. This has increased her monthly income from Nil to over Rs. 8,000/- per month. Now she has no family problem and are a happy family. This has happened with the help of micro-finance credit from RMK.
  Mrs. Yosoda Ghosh has a family of 6. The income of her husband was around Rs. 10,000 per annum from selling of milk. This income was hardly sufficient for the family to live a good life. In the absence of adequate capital it was difficult for the family to expand their milk business. Mrs. Yosoda joined a SHG formed by Bandhan NGO.
• Micro credit assistance received from RMK through the NGO helped her to purchase a cow and expand her business. Her monthly income substantially increased. The help provided by the NGO with financial support from RMK had helped the SHG member to earn and save an additional Rs. 300/- per month. As a result of this, the socio economic status of Ms. Yosoda has gone up and she has become self-reliant. This economic change has helped her to give proper education and medical care to her children. The other women members of the village has been encouraged with her success and formed another SHG.