Bhagini Nivedita Gramin Vigyan Niketan

States

Maharashtra

The majority of the time, women in the villages labour in the fields beside their husbands, but regrettably, they have no access to or influence over the money generated by their homes. In 2006, we started organising groups of women through quick training. Almost 100 Self Help Groups were established, with their main goals being to take out small loans and save money each month in government bank savings accounts.
Now that they have access to money, women are starting to play a bigger part in the community. Their way of life has also changed, as they now actively participate in village development and activities rather than being restricted to the four walls of their dwellings.
2000 Self-Help Groups currently operate in 200 communities, serving 20,000 women and their families.
To sustain the viability of Self Help Groups, we also organise initiatives that improve teamwork and provide a secure space for women to express themselves.

States

Maharashtra

Inspired by Tukdoji Maharaj's Gramme Geeta, the Model Village Programme aims to build village communities through the use of money as an enabler. The Gramme Nidhi Village Fund is the focal point of the Model Village Programme. Villagers may borrow money from the village fund, but there are restrictions on the types of loans that can be taken out and the quantities that can be borrowed.

The Model Village Programme is significant because it transfers the autonomy and accountability of the Gramme Nidhi to the community it serves. It also guarantees that borrowers won't be at the mercy of outrageously high-interest moneylenders. On the Gramme Sabha, or Village Assembly, platform, loan requests are made.