Indian Grameen Services

Indian Grameen Services (IGS) works towards fostering livelihood development with an aim to introduce financial services to the marginalised communiti Read morees by inculcating financial literacy, digital transactions, non-cash transactions, individual micro-entrepreneur financing and aadhar-card based linkage. The organisation further promotes eco-tourism and has developed a community-owned eco-tourism initiative at Mangalajodi Wetland of Chilika Lagoon and Devkund in Similipal Biospehere Reserve. These initiatives are a productive way of creating a source of income for the locals while preserving natural reserves. Additionally, in order to ensure community ownership, IGS has set up the Manglajodi Eco Tourism Trust and the Devkund Eco Tourism Trust as institutions which are completely owned and managed by the local communities. In addition to this IGS works to help farmers increase their income by enhancing crop productivity, reducing cost of production, mitigating risk, and strengthening backward and forward linkages. The organisation's goal is to provide 10 million households with sustainable farm-based livelihood solutions across India by 2030. In order to promote clean energy IGS has developed initiatives which include renewable energy charging stations, solar water pumps and village electrification. The organisation has also set up solar micro grids and has guided the communities to adopt the technology. The organisation also promotes entrepreneurship development which includes micro-enterprises for farm and non-farm based livelihoods. It identifies individuals involved in specific trades and provides them with training, guidance, mentoring, risk-management services and links to financial institutions to help them expand. IGS surveys the local economy, studies the market, provides value chain assessment and develops strategic business plans. The organisation has intervened in sectors including retail and smaller initiatives such as street hawking, eating outlets and tailoring. It has also supported seventy five women entrepreneurs through systematic training, advisory, handholding and risk management, from Nandghars (Anganwadis) in Barmer, Rajasthan. Additionally, IGS has established Institutional Development Support Services (IDSS) with an aim to incubate and empower social enterprises. IDSS offers services such as policy formulation, institutional design, conceptual framework, formation and strengthening of primary and secondary institutions, training on change management, and long-term hand-holding support services. Further, in order to preserve national resources, IGS's branch in Integrated Natural Resource Management has developed alternative livelihoods for communities living in endangered ecosystems. It has worked with resettled tribes in Similipal Tiger Reserve (Odisha), and natural reserves under the Satpura range (Madhya Pradesh). Furthermore, IGS has worked to strengthen marketing systems for non-timber forest products such as Dates, Indian gooseberry, Bamboo, Tamarind and medicinal herbs.