One of the first microfinance intervention in the rural area was made in 2002 when Saath was working in Khadir and Rapar region in Kutch. An informal platform was established that supplied loans, provided savings platforms, insurance and other basic financial services to the poor. After working in Dholka and Viramgam for three years, since 2009, there was a desperate need felt to create a similar microfinance program for the women of the these villages. With the guidance and handholding done by the Saath Cooperative, a new initiative was set up. Started in January 2011, in over a year there are close to 1800 women from 120 villages who are part of the initiative. Seeing the success and response of women towards this initiative, the rural team is currently in process of establishing two formal cooperatives, one in Dholka and one in Viramgam. The rural team’s projections show that in next three years, there will be more than 4,000 women who will be part of this initiative.

Program co-ordinator :

Shyam Prakash Singh: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.