Rural Development Organisation
INDIA - $4,950
Empowering Widows and Destitute Women in Armalam Block through Income Generation
Project Coordinator: Mrs. K. Susila
The women will be organized into five village self-help groups. They will be trained in animal rearing as well as vermi-compost preparation, azolla crop cultivation and kitchen gardens. They will be linked as members of the local milk co-operative which will repay the loan amount to RDO on behalf of the members. Loans will be repaid at $25 per month. Each group will select two representatives to the savings bank to oversee the accounts and maintain their savings. The savings of the group will be utilized to satisfy their consumption, emergency, children’s education, and hospitalization needs at low cost of interest.
GROSS ANNUAL INCOME: $1,100 ($595 from milk, $285 from azolla and vegetable sales, $220 from compost sales)
EXPENSES: $290
LOAN PAYMENT: $285
NET ANNUAL INCOME: $525
From Dr. R. Kannan’s site visit report, “RDO has good relationship with the other community-based organizations like the farmer’s club, milk producers association and youth clubs. The project beneficiaries are all widows and destitute women. Fodder is readily available. There is a good scope and feasibility for this project. The local milk producers association assured the support to this project by extending services like veterinary care to animals and marketing of milk.”
Project completed: June 30, 2008