INDIA - $4,925
Calf-rearing and Seat Cover Production
Project Director - Ms. V. Umasankari

80 women in four self-help groups in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, are participating in this one-year project.

The women will first receive two trainings; a three-day training in the production of bicycle seat covers, and a four-day training in animal husbandry. Each group will receive $1,000 to match their own savings. The project coordinator, in collaboration with the group leaders, will purchase 160 calves. Each woman will rear two calves which will be ready to be impregnated after one year. The calf dung will be used to make vermi-compost, selling for $17.00 per month.

Each group is able to produce and sell $125 in seat covers per day. Based on 26 days per month, the group’s gross income will be $3,250 per month ($160 per member). Of this, each woman will get $55, with the balance used for reinvestment. With compost and seat cover production, a woman can earn $75 per month. From this, a loan payment of $5.50 will be deducted, leaving a net monthly income per woman of $70.

From R. Kannan’s site visit report, “RWDT is headed by a post-graduate woman, and has formed 55 self-help groups. RWDT has good rapport with people. Beneficiaries are poor rural women who have a good knowledge about this project.”

Project Completed: December 31, 2008