INDIA - $5,225
Women Empowerment through Income Generation Projects
Project Director - Mr. R. Thangavelu

50 women from three self-help groups in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, are participating in this one-year project.

To strengthen the self-help groups, continuous training will be given and special training will be given to upgrade their skills, especially micro-credit management, and entrepreneurship. Three income-generating projects have been chosen: coir [rope]-making, bee-keeping, and cloth sales. Loans will be repaid at 12% interest. It is expected that rope-making will earn the women $27-$28 per month, bee-keeping will earn them $30 per month, and cloth sales, $35 per month.

From R. Kannan’s site visit report, “SRD has a tailoring training center, and has formed 20 self-help groups. SRD has two staff. They have implemented two programmes sponsored by the state social welfare department. The nearby towns of Ambur and Vaniampaddi are known for bamboo and coir [coconut] products. The proposed projects have good marketing potential.

Project Completed: December 31, 2008