INDIA - $5,125
Income-generating Projects in Border Villages of the Western Ghats
Project Director - Miss S.S. Sudarmadhi

30 women from 6 self-help groups in Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, are participating in this one-year project.

The women will receive 10 days of training in their income-generating project. 10 women, working as a group, will be engaged in floriculture and preparation of bouquets. 20 women will be engaged in herbal collection and bee-keeping. Each woman will receive a loan of $150, to be repaid at 12% annual interest.

ACTIVITY	GROSS MONTHLY INCOME	LOAN PAYMENT AND EXPENSES	NET MONTHLY INCOME
Floriculture	$2,150 (group)	$1,520	$530 ($53 per woman)
Herbs and bee-keeping	$200 (person)	$150	$50

From R. Kannan’s site visit report, “Village Improvement Voluntary Association is a newly formed organization. It is run by Ms. S. S. Sudarmathi, a post-graduate in social work. VIVA has formed 15 self-help groups. All the proposed income generation activities are in tune with target area and environment. The target people are aware of this project. VIVA has a good rapport with the people.”

Project Completed: December 31, 2008