Our micro credit and savings programme is called Munjavu. This is a process of women's empowerment and development, achieved and sustained through the formation of thrift and self help groups.
These groups meet at regular intervals and participate in the saving process. The money that they save are given as loans to needy members with the consent of the other members. The group aims "to promote thrift as a medium for women-centered integrated development".
The main objectives of Munjavu are:
- To inculcate the attitude of saving
- To develop women's managerial skills and capacities and their ability to meet financial needs
- To develop self reliance and self confidence among the members
- To develop qualities like unity, interest, equality, cooperation, leadership, and decision-making by consensus
Munjavu is introduced in villages that have institutions such as Village Development Societies or Gram Samsthas. These organisations are oriented on Munjavu. This is followed by a poverty analysis exercise using the participatory rural approach. Interested women are helped to form Munjavu groups of five to ten members.
Each group undergoes an intensive training during which they prepare their own by-laws, select group representatives, and open a bank account. Each group then begins its regular weekly or monthly savings process. During the first six months, loans are not given to allow groups to accumulate funds.
In villages where more than three Munjavu groups are formed, one representative from each group come together to form a village Munjavu committee. This committee, in turn, sends one representative to the project level Munjavu Mahila Sahakar Executive Committee. Munjavu groups send 40 percent of their savings to the Munjavu Mahila Sahakar as deposits and retain the rest for their consumption and asset-creating needs.
The result of this programme has been overwhelming. Fifty percent of the women are now employed; another 50% of them have centralised bank loans while almost 50% have doubled their annual income.
Eighty percent have become literate and about 75% now send their children to school.
Half of the women are active in the local political process and about 15% have competed in elections. About 60% visit Primary Health Centres and 20% have learnt home remedies.
The women have gained self-confidence, become self reliant and are involved members of the project. They take active participation in the development of their village and family.
