THE INITIATIVE

• Gender development through various interventions

THE BENEFICIARIES

• 900 women of Jamui district, Bihar

THE CHALLENGE

• Tribal families had no knowledge of institutional finance and depended entirely on private money lenders
• Gender inequality in society and lack of employment opportunities for women
• Ensuring prosperity and equality

THE SOLUTION

• NABARD sanctioned a project to the Association for Sarva Seva Farms
• 900 Wadis were set up, involving 900 poor tribal farming families
• Besides entrepreneurship and vocational skills training, women were given exposure to socio-economic issues such as health, hygiene, child care and gender disparity

THE IMPACT

• Previously unemployed women are now either employed or running small businesses
• Income options for these women include making and selling agarbattis, goat/pig rearing, mango grading and packing
• Visible social development with more confident and financially-literate women