Self-Help Groups

MASARD Welfare Society is helping women in rural areas to help themselves through its involvement with self-help groups.  Self-help groups enable poor and marginalised women to actively participate in their own development.

MASARD has helped 25 self-help groups of women in rural areas in and around Bogalur which is situated 30kms from Bangalore.  The women in these areas are very poor and by coming together they can change not only their own lives but the lives of their whole families.  MASARD has helped these women start savings accounts so they can procure loans from a local bank.

This project has been very successful, with close to 100 percent repayment rate.  MASARD hopes to expand the project, and help women use their loans to start small scale businesses in areas such tailoring, handicrafts and fruits and vegetables.

GOAT REARING

Goat rearing is another micro-credit project that MASARD hopes to implement in pursuit of its goal of providing families with a sustainable livelihood.

This project aims to help women, who are a particularly vulnerable section of the rural community, earn a supplementary income.  Goats, known for the their hardy nature and high rate of proliferation, have always been an effective means of generating income.  With a yielding capacity of two kids every six months, goats are an asset that can bring real prosperity to the owner.

However as a result of their foraging habits, goats are not suitable to all regions.  Lambany Thandas, tribal settlements or villages with minimal greenery are the most suitable environments for goat rearing.

MASARD plans to purchase an initial number of goats, which will be distributed among the village women.  One kid born of each litter will be given to MASARD to distribute to other deserving women who will in turn donate one kid of their litter.  Through this process, MASARD envisages that the entire community will own goats over time. 

This programme will be supported by a field practice and demonstration unit, which will provide expert guidance and training in animal husbandry to the women.  The scheme will be governed and managed by the Sustainable Livelihood Promotion Management Committee comprised of representatives of the women’s association and MASARD.