June 02, 2020

SAHAYA Loans Support SHG Livelihood Streams

With the outbreak of Covid-19 and the subsequent nationwide lockdown, daily wage earners have been struggling to survive, with many facing starvation.


Ambuja Foundation's Village Functionary staff member Neetu Dhruw in Chhattisgarh, a Sahyogini, heard about the SAHAYA loan from Union Bank, which provided women belonging to SHGs with a loan of Rs. 5000. This was a ray of hope, and with guidance from Sahyogini and Ambuja Foundation, 10 SHG groups applied and brainstormed ways to use the funds to generate income.


Success followed: Union Bank granted loans to 52 members (Rs. 5000 each) across 6 groups. Out of these, 21 members started backyard vegetable production (called a 'Wadi'), earning Rs. 500–800 weekly by selling produce in local markets.


Additionally, 5 members opened small grocery shops, and some started making face masks for the Gram Panchayat and Janpad Panchayat, earning Rs. 11,000 from masks made at a cost of Rs. 5000.


Through similar loan systems, SHGs in other Ambuja Foundation locations received support:


  • 3 SHGs from Sankrail received Rs. 1.8 lakh each
  • 6 SHGs from Kodinar received Rs. 14 lakhs from Kodinar Taluka Co-operative Bank
  • 9 SHGs linked in Roorkee for credit
  • 1 SHG from Chandrapur received Rs. 3 lakhs for seed and fertilizer support
  • 10 SHGs from Dadri received Rs. 20 lakhs
  • 5 SHGs from Bhatapara received Rs. 2 lakhs each
  • 15 SHGs received Rs. 7 lakhs each for seed and fertilizer support in Chandrapur

Under Process:


  • 26 SHGs from Chandrapur to receive Rs. 1 lakh each
  • 16 SHGs under process in Darlaghat
  • 4 SHGs under process in Ropar
June 02, 2020

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