THE INITIATIVE

• Formation of JLGs to counter financial exclusion

THE BENEFICIARIES

• Women in villages of Palakkad district, Kerala

THE CHALLENGE

• Financial exclusion among project beneficiaries
• Women, the most critical stakeholders of the project, had poor or no collateral to offer

THE SOLUTION

• Grant support provided to Gangothri Trust to encourage the formation of JLGs in the project area

THE IMPACT

• Loans up to Rs 2 lakh provided to individual JLGs by Punjab National Bank, without insisting on collateral
• Diverse economic activities like dairy, handicrafts, glass painting and mud pottery, have been taken up
• Individual JLG members earn additional income of Rs 1500 - Rs 3000 per month