Group formation
Successfully formed and sustained 450+ self-help groups with over 6,750 women members, creating strong community networks for mutual support.
SHG & community mobilization
Organizing women into self-help groups for collective action and community development.
2,168+
Women beneficiaries
NABARD
TNSRLM partnership
Mahalir
Thittam support
25
Years of experience
Understanding
What SHG & community mobilization means
What is a self-help group?
A self-help group (SHG) is a small group of 10–15 women who come together to save money, access credit and support each other in development activities — a grassroots platform for collective action.
Community mobilization takes the model further — organizing these groups and linking them with broader development initiatives and government schemes. Our programmes focus on forming, strengthening and sustaining women's collectives that serve as platforms for economic empowerment, social transformation and community development — 450+ SHGs formed and sustained with over 6,750 women members.
Through the SHG model, women gain access to financial services, develop leadership skills and become agents of change in their communities. Working with NABARD, TNSRLM and the Mahalir Thittam scheme, this work has reached 2,168+ women beneficiaries across 25 years of experience.
- SHG formation
- Capacity building
- Savings & credit
- Community mobilization
- Social empowerment
Why this work matters
The challenge on the ground — and our answer
The challenge
Women facing challenges alone
On their own, poor rural women lack the mutual support and collective strength to address the common challenges they share.
Our response
Organize into self-help groups
Small, cohesive groups of 10–15 members create strong community networks — 450+ SHGs formed and sustained with over 6,750 women members.
The challenge
No route to formal credit
Without savings or a bank account, women cannot fund productive activities — many have never used formal banking services at all.
Our response
Savings and bank linkage
Group savings of ₹3.2 crores create internal lending funds, and SHG–bank linkage opens formal credit and banking services — for many members, for the first time.
The challenge
No seat at the decision-making table
Women are left out of community governance and the decisions that shape development in their own villages.
Our response
Grow women leaders
Over 1,000 women leaders now manage SHGs effectively and represent their communities in various development forums.
The challenge
Community issues left unaddressed
Problems in education, health and women's rights persist when there is no collective platform to act on them.
Our response
Collective action for social change
SHG networks mobilize communities for participatory development — addressing issues like education, health and women's rights, and implementing infrastructure and social development projects.
At a glance
The essentials
- Active since
- 2009Launch of the Mahalir Thittam project
- Coverage
- 450+ self-help groupsFormed and sustained, with over 6,750 women members
- Key partnerships
- NABARD & TNSRLMWith Mahalir Thittam scheme support
- Project portfolio
- 1 core government projectMahalir Thittam, 2009–2015
- Most recent delivery
- Mahalir Thittam projectEconomic and social empowerment of poor women, completed 2015
- Delivery model
- SHG model, community-ledGroup savings, micro-credit and collective action
Track record
Project portfolio, 2009–2015
| Programme | Period | Type | Highlights | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahalir Thittam project | 2009–2015 | State programme | Economic and social empowerment of poor women through the SHG model | Completed |
Impact
What SHG & community mobilization changes
Savings mobilization
Mobilized savings of ₹3.2 crores through SHGs, developing savings habits and creating internal lending funds for members' needs.
Financial inclusion
Linked SHGs with banks and financial institutions, enabling members to access formal credit and banking services for the first time.
Women leadership
Developed over 1,000 women leaders who manage SHGs effectively and represent their communities in various development forums.
Get involved
Strengthen community networks
Support our efforts to build stronger communities through self-help groups and collective action. Your partnership helps us organize more women, strengthen community networks and create lasting social change.