Livelihood for 500 Tribal Women in Gujarat

Summary

This project enables livelihood for women in rural Gujarat through Sakhi Sangathan, a women's collective, which grows, buys and sells its own farm produce at profit in a male dominated market.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Vikalp works with Sakhi Sangathan (SS), comprised of poor women from 22 villages, in Tilakwada, one of the least-developed areas of Gujarat. Lack of gainful employment compounds poverty and hunger. Illiteracy restricts employability. Women learn farming methods; livelihood is possible if farming skills are conjoined with marketing. With revolving funds, SS can buy cotton and grain and sell products for a profit, which can then be shared among the women and reinvested into the collective.

How will this project solve this problem?

Provide capital to 500 women in tribal group to buy and store cotton and grain, then sell these at profit. Support women with trainings on farming, driving, banking and management. Include more women with time to raise profit and income.

Potential Long Term Impact

This project creates sustainable livelihoods for 500 women - and many more as the project progresses -by increasing their incomes, business skills, and social awareness. This will benefit the women individually, their families, and their community.

Project Message

“The lines on your fingers will not be able to keep pace with counting the changes that can come about if our federation can purchase cotton & grains grown on our farms and sell them in the market.”
- Ms.Jelliben Bhil of Gengadia village, She is a member of SS and is a likely beneficary

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources