Thrift & Credit Programme for Women through Self-Help Groups

The experience of RASS with the Thrift & Credit Program is 32 years old and fairly intensive. RASS’s foray into the segment could be traced back to its field experiences while implementing its ICDS project in Tirupati urban, wherein, It was found that the provision of a package of services instills dependency culture and promotes passive participation of the target groups. It lacked the vital inputs for economic development vis-a-vis the promotion of savings and the creation of productive assets. The was identified that the economic status and development of women and children critically depend on savings and productive investment of the poor households.

To inculcate the culture of thrift and disciplined utilization of credit, RASS has conceived the concept of forming poor and new women into Self-help Groups and using the groups as an effective tool to alleviate the problems of poverty and employment. The initiation has now grown to become a convergent point for economically disadvantaged women who lack access to formal financial institutions for credit.

Vision

Enhance the quality of life of poor women, and reduce poverty by providing credit & support services.

Mission

Establish, develop and manage an effec­tive Self Help Group system accessible to poor women

Objectives

• To inculcate the habit of savings
• To provide regular financial services
• To increase absorption capacity
• To develop the skills
• To provide linkages with various Fl’s
• To promote livelihood opportunities

Core Values

• Integrity
• Quality of service transparency & Fair practices
• Privacy of client information
• Integrating social values
• Feedback mechanism

With the success of the concept of Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) the organization has further initiated the formation of similar SHGs with the Farming communities, Differently abled persons, and Senior citizens to cater to their financial and self-reliant needs and skill development.

It is prudent to mention that the RASS’s “Thrift and Credit’ Program is one of the few institutions rendering such services that have got certified and granted credit-worthy ratings over the years by institutions of repute such as M-Cyril, CRISIL, CARE & ICRA.

To Develop health, empowerment, and rehabilitation, the programs of General Health Camps, Eye Screening Camps, Blood Donation Camps, Motivational Sessions, Training in Auto Driving, Marketing Linkages, etc., are undertaken on regular basis.

To inculcate the spirits of Unity, Integrity, and Oneness, SHG members are encouraged to participate in the celebrations of National Days, Women’s Day, Cultural Fests, etc.

Supporting Agencies

Since its inception in the year 1989, the innovative SHG handle of the organization is being supported by the participation and enthusiasm of the members themselves apart from institutional support from Scheduled Banks and Financial Corporations.